Radisson Blu to Debut in Qatar

The Rezidor Hotel Group has announced that it will debut its Radisson Blu in Doha, the capital of Qatar, later this year. The hotel chain, which is one of the fastest growing in the world, will be transforming the existing Ramada Plaza Doha in its Radisson Blu brand by the third quarter. This follows an US$18 million investment to take over the current hotel.

The Radisson Blu brand is the Rezidor Hotel Group’s core brand. It’s an upscale market segment that offers unique signature service concepts, contemporary architecture and design, and a “Yes I Can!” service philosophy. The future Doha hotel will be located on a prominent intersection that has great access to the West Bay business district and international airport. It’s one of the city’s largest properties and offers 583 modern and spacious suites and rooms, which will have different styles. The hotel also features six bars and twelve restaurants – three of which have won awards recently. There is 2,000 square metres of conference space for meetings and events, as well as three pools, two gymnasiums, treatment rooms, saunas, squash, badminton, basketball and tennis facilities.

Rezidor Hotel Group president and chief executive Kurt Ritter says that they are delighted to add the landmark property to their continuously growing portfolio in the Middle East, where they currently have 29 Radisson Blu hotels in operation and being developed. To become Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha, the property will undergo a US$18 million renovation, which will make it more competitive and even more attractive.

Hotel general manager Gordon MacKenzie says that, even though they are slightly sad about leaving the Ramada family, they feel that joining Radisson Blu will continue enhancing their services and open new opportunities for international business. This time is very exciting, he added.

This move comes ahead of Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which is due to see a surge of tourism. The city has vowed to spend some $88 billion on infrastructure and accommodations in the next ten years as it gets ready for the most-watched sporting event in the world. As part of this, Rezidor Hotel Group said last November that it plans to open about five hotels in the Middle East every year as it increases its presence in the region.

Meanwhile, Rezidor Hotel Group has also partnered with Al Jassim Group, a leading business group in Qatar, to launch Hotel Missoni, Doha, an international luxury boutique hotel. The unique luxury lifestyle brand will be designed exclusively by Rosita Missoni, the co-founder of Italian fashion house Missoni. This makes the company’s sixth confirmed hotel under the brand. The hotel will have about 200 rooms and 70 apartments when it opens in late 2015. It will follow the likes of: Hotel Missoni Edinburgh (2009), Hotel Missoni Kuwait (2011), Hotel Missoni Jebel Sifah (2012, Q1), Hotel Missoni Ilha de Cajaíba (2012, Q1), Hotel Missoni Belek (2013, Q1), and Hotel Missoni Mauritius (2014).