Given Qatar’s booming hospitality and tourism industry, Marriott International (MI)is coming up with its seventh hotel — JW Marriott, in Qatar, a senior official of the group said yesterday.

“The first JW Marriott property in Doha is under construction and due to open in 2017,” said Vladimir Dabbah (pictured), Vice-President, Global Sales, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International.

“It will be the flagship hotel for the JW Marriott brand in Qatar. The property in West Bay will cater to luxury traveller and provide the service distinction expected of the JW brand,” he told this newspaper.

Vladimir was here as part of the group’s annual GCC mission, leading a team of company’s global sales leaders, general managers and senior staff to build awareness of the group’s brands and strengthen its relationships with key customers.

“We are here to thank our valued Qatari customers for their dedication and inform them about Marriott’s expanding pipeline, upcoming initiatives and promotions; giving them an insight into the future of MI in Qatar.”

He said Qatar is seeing a significant boom in terms of population growth and tourism numbers, carving a niche for itself in terms of the business and luxury travel segments.

Citing World Travel & Tourism Council data, he said Qatar’s tourism sector is expected to witness over seven percent growth this year which is forecast to continue with an annual average growth rate of four percent until 2023.

“In addition to rapidly growing economic diversification and growth supported by the booming infrastructure sector, there are other exciting developments taking place in the country. With the recent opening of the Hamad International Airport, regions’ new aviation hub, and the World Cup 2022, Qatar is an exciting market to be part of and to introduce new brands such as the JW Marriott,” said Vladimir.

On the group’s plans for next couple of years for the MEA region, he said, “We are excited to prepare and launch properties in Iraq, Tunisia and Morocco. Markets such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain will repeat benefits of new brands, including the luxury JW Marriott Hotels, Kuwait and Dubai in our collection of the most distinctive and elegant hotels bearing the Marriott name. We are also excited about the expansion of our Renaissance and Marriott Hotels brands.”

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QNE

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