The shortage of luxury hotel rooms in the country will considerably ease by 2012, a QNB Capital study has shown. According to QNB Capital, some 13,624 new rooms in the three to five-star categories would become available in Qatar by 2012. Qatar’s rapid economic expansion has necessitated a significant increase in the number of premium rooms in the country. Mega projects being taken up in infrastructure, civil aviation, surface transport, energy and sports have led to an influx of personnel to Qatar besides frequent visits by high-level officials and executives from various countries. The country’s tourism sector has also got a boost with Qatar Airways rapidly expanding – both in terms of fleet and network. Doha is now a preferred transit point for passengers from North America, Europe, South Asia and South East Asia. Doha’s emergence as a major regional centre for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) is another reason for the fast filling up of luxury rooms. Industry sources said Qatar’s hotel occupancy rate has been “phenomenally good” in the last four to five years. The Doha Asian Games 2006 has given a shot in the arm for the hospitality industry with several new hotels coming up and some of the existing ones getting spruced up to host players, officials and guests for the prestigious sporting event. In its first Qatar Economic Review QNB Capital said several three, four and five-star hotels would come up in the country by 2012. The hotels include Four Seasons (The Pearl Qatar) – 250 rooms, Holiday Hotel Villa & Residence – 358, Marriott Courtyard – 204, Marriott Renaissance Hotel – 249, Hilton – 310, Shangri-La – 271, Rotana – 287, Oasis – 322, Merweb Grand City Centre – 256, Jumeirah Dubai Towers – 235, Four Points Hotel – 250, Maritim – 358, Qatar Silouette – 320, Barwa West Bay – 370, Al-Quds Tower Hotel – 264, Retaj Hotel – 218, Qatar Airways Hotel- 400, St Regis – 322, Aspire Tower- 168, Barwa Al Rayyan Hotel- 250, Abdulwahab Tower – 488, Grand Saray – 240, Barwa Al Khor Hotel – 400 and others – 6,834. http://gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=295944&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

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