Hotel owner, operator and investor Minor Hotels has planned to open three new-build hotels in Qatar in spring 2018 under its Tivoli and Oaks brands. Hospitality owner, developer and operator Katara Hospitality owns the three properties.
Minor Hotels has planned to launch these three new properties in Doha to enhance the development of the local hospitality sector and contribute towards the economic diversification, as envisioned in the Qatar National Vision 2030.
Tivoli Al Najada Doha Hotel
Launching in April, Tivoli Al Najada Doha Hotel is in the final stages of development in the center of the Qatari capital. The five-story property near the West Bay will have 151 guestrooms and suites. It is being developed within a new development surrounding a piazza with cafes, restaurants and shops.
Oaks Al Najada Doha
Oaks Hotels & Resorts will make its debut in Qatar with Oaks Al Najada Doha, also set to open in April 2018. The Oaks Al Najada with 100 serviced apartments will be the third Oaks in the Middle East, following properties in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE. The serviced apartments are being developed next to Tivoli Al Najada as part of the same new development in central Doha. The hotels are near the new Msheireb Downtown Doha development, Bank Street, the Museum of Islamic Arts on the Corniche, the Souq Waqif, Hamad International Airport and the central rail terminal opening in 2020.
Souq Al Wakra Hotel Qatar by Tivoli
Souq Al Wakra Hotel Qatar by Tivoli is being developed in Souq Al Wakra, an up-and-coming seaside district near central Doha and Hamad International Airport. The property has two buildings, both former heritage houses, with 101 guestrooms and suites.
Dillip Rajakarier, CEO, Minor Hotels, said in a statement, “The Middle East is a key growth market for Minor Hotels. Qatar will be the second GCC country for Oaks and there is also opportunity to further grow this brand.” Last month, Minor Hotels debuted Tivoli Hotels & Resorts in the Middle East with the rebrand of Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels in Doha to Tivoli.
Minor Hotels also operates Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara in the Qatari capital. The addition of the three new hotels in Doha will bring the total number of properties operated by Minor Hotels in the GCC region to 16 across multiple brands. In addition, the group has a strong pipeline in the MENA region including new properties under development in Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Morocco, three new countries for the group.
Tivoli Hotels & Resorts, which was acquired by Minor Hotels last year, currently operates 13 properties in Portugal, Brazil and Qatar. In Portugal, Tivoli has properties in main tourism destinations, including Lisbon, Sintra and Algarve. In Brazil, Tivoli has properties in São Paulo and coastal Bahia. In Qatar, the brand recently added Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli in the center of Doha.
Australia-based Oaks Hotels & Resorts operates a portfolio of 56 properties and over 6,000 guestrooms in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, the UAE and most recently India. Minor Hotels acquired Oaks Hotels & Resorts’ portfolio of hotels, resorts and serviced apartments in 2011, marking the hotel group’s first foray into the Pacific.
Qatar-based Katara Hospitality’s expansion plans focus on investing in hotels in Qatar while growing its collection of properties in key international markets. Katara Hospitality’s portfolio has 42 owned and/or managed hotels across three continents in Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Singapore and Thailand through its subsidiary Murwab Hotel Group. However, the company has planned to expand its portfolio to have 60 hotels by 2026 in support of Qatar’s long-term economic vision.