QATAR CALLING

A swathe of hotels are opening in the Gulf State in the run-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup

- GEMMA GREENWOOD

It’s a hive of activity in Qatar as the Gulf State gears up to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Construction of new mixed-use destinations with a tourism focus is in overdrive and hospitality developers are playing their part with the rollout of new resorts and hotels across multiple brands.

With the tournament expected to attract more than 80,000 football fans from all over the world, accommodating them all also calls for new innovative and sustainably-minded concepts to ensure Qatar’s hotel room inventory meets the 90,000 marks.

ADMARES Construction and Qetaifan Projects have joined forces to create 16 luxury hotels designed just for the games, bringing some 1,616 rooms to the market.

The four-story structures, located on Qetaifan Island North, not far from the 80,000-seat Lusail Stadium, will all feature a restaurant, lounge/bar, and 101 Scandinavian-style rooms and will be bookable on global travel sites like Expedia.com and Booking.com, according to developers.

What’s more, the occupant’s energy use will be measured and shared with them, empowering visitors to cut back on their carbon footprint and when the tournament is over, the hotels will be relocated and repurposed, although no details have been announced yet.