One of the oldest hotels in Qatar – the Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel – is to embark on an “extensive” two-year renovation programme, in a bid to keep up with the increasingly competitive hotel scene in Doha.
The 30-year old pyramid shaped hotel on Doha Bay has become a landmark in Doha; but general manager Steven W Kalczynski said it was high time for a refurb.
“It’s one of these iconic properties and has been associated with the Government of Qatar for years – but it's time. There is so much new product and new competition coming in to the market and in order to ‘keep up with the Joneses’ it’s time for that to happen”
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Kalczynski did not say how much the investment would be, but said it would involve adding three new restaurants, a new pool, new landscaped outdoor areas, refurbished meeting spaces and an overhaul to the lobby area.
He ruled out any plans for any third-party managed restaurants at Sheraton Doha. “Starwood as a whole has looked at this and has been associated with some very, very well know branded restaurant companies – but those have stuck with certain brands for example the W Hotel and the St. Regis which will be opening up here next year. Within Sheraton we run things more internally. Starwood has a menu of different restaurant concepts that could adapt to different markets such as an Italian restaurant concept; an Asian noodle restaurant concept, a Mediterranean concept so we are looking at those as we speak.”
The lobby area is destined for an overhaul in 2013. He acknowledged that the vast pyramidal structure was “holy ground” in Doha and some features would be kept. “However if you look at the front desk – its an old, traditional, airport counter-style front desk and we gave had some conversations where all of that may disappear to open up the windows to some of the best views of the sea – and look at a different way of checking in guests.”
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Oct 25, 2011 , Saudi Arabia
The Sheraton Doha Hotel is certainly one of the great ones in the Middle East. I am surprised the Qatari leadership has not acted on a renovation already. Long overdue for sure! HH, The Emir is missing this icon as it represents Doha in so many ways!