Sometimes, sports teams travel with their own chef, and Beat says that there are provisions made to give them a separate space to operate in. “We are very flexible in that matter,” says Beat.
Along with sports teams, the hotel’s sales team’s efforts are being directed to attract an added number of leisure and corporate guests. Al Nammari explains: “Qatar is under huge construction and development projects, which you will start to notice and feel by 2017. Part of it is the rail project — our hotel will be just 10 minutes away from downtown Doha. A number of the guests that stay at the hotel are from companies who represent the construction and development companies. The corporate sector used to make up just 3% of the guests before. Now it is, however, a lot more because of the various expansion projects [in the city].
Beat adds: “For the corporate segment we pose a different sort of offering; although we are in Doha we are located away from the city. Hence, corporates and groups like to stay with us, since it’s relaxing, quiet and calm.”
Meanwhile, Al Nammari hopes that sport medical tourism becomes an avenue to attract tourists as a growing number of people are reportedly visiting the facility for treatment. Beat says: “Aspitar has quite a few facilities [to treat injuries] and instead of going to Europe to have treatments and surgeries you can come to Qatar. In fact, quite a few high profile athletes are coming to Aspitar to get treated and even to undergo surgery.”
Meanwhile, the opening of the F-Ring Road a few months ago has significantly cut travel times from the airport to the hotel. Al Nammari says that it has also resulted in better connectivity to other major hubs in the country such as Al Wakrah and the new industrial area, which is not far from the Mövenpick Al Aziziyah.
On the leisure front, Al Nammari gives an insight into the major source market for the property. “We are the first hotel when you drive down from the Saudi-Qatar border check-post, and hence, we serve as the first choice for Saudi guests, which as per the QTA witnessed a 25% increase last year. Especially during the summer and holiday periods. Bahrain, for that matter, is just a three hour drive away.”
Soulet adds: “Since we are a dry hotel, we are a major destination for not only Saudi but GCC travellers in general.”
Mövenpick has a strong presence in Saudi Arabia with 11 operational properties and Beat feels that it is one of the reasons that prompted the owning company to choose the Swiss operator to take over the property. “We already had two existing hotels in Doha and they [the owners] had seen the job we were doing there, to go along with our global standards. Our owners spoke to the other hotel owners, for sure.”
Apart from minor tweaks, Beat says all aspects of the hotel are in good condition and not much needs to be changed. “We are upgrading the in-room technology because a few areas needed a bit of an update.
In terms of F&B, it’s more about the right sort of marketing; we are hence implementing promotions, specials and themed nights; and we are also looking at entertainment options on the Blue restaurant terrace.”
Beat also says that the overall sporting infrastructure is second to none. “This has always been the case from the outset,” Beat says. “If you take the indoor football stadium within Aspire, or even the open football stadiums that have air conditioning [they have got all the right facilities]. The equestrian, swimming and cycling facilities, for example, are world-class,” he says indicating it’s not just football but other sporting events that the country hosts that ensures the city remains abuzz.
Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has stepped up its efforts in a bid to attract new source markets and Beat says the authorities are approachable and have a clear vision to develop tourism in the country. “I have already met them thrice since coming to the property in May. Not to forget the efforts of Qatar Airways, who will by the end of this year, open new routes to 15-20 destinations and that will be great for us. We appreciate the joint efforts of QTA and Qatar Airways as they strive to improve inbound tourism.”
The FIFA World Cup 2022 is nearly five years away and Beat remains conscious about the efforts both prior and after the sporting extravaganza. “It will be amazing, and you can feel the vibe already; even though it’s five years away people are still talking about it every day. But, we also need to remember that the World Cup will last just four to six weeks and it’s how we plan for the years leading up to the event. And following the event, the authorities are looking at making the stadiums sustainable, which in my view is very important.”
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