:: Global Nomad :: Volume 03

Thursday, July 1^st 2010

Mandarin Oriental announces luxury hotel in Doha, Qatar

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced that it will manage a new luxury city centre hotel and serviced apartments in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The property, which is being developed by owners, Dohaland, is scheduled to open in 2014. Mandarin Oriental, Doha will be the Group’s second hotel in the Middle East following its announcement earlier this year that it will open Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi which is scheduled for 2013.

Mandarin Oriental, Doha will be located in Musheireb, Dohaland’s ambitious development of a 35 hectare site adjacent to Doha’s cultural gem, Souk Waqif, and the city’s business centre in West Bay. The Musheireb project is set to regenerate the core of the city, recreating a way of living that is rooted in Qatari culture, and reflecting the growing international importance of Doha as a leisure and business destination.

Mandarin Oriental, Doha will feature 160 luxurious guestrooms and suites, as well as 95 serviced apartments. All accommodation will be spacious and elegantly styled, displaying a contemporary interpretation of traditional local influences together with subtle oriental touches reflecting the Group’s heritage. Mandarin Oriental’s renowned customer-centric and highly sophisticated in-room entertainment systems will be a prominent feature.

Other facilities will include an all-encompassing Spa at Mandarin Oriental which will introduce the Group’s award-winning spa concepts to a new audience, providing holistic rejuvenation and relaxation in a serene, meditative setting. The spacious spa will include 10 private treatment rooms as well as a vitality pool and other heat and water experiences. Guests will also be able to enjoy the indoor swimming pool and fitness centre.

Featuring a variety of restaurants and bars Mandarin Oriental, Doha will offer some of the finest cuisine in the city from gastronomic dining to the Group’s popular ‘cake shop’ concept.
The hotel will also boast extensive banqueting and meeting facilities including a 350 seat ballroom, seven function rooms and an executive boardroom.

“We are delighted to be introducing the Mandarin Oriental brand to the exciting and rapidly growing city of Doha. The Musheireb project is set to transform the city and together with the developers, Dohaland, we have a vision to create a spectacular and prestigious luxury hotel that will form the centrepiece of this new urban development” said Director of Operations, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Christoph Mares of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

Mr. Abdul Aziz Al-Emadi, CEO of Dohaland Hospitality, a subsidiary of Dohaland, said: “We are pleased to be partnering with world-renowned luxury hotel group, Mandarin Oriental to create a hotel that will set new standards in the city in terms of elegance and sophistication. Doha is one of the fastest growing cities in the Middle East and Mandarin Oriental, Doha is certain to become a favourite destination for international travellers and locals alike.”

Mandarin Oriental, Doha will be located in the central part of Musheireb, close to the historic origins of Qatar’s capital city yet just 15 minutes drive from the International Airport which is currently being expanded to accommodate the estimated 50 million transient passengers a year into Doha.

Turkey might be the world’s most contested country. Its landscape is dotted with battlegrounds, ruined castles and the palaces of great empires. This is the land where Alexander the Great slashed the Gordion Knot, where Achilles battled the Trojans in Homer’s Iliad, and where the Ottoman Empire fought battles that would shape the world. History buffs can immerse themselves in marvels and mementos stretching back to the dawn of civilisation.

Then again, if you want to simply unwind, spend an afternoon being pampered at ahamam, or let the warm waters off the Mediterranean coast lap at your toes. Adventure lovers can head east to Nemrut Daği National Park. Bon vivants need look no further than Istanbul, where the markets and bars are among the most stylish and atmospheric, and the mod Ottoman cuisine rates as the tastiest, in the world.

The country’s tumultuous history has left a deep legacy. People who’ve never had to suffer for an idea or fight for a patch of land can be overwhelmed by the passion of ordinary Turks for their country. But for ordinary Turks that passion finds its outlet, not in martial ardour, but in simple pleasures: family, food, music, football, and friendship. Turks have an inspiring ability to keep things in perspective, to get on with everyday life and to have a bloody good time in the process. Sharing their joy in the simple things is a highlight for every visitor.

Treat Turkey as that most quintessential of Turkish dishes, the meze, a table piled high with scrumptious treats. Throw away the menu, order a plate of everything and feast till you can’t go on. Afiyet olsun!