Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts gears up for 2022 Football World Cup Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts will operate its third property in Doha - a strategic move that will capitalise on Qatar’s status as a world-class sports hub and host of the 2022 Football World Cup. The upscale 139-room Mövenpick Hotel Al Aziziyah Doha, located in the city’s internationallyrenowned Aspire Zone, also known as Doha Sports City, opened its doors on May 1st, 2016, taking over the luxurious Victorianstyle building currently occupied by Grand Heritage Hotel Doha. Mövenpick Hotel Al Aziziyah Doha will not only be well-placed to host top-ranking international sports teams, with Aspire playing a critical role in the run up to the World Cup, but will also cater to corporate groups staging events at the nearby Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), now considered a regional hub for meetings and events. The group has also revealed plans to open its first hotel and apartment property in Jeddah in 2017 in a bid to meet strong demand
Mövenpick Hotel Al Aziziyah Doha
for branded extended-stay accommodation in Saudi Arabia’s booming seaport city. The Swiss hospitality firm has signed an agreement with prominent real estate and investment company, Hadia Abdul Latif Jameel Group, to manage the 164-unit Mövenpick Hotel & Apartments Al Tahlia Jeddah, which will command a sought-after location on Hail Street, close to Jeddah’s major com-
mercial, financial, consular and shopping districts. With the modern-day corporate traveller in mind, the property, part of a high-profile mixed-use development, features predominantly suites, an all-day-dining outlet, a casual fine-food Indian restaurant, a gym with two spa treatment rooms, and four meeting rooms.
From left: Living Room of Royal Suite, Hotel Lobby, Victoria Tea Lounge.
AHIC provides a platform for Emirati youth The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) had a special addition this year - a very special forum, supported by the Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation the Dubai Government Department responsible for Emirati youths who have lost one or both parents. AHIC teamed up with Ròya International’s founder Ahmed Ramdan, the Glion Institute of Higher Education (GIHE) and Les Roches International School of Hotel Management (LRB) to encourage and
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nurture Emirati talent in the hospitality industry. Choosing his career at a time shortly after the UAE had just been formed, Ahmed Ramdan, bucked the trend for young Emiratis seeking professions in engineering, law or medicine and decided to embark on a career in hospitality when there were only four major hotels in Dubai. He eventually formed his own company, Ròya International, which is now one of the most recognised hospitality advisory
firms in the GCC. He said,“Here in the UAE, particularly Dubai, the importance of hospitality is clear and growing. The hotel and tourism sector plus the airline industry account for a very significant percentage of our GDP.” The forum had a tailored programme of activities and talks to engage the young Emiratis, and raise awareness of the varied hospitality management careers that are available, including information on career training paths and scholarships.