The St. Regis Doha is formally inaugurated

Press release

Published May 9th, 2012 - 04:43 GMT

Al Bawaba

Mr. Omar Hussain Alfardan, President of Resorts Development Company and Alfardan Group and Mr. Frits van Paasschen, President and Chief Executive Officer of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. officially inaugurated The St. Regis Doha - Qatar’s newest luxury destination - with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque on May 5, 2012.

Since opening its doors to its first guests on March 31, the hotel has played host to leading diplomats and government officials, sporting luminaries, business executives and fans of luxury living from around the world.

“Our partnership with The St. Regis Doha to operate Al Gassar Resort’s luxury hotel component has been a very successful venture”, commented Omar Hussain Alfardan, President of Resorts Development Company (RDC) and Alfardan Group. “Since its inauguration, The St. Regis Doha has successfully fulfilled its promise to deliver to visitors of the hotel an exclusive and customized luxury staying experience, making it already the must-see destination in Qatar. We are proud to have St. Regis Doha added to our portfolio as a unique masterpiece at Al Gassar Resort and the finest address in Doha.”

“I would like to extend my personal thanks to Mr. Alfardan, RDC and Alfardan Group for their partnership with Starwood and the St. Regis brand,” said Frits van Paasschen, President and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Worldwide, Inc. “St. Regis is growing faster than any luxury hotel brand ever has before. And thanks to great partners like RDC and Alfardan Group we are opening some of the most desired properties in the world. The opening of The St. Regis Doha marks an important milestone for Starwood as we expand into key destinations around the world.”

Last week, the hotel won two major accolades at this year’s 19th Middle East World Travel Awards, held in Dubai. The St. Regis Doha was named as the “Middle East’s Leading New Hotel,” identifying the hotel as the favourite new venue of the regional travel industry. The hotel was also named “Qatar’s Leading New Hotel for 2012”, a major achievement given the significant number of new venues opening this year.

As one of the first St. Regis Hotels to open in the Middle East, it has already sparked local interest with the premiere of two new restaurants associated with world-renowned chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay, along with the upcoming opening of Jazz at Lincoln Centre, the first-ever venue associated with the New York City-based jazz centre outside of America.

Guests who wish to experience the hotel and sample some of the enticing flavours can benefit from the ongoing opening offer, which is valid until June 30, 2012. Rates start at 1,900 QR per night for a superior room, including a 30-minute spa treatment, a St. Regis afternoon tea in Sarab Lounge, Wi-Fi internet access and a Jazz at Lincoln Center welcome gift.

Background Information

Starwood Hotels

Starwood Hotels represents one of the world's largest hotel and leisure companies. It conducts its hotel and leisure business both directly and through its subsidiaries. Its brand names include St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Four Points, Aloft, and Element

Starwood Hotels' business emphasizes the global operation of hotels and resorts primarily in the luxury and upscale segment of the lodging industry. It seeks to acquire interests in, or management or franchise rights with respect to properties in this segment. At December 31, 2009, its hotel portfolio included owned, leased, managed and franchised hotels totaling 979 hotels with approximately 292,000 rooms in approximately 100 countries, and is comprised of 63 hotels that it owns or leases or in which it has a majority equity interest, 440 hotels managed by the company on behalf of third-party owners and 476 hotels for which it receives franchise fees.