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Amari Doha to mark Onyx’s Mideast entry

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Ball ... bringing Asian hospitality to Doha

THE soon-to-be-launched Amari Doha will mark the entry for Onyx Hospitality Group in the Middle East. The 120-room hotel is scheduled to launch in October 2012. Amari Doha, Qatar is located just 15 minutes from Doha International Airport and boasts a prime position for exploring Doha’s historic and cultural sites. The hotel’s newly appointed general manager Damian Ball speaks to TTN about his plans for the new hotel.

As you prepare to launch your first hotel in the region this year, what kind of presence does the brand Amari have?

The Amari brand reflects the colours and rhythms of modern Asian hospitality, embodying Asian flair, a modern perspective and a down-to-earth vibe. Amari celebrates its Asian roots while adding a contemporary twist. It is modern, balanced, dynamic and playful. Amari is always culturally connected to its locale and provides numerous opportunities and introductions for our guests to easily interact and connect with the surrounding community and other guests alike.

To date, the Amari brand has becoming increasingly known within the Middle East predominately through our Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui properties in Thailand. Encouragingly it has been extremely warmly accepted, especially for Middle Eastern travellers to Thailand, who appreciate both the level of care and services provided by staff, but also for the facilities and hospitality offerings, such as the residence style of accommodation in many of our properties, prime inner-city locations with excellent access to nearby shopping, business, and Arab expatriate community centres.  Additionally, for those visiting Thailand for medical reasons our vicinity and special transfer services to major international hospitals has also been well received by many Middle Eastern guests. Furthermore, Arabic menus in properties regularly visited by Middle Eastern guests also provide a welcomed introduction to both well-known international gourmet favourites, as well as an introduction to local Thai cuisine.

The promotion and creation of Ramadan and other celebratory and family packages has also allowed many Middle Eastern guests to get acquainted and experience both Thailand and the Amari brand more easily. 

With the opening of our first Amari property in Doha we believe Middle Eastern travellers, and potential future investors alike, will have increasing opportunities to experience, understand, appreciate and discover the warmth, welcoming and connectivity of the Amari brand both internationally and at home in the Middle East, and as such this is a very exciting point in the brand’s development. 

How are you looking to position the hotel in the highly competitive Doha market?

Amari Doha will be positioned, as with all our Amari properties, as a leading value for quality hospitality option, providing thoughtful service and the ability to connect guests to the sights, sounds, tastes and experiences of Doha. The central location of the property makes it suitable for business and leisure travellers, groups, families and couples alike. Business travellers will enjoy premium quality convenience and consideration through our creative corporate packages and thoughtfully designed meeting spaces. Leisure travellers too will experience Amari Doha’s unique style, exceptional service and leisure facilities whilst also being encouraged to seek out and explore all that Doha has to offer.

What can guests expect to see at the new hotel?

The 120-room Amari Doha enjoys a prime location in the city centre, offering guests a convenient base to explore one of the world’s fastest developing cities. The hotel will boast a variety of dining experiences based around Amari’s concept of bringing people together and sharing, which includes a 24-hour multi ethnic restaurant, a café with a deli, and a roof top lounge. 

The property’s generous function areas will also prove ideal for meetings, corporate and social events. Additional facilities at Amari Doha will include a business centre, fitness centre with views of the Doha skyline, adult and children’s swimming pools. For a chance to put a spring back into your step, visitors to Breeze Spa will have the opportunity to experience fun and easy body treatments to both indulge and relax. Breeze Spa will also feature a Jacuzzi and Vichy shower room.

Tell us about some the key architectural aspects of the hotel.

The 13 storey property features 120 contemporary fully appointed rooms, including 78 superior rooms, 36 deluxe rooms, and six suites. Each room is stylishly decorated in warm and contemporary tones, whilst also offering guests the ultimate comfort and luxury. In-room amenities will include LCD flat screen television, a comfortable lounge area, Wi-Fi internet access along with a work desk fitted with an idocking station.

What have been some of the biggest challenges facing you in the lead up to the opening?

With any hotel opening there will always be challenges. However, with the opening of the Doha property these challenges were neither unique to the property nor exceptional in nature and were readily overcome due to the commitment of the experienced and highly professional opening team we have on board, as well as to the exceptionally good working relationship between the property’s owners, stakeholders and Onyx Hospitality staff. 

Has recruitment been a key challenge?

It is very important to us that the right people are recruited to ensure that the Amari brand experience, personality and character is effortlessly communicated by staff while ensuring that efficient and professional performance as well as quality levels are maintained and exceeded. In this regard, much time and effort is dedicated to the recruitment of professionals able to meet these high standards.

We are quite selective in choosing what in essence translates as “Amari Ambassadors”, and so the amount of time and effort spent ensuring that the right people come on board may be considered by some as a challenge, but in this respect, it is a challenge that we warmly welcome as a necessary process of maintaining a true Amari experience for all guests and clients, and ensuring that our commitments to both owners and stakeholders are fulfilled.

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