KATARA Hospitality’s global portfolio grew to 30 hotels (in operation or under development) at the close of 2014. The hotel developer, owner and operator met its goal of achieving 30 properties by 2016, two years ahead of schedule. The Qatari company has also set its next benchmark - doubling the portfolio by 2026.
Sheikh Nawaf Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al Thani, chairman of Katara Hospitality, says, “Achieving our goal of 30 properties two years ahead of target is indeed a major achievement which has earned us global recognition as one of the world’s leading hospitality companies. As we continue our journey of expansion in Qatar and internationally, Katara Hospitality is now focusing on its next strategic target of expanding its portfolio of iconic hotels to 60 properties by 2026.”Over the past year, Katara Hospitality has added six international properties to its collection of iconic hotels. In June, the company acquired five properties in key European cities, adding the InterContinental Carlton Cannes, the InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam, the InterContinental Madrid, the InterContinental Frankfurt, and the leasehold interest in the InterContinental De La Ville Rome to its portfolio. Katara Hospitality has also expanded its footprint into the London market this year with an investment in The Savoy, A Fairmont Managed Hotel. The past year has also witnessed several important hotel openings for Katara Hospitality. The Peninsula Paris opened after four years of meticulous restoration that celebrated the property’s outstanding architectural heritage whilst discreetly modernising it to become a thoroughly contemporary hotel. The Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel re-opened in November, following an extensive renovation that upgraded the property’s facilities. The Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Milan also welcomed its first guests following the hotels soft reopening in December. The iconic project will officially reopen this month, once the full four-year renovation is completed by renowned Milanese architect Marco Piva.Katara Hospitality has received a number of noteworthy awards this year, further propelling the organisation into the global spotlight. The company was recently named the World’s Leading Hospitality Company by the World Travel Awards for the second year running. This prestigious award capped off previous recognition at the World Travel Awards, which had recognised Katara Hospitality as the World’s Leading Hospitality Company in December 2013 and again named it the Middle East’s Leading Hospitality Development Company in May this year.The company’s contributions to the hospitality landscape have also been recognised on a regional level. This year, Katara Hospitality was named the Hospitality Company of the Year at the fifth Arabian Business Qatar Awards and the ‘2014 Hospitality Achiever’ at the Inaugural Qatar Enterprise Agility Awards.