I heard about it a while ago, but no one mentioned it:
13.3.2005

The Ramada Hotel in Doha has embarked on a multi-million riyal expansion project that will make it the largest property in the world to operate under the Ramada brand and the fifth biggest run by the hospitality chain in the GCC region.

The extension, scheduled for completion by summer next year, involves the construction of a new tower that includes 237 rooms, suites, condominiums and two penthouses as well as several new banqueting and food and beverage facilities.

According to the Peninsula, the extension will have 237 rooms in addition to the 320 in the existing premises. The new tower will feature three banqueting suites, each capable of holding up to 250 guests, two hospitality suite bars and six restaurants. Guest rooms at the new tower will measure 50.2 sq. metres and will be decorated in various styles.

Work is already under way for a new extension to the Ramada Hotel Doha which, once completed, will make it the largest hotel in Doha, the fifth largest hotel in the Gulf and the largest Ramada in the world.

In March, a large tent, decorated with arches of red and white balloons, was set up on the site of the extension to receive VIPs and guests for the groundbreaking ceremony. A set of gaily beribboned shovels stood ready, and the Ramada’s Resident Engineer set up a cunning automatic device to break a bottle of ‘sparkly’ to mark the actual first turning of the soil. Just like the tradition for the naming and launch of a new ship.
Speaking at the beginning of the groundbreaking ceremony, general manager Gordon MacKenzie said that the extension will have 237 rooms, including suites, condominiums, and two penthouses. The average room size throughout the extension, he said, will be 50.2 sq m, and there will be various types of room decoration – from full service to minimalistic.
There will be three banqueting suites, each capable of up to 250 persons, two hospitality suite bars and six restaurants. The restaurants will be, a Chinese, a Balti, to complement the hotel’s Chingari restaurant, a fine-dining vegetarian, a bistro, a fish restaurant and finally, a steak house.
MacKenzie is joined by VIPs for the groundbreaking ceremony for the new extension

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8196/ramada10gv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

From the picture, it looks exactly like the current "TOWER", but better than nothing.. I kind of like our old Ramada.

sounds good :)

sounds good :)

Second that.

the ramada in doha is the best ive seen..ramadas in the US arent all that. so it figures

any pics?

lol.. who said the ramada in doha is the best. It is the worest hotel ever. It doesnt even qualify for half a star !!

Hopefully we will see some improvements in the new ramada !!

Are u kidding. The Ramada Hotel in Doha is the best I've seen too. Have you seen how bad the ones in the US are. They're more like cheap motels and there is absolutely no service.

Ramada in the US is one of the crappiest hotels. This one here is certainly the best one. They have nice restaurants. Plus, its nice to c more hotel space in that area of Doha.

I guess I must of been misinformed. I really dont go out much in Doha.

لقي خمسة عمال آسيويين مصرعهم وأصيب ستة آخرون من جنسيات آسيوية وعربية عند انهيار ملحق مبني قيد الانشاء تابع لفندق رامادا وقد تم نقل جميع المصابين الي مستشفي حمد العام لتلقي الاسعافات فيما ذكرت ادارة العلاقات العامة بوزارة الداخلية ان ثلاثة من المصابين غادروا المستشفي وما زال الباقون يتلقون العلاج.
وبحسب مصادر طبية فإن أربعة عمال قضوا في مكان الحادث فيما توفي الخامس متأثرا بجراحه وذكرت الشقيقة الجلف تايمز التي تصدر باللغة الإنجليزية ان اثنين من الضحايا من الهند وآخر من سيرلانكا ورابعاً من نيبال فيما ظل الخامس مجهول الهوية.
كما قامت ادارة مستشفي حمد قسم الطواريء بارسال احدي عشرة مركبة اسعاف، وثمانية وعشرين مسعفا من أجل العمل علي اسعاف المتضررين وقام رجال الدفاع المدني بانقاذ المحاصرين في المبني المنهار، حيث أخرج الضحايا والجرحي بعد قطع القضبان الحديدية التي كانت تحول دون الوصول اليهم. بينما انتشل أحد الضحايا من خليط أسمنتي بعد أن غرق فيه، فيما واصل رجال الانقاذ عملهم حتي ساعة متأخرة أمس الاثنين من أجل العثور علي ضحايا آخرين وسط ركام المبني.
أما المصابون فهم مصريان وسيرلانكيان وهندي وبنجلاديشي.
وتواجد في مكان الحادث سعادة الشيخ عبدالله بن ناصر آل ثاني وزير الدولة للشؤون الداخلية الذي اشرف بنفسه علي عمليات الانقاذ واجلاء الجرحي الي جانب عدد من كبار الضباط بوزارة الداخلية.
وذكر بيان العلاقات العامة ان فرق الانقاذ من قوي الأمن الداخلي لخويا وفرق الدفاع المدني وسيارات الاسعاف هرعت الي مكان الحادث فور تلقي البلاغ.
وأضاف البيان ان النيابة العامة وادارة امن العاصمة قد باشرتا التحقيق بعد التحفظ علي المكان لحين استدعاء المهندسين المختصين من هيئة اشغال العامة لمعرفة الأسباب التي وراء الحادث.
وتورد الراية أن الحادث الذي وقع في تمام الساعة الواحدة والنصف ظهر أمس لمبني يشكل امتداداً جديدا بفندق رامادا يضم أكثر من مائتي غرفة وكان من المقرر تسليمه في يوليو القادم.
:eek2:
5 dead:2 from India, 1 from Serilanka, 1 from Nipal, fifth is not known yet.
6 injured: 2 from Egypt, 2 from Serilanka, 1 Indian, 1 from Bangladish.
There are frw minor injuries also.
The concrete readymix has fallen on them.

Ouch, that's not a good start.

They should be more careful, unfortunate but reality is harsh :(.

Another construction screw up and those in charge of supervisioning these activities are probably getting themselves ready for eid vacation in Dubai.

This is some really bad news.
It is also strange how they don't know who the fifth dead is! Doesn't the construction company know who the hell is working for them?!

5 dead! and from what?! carelessness!

Ramada extension to open on schedule

Ian Lillie

DOHA: The opening of the multi-million riyal Ramada hotel extension was not likely to be affected by yesterday's construction site accident, Ian Lillie, Director, Sales and Marketing at the hotel, said yesterday.

The extension project, which commenced on March 11 this year, will see the hotel add 237 new rooms, suites, condominiums and two penthouses, along with several new food and beverage and conferencing facilities. Once completed, the Ramada was slated to become the largest property run by the Ramada chain anywhere in the world and, its fifth biggest hotel in the GCC region.

Lillie said, the accident was expected to have little or no impact on the construction since the building where it occurred, was intact and had not suffered any structural damage.

The extension consists of a new tower for the hotel and is expected to be completed in summer 2006, in time for next year's Doha Asian Games. The crash occurred at a third level of a building that would connect the existing Ramada hotel to the adjoining tower that is being built.

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9127/ramada25vh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Ramada extension set for summer finish


THE countdown is well and truly under way to the opening of the new extension at the Ramada Hotel Doha.

The new tower block, which is now at the eighth floor level of what will be a final nine floors, is progressing at a tremendous rate, and due for completion in summer 2006.
Artists impressions and interior design plans of all the bedrooms, restaurants, public areas, executive lounges and bars are all in place – much to the delight and excitement of everyone involved. The bedrooms and suites will be of various styles and have different concepts, including Japanese, Arabic, Indian and contemporary.
There will be two penthouses and three themed suites.
The new tower will also house an array of restaurants and lounges – a Chinese, a Balti, a fine dining vegetarian, a steakhouse, a seafood restaurant, a bistro and four bars.
As well as leisure venues, there will be five major meeting rooms and private dining facilities.
The hotel is situated ten minutes from the Doha International Airport and is a ten minute drive from the Doha Corniche. It is walking distance from a shopping mall and offers internet connectivity in all guest rooms. Ideally located as a business hotel, its current MICE capacity is between six to 500 people.

The room looks good.

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/7968/image000940ri.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Looking Good and on schedule!!! :)

http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/3284/image000930yt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Going on schedule but not looking good.
I hate the idea that they are only making a replica of the original. A bit of change really wouldn't hurt!

^^ good point i hate the way it look anyway

Well, it looks plain like the old box. But at least its something else

oops!! I'm really sorry Halawala. Forgot to say thanks for the picture.

Thanks alot man ;)

^^^ Oh, no problem buddy, you're most welcome!! :)

Thanx for the pix. I don't think it's an old box. I think that this building has a distinctive look and it made this area look realy different and nice, but I just hate that the extention of the hotel is an exact relica

Ur welcome ;) ^^ :)

typical... creativity zero.

^^Loooool, that reminds me of when they wanted to renovate the Gulf Sheraton, they only renovated one of the two towers

what are you talking about ? whatgulf sheraton ?

The Ramada Hotel in Doha has embarked on a multi-million riyal expansion project that will make it the largest property in the world to operate under the Ramada brand and the fifth biggest run by the hospitality chain in the GCC region.


How can it be the largest in the World, but only the 5th biggest in the GCC?? Or is it because Dubai is on another planet??

How can it be the largest in the World, but only the 5th biggest in the GCC?? Or is it because Dubai is on another planet??

Its the Largest Ramada brand in the world and the Fifth largest hotel (all brands) in the GCC. It makes sense to me. What's dubai got to do with it?

THE countdown is well and truly under way to the opening of the new extension at the Ramada Hotel Doha.

The new tower block, which is now at the eighth floor level of what will be a final nine floors, is progressing at a tremendous rate, and due for completion in summer 2006.
Artists’ impressions and interior design plans of all the bedrooms, restaurants, public areas, executive lounges and bars are all in place – much to the delight and excitement of everyone involved. The bedrooms and suites will be of various styles and have different concepts, including Japanese, Arabic, Indian and contemporary.
There will be two penthouses and three themed suites. The new tower will also house an array of restaurants and lounges – a Chinese, a Balti, a fine-dining vegetarian, a steakhouse, a seafood restaurant, a bistro and four bars. As well as leisure venues, there will be five major meeting rooms and private dining facilities.

Sounds good

what are you talking about ? whatgulf sheraton ?
Sheraton El 5aleej at Rad Bu 3abbod

Its the Largest Ramada brand in the world and the Fifth largest hotel (all brands) in the GCC. It makes sense to me. What's dubai got to do with it?

Thats not what it says:

The Ramada Hotel in Doha....................will make it the largest property in the world to operate under the Ramada brand (OK with this part)

and the fifth biggest run by the hospitality chain in the GCC region (Not 5th biggest hotel in GCC - 5th biggest run by Ramada in GCC).

My comment about Dubai was toungue in cheek!!

and the fifth biggest run by the hospitality chain in the GCC region (Not 5th biggest hotel in GCC - 5th biggest run by Ramada in GCC).

My comment about Dubai was toungue in cheek!!

I think by hospitality chain, they meant hotels--but you're right. This sentense is not politically correct. ;)

Can anyone plz let me know who the Designer and the Contractors are for the Ramada Expansion.. thanx in advance

Sheraton El 5aleej at Rad Bu 3abbod

dave can you plez wright in arabic or atleast with out numbers?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash: :bash:

Qatar son, 3 means EIN as in 3abdualla. 5 means kh as in khalid, 7 means ha as in 7amad.

o.k understod but i never herd anything called(sheraton alkahleej)?.!?.!?.!

^^^ Sheraton Gulf was the old name of the Doha Marriott Hotel. Are you Qatari by the way? It used to look like the current smaller tower before being completely covered with glass.

yes iam qatari but young thats why i dont know alot of stuff...

Front View (from C-Ring Road)
http://img488.imageshack.us/img488/7085/image001417ui.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Back View (from inside the Ramada parking lot)
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5950/image001439mm.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Side View (from Salwa Road)
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/9200/image001443mh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

As you can see the famous Ramada-brown glass is being covered as we speak and so it will finish in now time. The structure is actually L-shaped and not the same shape as the original box-like Ramada structure. It looks very 80's, but still looks nice I think!

Thanks for the pics Halawala.
They are almost done. But, I definitely don't like it! :(

I heard about it a while ago, but no one mentioned it:
13.3.2005

The Ramada Hotel in Doha has embarked on a multi-million riyal expansion project that will make it the largest property in the world to operate under the Ramada brand and the fifth biggest run by the hospitality chain in the GCC region.

The extension, scheduled for completion by summer next year, involves the construction of a new tower that includes 237 rooms, suites, condominiums and two penthouses as well as several new banqueting and food and beverage facilities.

According to the Peninsula, the extension will have 237 rooms in addition to the 320 in the existing premises. The new tower will feature three banqueting suites, each capable of holding up to 250 guests, two hospitality suite bars and six restaurants. Guest rooms at the new tower will measure 50.2 sq. metres and will be decorated in various styles.

It should be:

The Ramada Hotel in Doha has embarked on a multi-million riyal expansion project that will make it the largest property in the world to operate under the Ramada brand and the fifth biggest run by a hospitality chain in the GCC region.

Omar, your welcome! :) (a few days late but still better than nothing)

Ugly box goin' right on schedule!

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/1601/image001961xu.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

officially will be named Ramada Plaza. scheduled to open late october, 2006.
http://www.arab4up.com/get.php?filename=1153877395.jpg (http://loulouh.com)
http://www.arab4up.com/get.php?filename=1153877486.jpg (http://loulouh.com)
http://www.arab4up.com/get.php?filename=1153877555.jpg (http://loulouh.com)
http://www.arab4up.com/get.php?filename=1153877652.jpg (http://loulouh.com)

Thanks Wakrawi; maybe it will be better in service and quality than the current Ramada.

Work site deaths: eight face negligence charge
By Nour Abuzant

EIGHT engineers - seven Arabs and a Chinese - are facing charges of "negligence that led to the death of five Asian construction workers" on December 26 last year when a scaffolding collapsed at the Ramada Hotel extension project.

The trial of the accused will begin on November 9 and legal sources said that their employer, the contracting firm, has appointed a lawyer to represent them. Among the dead were two Indians, two Nepalis, and a Sri Lankan.

The accident also left six injured.

I hope they get some serious punishment so that people like them would stop being careless and start taking some responsibility...

^^^ I know. Misakeen, imagine falling in a concrete mix dying there while the concrete is hardening around you! The contractor should have been fired!

I think its opened to the public by now, there are people inside it. Structurally its complete, so I'll change the status.

http://img238.imageshack.us/img238/7527/ramadaaz2.jpg

Cool it's the first time for me to see it complete! Looks good!

I have to admit, the glass's color on the expansion gives it a much better look than the old building. It really doesn't look as bad as I thought it would be!

^^ the problem with the gold glass ... it fades and loses its color with time ... then it looks very ugly ... the time it takes depends on the quality ...:dunno:

The parking lot is full of ugly and outdated cars. Omar, do something about that. Please!

^^ LoooL, last time I was there the car park was closed something was u/c there.

wow, its nice, and shiny

thats a great pic thanks alot for it ramada never looked better and theres a lot of diffrence between this tower and the old tower

i say 2 times better than the old one, the old one is just too plain just like a plain shwarma

The parking lot is full of ugly and outdated cars. Omar, do something about that. Please!

lol! This was really the first thing I looked at, the cars... And I was like ewwww!

Bye Bye Ramada Plaza!

Rezidor Hotel Group, the European hospitality chain, plans to invest $18m in taking over the Ramada Plaza Doha, marking the company’s first entry into the Qatar market.

The Brussels-based hotelier will convert the existing 583-room Ramada Plaza Doha to the Radisson Blu brand in the third quarter of 2012, the company confirmed on Monday.



This news comes just a day after announcing the opening of a Missoni Hotel in the same area, which is also part of Rezidor Group. Rezidor Hotel Group will have a total of three high end hotels in the same area, as the Regent Hotel is due to open within 1 or 2 years. That's a lot of hotel rooms to fill....