By Arvind Nair
RYDGES Plaza hotel is scheduled to close on December 1, just six years after it was built.
Though no hotel official was willing to talk about the hotel’s fate, a source confirmed that it would not receive any guests in December.
The hotel, run by the Australian Rydges Group, was informally opened on December 15, 2002. It is owned by FBQHC of Sheikh Faisal bin Qassem al-Thani.
A hotel source could not say what might happen to the 11-storey building that stands in the al-Bida area, overlooking the Doha Bay and the Corniche. However, the source said the building “is being taken over by the ministry (of interior)”.
Ever since the 138-room building was built, speculation was rife in the city that the hotel would never be opened because of its sensitive location next to the Emiri Palace. But, it did open and survived the demolitions that razed all the surrounding buildings, which housed hundreds of residents.
However, speculation of the demolition resurfaced from time to time.
The source could not say whether the four-star hotel would be reopened at another location. But, moves are underway to find a new building, it is learnt.
The Rydges Plaza is a hotel group that was launched in 1988 and currently has more than 30 properties in various countries, including the UAE. A hotel official has said it is looking to expand its presence in the Middle East.

http://www.qatarembassy.ro/Engleza/photos/hotels/rydge%20plaza.jpg

Finally!! :D

why are you happy about it?

^^ He's happy that the LONG BASELESS RUMOURS is finally settled!

:ohno:.....

it was rumoured ever since the tall buildings near to emiri diwan were collpased.

^^ the right word is demolished not collapsed.. collapsed is like it just happened unlike demolished like whanting it to happen.... blah blah blah... :ohno:

^^ He's happy that the LONG BASELESS RUMOURS is finally settled!

that and also, being the only tower in this area. but is it going to be demolished ? or taking over by the ministry ?

hmmmm well i guess there wouldnt be any fears of missiles flying from the hotel to the emiri diwan lolz haha like that will ever happen...

That's Bad news its a beautifull tower

I heard Diwan Emiri is taking it .

what will they do with it ? althani hotel ???

I heard Diwan Emiri is taking it .

true. some departements of the Diwan, like the photography dept, have already moved in.
a source at the ministery of interior told me that both, ministery of interior & foreign affairs will soon move to their new office buildings, which is, catch this....THE PALM TOWERS!!

what will they do with it ? althani hotel ???

HUH ?:nono:

^^ i was not fooling around i was asking a serious question there... who knows maybe there turning it into an Emiri hotel.....

Its sad not because its such a great hotel but because the Ausie bar upstairs has to close.Thats because they is very little nightlife in Doha as it is.

^^ i was not fooling around i was asking a serious question there... who knows maybe there turning it into an Emiri hotel.....

There isnt such althani hotel and for sure they are not going to waste such a building for one family . They are making use of it because rydges as a hotel FAILED as a management for one reason and i think the other reason is insecure location because it can view the internal diwan (Which should have been noticed 6 years back) .

As for the bars you are concerned about cthighflyer i`m sure they will be re-located somewhere else . For the mean while you can enjoy what they call irish pub :cheers:

Has there been any update / progress on this? Or is it like the 'project' infront of my workplace which has been standing dormant & unfinished for about 2 years?!

It's a shame / sham that Rydges has shut and they have done absolutely zip all with it.

Went past yesterday ... no changes, nothing to report.

Demolition has started!

http://img682.imageshack.us/img682/8318/img01284201001211434.jpg (http://img682.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img01284201001211434.jpg)

DEMOLISHED! BLASTED!

XJ2Ek66KzQg

OMG!! that's soooo cooool, let's try it again with a building in westbay :lol:

^^ @@

OMG!! that's soooo cooool, let's try it again with a building in westbay :lol:

i agree. let's start with the building of Ashghal!

^^ and then kahramaa !!!!

^^^
see salman, there are many who are more excited than i am :P

i agree. let's start with the building of Ashghal!

LOL . . i usually agree, but to be honest . .Omar's tunnel is good . .just wondering why all the new tunnels have only two lanes in each direction . . i think the urban planning are responsible for this, i blame them!

You Qataris have let a 7-years-old highrise building pass away for no real apparent reason. What's going to be on the site now, a bigger skyscraper? Why this not-very-old hotel was imploded is now under investigation. Rydges needs to build a new hotel if the old one has passed for no reason. A building like that can only be demoed because of major structural problems.

Never demolish a building that young again!

and you are speaking to us why ? i think its relate to the areas heritage and cultural signifigance ? thats why they razed mushiereb for a project etc etc.