U/C: SONESTA HOTEL DOHA - QATAR

[suzan]

Sonesta International Hotels Corp. Announces New Hotel in Qatar:
SONESTA HOTEL DOHA - QATAR
Scheduled to open in late-2008


(February 15, 2007 - Boston, MA) -- Sonesta International Hotels Corporation announces its first hotel in Qatar (pronounced “Cutter”), the 180-room Sonesta Hotel Doha. Scheduled to open in late 2008, this spectacular new hotel will be located in Doha, the capital city of Qatar, on the Persian Gulf. The hotel is owned by a company controlled by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Thany, a member of the Royal Family of Qatar. The hotel is being developed by General Trading Group and will be managed by Sonesta.

The hotel will be located in downtown Doha near the large shopping area (known as the soouk or bazaar). Amenities will include 2 full-service restaurants and a cocktail lounge, meeting space, a fitness center and swimming pool.

Doha is the largest city in Qatar and is the economic center of the country, and several of the largest oil and gas companies are headquartered there. The city is also home to the University of Qatar - located in Doha’s Education City, which also features campuses of several U.S. universities including Georgetown and Carnegie Mellon. Doha International Airport is currently being upgraded and the newly improved airport is expected to open in 2008. Qatar is located on the Arabian Peninsula adjacent to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and has been an independent sovereign state since 1971.

Sonesta has been operating deluxe hotels in the Middle East since 1982, primarily in Egypt, and is looking forward to the first Sonesta hotel in Qatar. Sonesta continues to explore additional opportunities in the region. Doha will be the 12th Sonesta in the Middle East.

GTG (General Trading Group) was founded over 40 years ago by late Sheikh Ahmed Bin Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Thani. GTG is engaged in diversified business portfolios such as: infrastructure development projects, real estate & construction, international franchised restaurants, import & distribution, furniture manufacturing, hotel & hospitality management and travel & tourism. His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Thani is the Chairman. H. E. Sheikh Abdullah was formerly the Chairman of Qatar National Hotels & Qatar Tourism Authority.

The Sonesta Collection is a distinctive international collection of upscale hotels, resorts and cruise ships. Every property reflects the energy, style and spirit of its location. Locally-inspired and artfully-presented cuisine, luxurious accommodations and passionate personal service create an authentic and memorable guest experience. Discover the Sonesta Collection in Boston, New Orleans (2), Miami (2), Orlando (2007), St. Maarten (2), Brazil (2), Peru (6) and Egypt (11). Opening soon: Doha, Qatar and Key Biscayne, FL. Visit Sonesta.com or call 800.Sonesta (800.766.3782) in the U.S. and Canada.

[omarmakki]

lol! It's literally raining hotels!