Katara Hospitality


Katara Hospitality, formerly known as Qatar National Hotels Company, is the largest hotel owner, developer and operator in Qatar. It is government-owned. As of 2016, the company owns properties in Qatar, Egypt, Morocco, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Singapore, The Netherlands, United States of America, Switzerland, Spain and Thailand. The company have a portfolio of 40 hotels in mid-2019.

History

Katara Hospitality was first formed in 1970 as Qatar National Hotels Limited. In 1973, Marriott Hotel, then known as Gulf Hotel and owned by QNH, became the country's five-star hotel. In 1993, this company was replaced by Qatar Nationals Hotel Company. Eventually, in 2012, QNH was rebranded under its current form, Katara Hospitality. 'Katara' derives its name from the common spelling used for 'Qatar' by ancient cartographers.
World Travel Awards named Katara Hospitality as the "World's Leading Hospitality Company" in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Activities

Several Qatar-based hotels are owned by the company, and there are many projects currently in construction. Hotels operating in Qatar include Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Doha, Mövenpick Hotel Doha, Sealine Beach, a Murwab Resort, Sharq Village & Spa, Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, Simaisma, a Murwab Resort, Somerset West Bay Doha, The Avenue, a Murwab Hotel and The Ritz-Carlton, Doha.
Katara Hospitality opened Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel in 1982. In a partnership with the premier Spanish football division, La Liga, Katara Hospitality launched the first-ever "La Liga lounge" at the Sheraton Resort in Doha in March 2017.

Investments

In 2012, Katara had a portfolio of 24 hotels. By mid-2017, the company had increased its portfolio to 40 hotels.

Africa

Katara Hospitality's first international investment came in 2006, under its previous identity, Qatar National Hotels Company. That year, it acquired Egypt's Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh Resort.
In April 2010, QNH signed a deal with the Comoran government to build a $70 million hotel resort in Comoros. The deal came after a donors conference geared towards Comoros was hosted by Qatar in March 2010.
Morocco and the QNH signed a $55 million deal in November 2011 to refurbish the Tazi Palace, located in Tangier.
In the Gambia, the company signed a deal with the Gambian government in October 2012 to build a $200 million resort next to Banjul, the capital.

Europe

The Excelsior Hotel Gallia in Milan, Italy was acquired by the company in 2015. It is managed by hospitality company Starwood. In addition it runs the Westin Excelsior Rome.
Katara Hospitality has invested in several properties in Paris. Hotels it owns include The Peninsula Paris and the Royal Monceau Raffles Paris.
In Switzerland, the company has invested $1 billion into renovating the Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, which it owns.
In the Netherlands, Katara Hospitality own the Amstel Hotel run by the Intercontinental Group.

Subsidiaries

Murwab Hotels Group

Katara Hospitality has separate operating division known as Murwab Hotels Group. MHG directs hotels under its brands, which include The Bürgenstock Selection and Murwab Hotels.
In February 2016, the group launched Simaisma Resort. It was built in the coastal Qatari town of Simaisma in an effort to increase tourism to the area.

Qetaifan Projects Company

Qetaifan Projects Company was launched in October 2017 to oversee development projects in Qetaifan Island North in Lusail. It was valued at $2.9 billion at the time of its establishment.