The Katara Hospitality company with over 40 iconic and luxury hotels and resorts is set to open several properties in Qatar and outside over the next couple of years, said senior officials of the company.
The state-owned hospitality giant is working aggressively to contribute to achieving the long term objective of economic diversification and sustainable development of the Qatari economy.
With over 80,000 room keys located in promising markets around the world, including Qatar, the company has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing support to the local companies, especially the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by offering them more job opportunities and contracts.
“We at Katara Hospitality source over 40 percent of our requirements from local suppliers. And we are working to increase this ratio to over 50 percent. And with the opening of our new properties, the volume of our procurement is expected to grow significantly,” Nadia Traktar, Senior Officer, Procurement, at Katara Hospitality told The Peninsula on the sidelines of the Moushtarayat 2019.
“We are showcasing several business opportunities for local suppliers in this expo (Moushtarayat 2019) for the local suppliers. We are also educating the suppliers about how to participate in various tenders, including the two upcoming contracts that are to be signed for the supply of food and beverages for a period of up to one year.”
She said that Katara, after the blockade, is encouraging more and more local firms to be able to benefit from the huge requirements of fresh food and other stuff for its hotels and restaurants. And the company has also launched several initiatives to promote localization.
A spokesperson of the Katara Hospitality said that the company, since its establishment in 1970, has been growing fast and steadily. The total number of properties in Qatar has grown to about 17 with the combined room key of over 3,725, which is expected to grow more in the coming years.
“In Qatar, the Salwa Beach Resort, which is currently under contraction, will open in the second quarter of 2020, and Al Messila Resort with 152 units is set to open by the end of this year. And the Katara Towers in Lusail Marina District, the opening and closing venue of the 2022 Fifa games, is scheduled to open by 2021,” added the spokesperson.
“Katara Towers, which are the reflection of the emblem of Qatar, will house a luxurious five-star hotel, the first six-star hotel in Qatar and branded residences to become home to potential residents. The complex will make available a total of 505 rooms and 49 apartments. The project has been enhanced with a man-made satellite beach front island that will be home to a mix of entertainment and recreations facilities and a potent restaurant mix of celebrity chefs, global brands and homegrown brands restaurants.”
Katara Hospitality’s iconic Raffles Hotel Singapore will be opening for the guest in the third quarter of this year. Once open, the property will help boost the local economy and the hospitality sector. The hotel has already commenced accepting reservations for stays commencing August 1, 2019, onwards. The hotel had closed its doors on December 2017 for its first renovation in almost 30 years.
Abdula Hafeez, Corporate Director (Procurement) at Katara Hospitality, said: “Over 40 percent of spending goes to the local suppliers which are 100 percent Qatari-owned companies. We also provide needful assistance and guidance to local companies about our requirements and standards, which they are able to meet. And we expect that this ratio will go up significantly in the coming years.”
The Peninsula
02/04/2019
