Qatar’s hospitality sector continues to win accolades, ranked best in the Middle East for a second consecutive year, according to the Guest Experience in the Middle East Report, released by hospitality and travel data providers Olery.
The report analyzed over 12mn online guest reviews in the past 12 months (April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019) from popular online booking sites.
Qatar’s score increased from 84.3 last year to 85.4. The development of new attractions, such as the recently opened National Museum of Qatar, was credited with helping maintain the hospitality sector’s momentum.
The report measures overall guest satisfaction by considering different aspects of their tourist accommodation experience, including service, location, cleanliness, room quality, and value for money.
In Qatar, service, cleanliness, and location received ratings of 9.0, above the global benchmark in each of these categories.
Qatar’s hospitality sector also scored higher in rooms (8.9), food (8.8) and facilities (8.4). According to the ‘guest type’ category, Qatar’s tourist accommodation was particularly popular among business travelers, families, and friends.
“Qatar’s hospitality sector remains a key engine of our tourism vision. We congratulate our partners in the private sector for their continued growth, and their focus on providing travelers with unparalleled hospitality and authentic experiences,” Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) secretary-general HE Akbar al-Baker said.
“The Olery report confirms that Qatar’s hospitality sector is best in class, and a model for the industry and the region. The Olery report and the guests who have stayed in Qatar’s hotels articulated the main selling points as attentive service, top-notch facilities, and authentic experiences,” he added. “These remain a priority as we continue to build diverse tourism and hospitality products and attract more guests to experience all that Qatar has to offer.”
The hotel classification system introduced by QNTC in 2016 plays a central role in establishing Qatar as a leading destination in terms of hospitality and quality.
One of its major components is the Voice of the Guest, which classifies hotels through performance. Partnering with one of the world’s leading companies in guest sentiment analysis, QNTC uses a tool to obtain a sentiment score from over 100 guest review platforms.
This commitment to travelers helps QNTC and its partners in the hospitality sector evolve new products and experiences.
Gulf Times
15/05/2019
