Qatari Hotels Association gears up for World Cup, next phase roadmap

The Qatari Hotels Association (QHA) held a meeting yesterday to discuss its work plan and strategy during the coming period, including a number of issues related to preparations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

The meeting was held in the presence of QHA chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani, second vice-chairman Omar Hussain Alfardan and secretary-general Sheikh Hamad bin Mohamed bin Fahd al-Thani.Also present during the meeting were Sheikh Mohamed bin Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani; Sheikh Ahmed al-Thani, representing Katara Hospitality; Irfan Khan, head of Asset Management at Katara Hospitality; Medhat Nobi, CEO of Retaj Hotels and Hospitality; Islam Yousry, regional director of Business Development, Retaj Hotels and Hospitality; and Sarah Abdullah, deputy GM of Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA).During the meeting, the participants discussed the economic boom that Qatar is currently witnessing and that it has become a world-class destination amid the staging of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The participants also stressed that the continued commitment of hotels and hotel apartment owners to the success of the largest global event organised in Qatar. They also discussed the challenges facing the hotel sector in successfully preparing for the World Cup.Similarly, the meeting reviewed the entire agenda, including a plan to issue a magazine for the QHA, in addition to activating social media platforms and a proposal to hold meetings with the bodies concerned with the tourism and hotel sector in the country.The board members also considered the possibility of QHA’s participation in global and regional events related to the tourism and hotel sector, such as the Arab Tourism Exhibition, the Investment and Tourism Exhibition in Switzerland, and the Imax Tourism Exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany.The meeting discussed QHA’s work plan, strategy and activities during the next phase, foremost of which is working to join a number of international tourism organisations to exchange hotel experiences and the possibility of signing memoranda of understanding and co-operation with international tourism institutions, to discuss prospects and opportunities for co-operation, and to build common perceptions to enhance and exchange experiences.