Updated: September 2008

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific’s leading luxury hotel group, has signed an agreement with Faisal Bin Qassim Al-Thani & Sons Holding Company W.L.L to manage the Shangri-La Hotel, Doha, opening mid-2009. The opening will follow the successful launch of its first four properties in the region; the Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai in July 2003, Traders Hotel, Dubai in July 2004, Shangri-La’s Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa, Muscat in February 2006 and Shangri-La’s Qaryat Al Beri Hotel, Abu Dhabi in September 2007.

The five-star, 48-storey Shangri-La Hotel, Doha will be centrally located in the commercial heart of Doha, offering direct access to the prestigious shopping and entertainment of the Doha City center complex.

Developed by Al Rayan Tourism Development Company W.L.L., the hotel will have 272 luxurious guest rooms with wireless LAN and high-speed internet access, 42 serviced apartments and a variety of restaurants including a lobby lounge, Leyla – a piano bar, Sridan – a Middle Eastern food souk, a Latin American restaurant called Fuego, Yabby – a seafood restaurant and Xi’An – a Chinese restaurant / lounge.  The recreation facilities will include Shangri-La’s signature spa, CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, while meeting facilities will feature a grand ballroom of 840 square metres and other function rooms. In addition, the hotel will have a helipad on the top floor of the building to facilitate the arrival of VIP guests.

Shangri-La’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Madhu Rao, comments: “The Shangri-La Hotel, Doha reconfirms our commitment to expanding in the Middle East.  Our target is to build a regional presence of about eight to ten hotels and we are delighted to be opening a hotel in Doha in a prime location with such dedicated owners.”

H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani, Chairman of Faisal Bin Qassim Al-Thani & Sons Holding Company W.L.L., said: “Having Shangri-La on board is a major win for us. It reflects our focus on becoming a major force in the hospitality industry.

“This is a reflection of the policy of His Highness, the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and His Highness the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, which has been a key factor in the multi-industry boom Qatar is now witnessing.”

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and/or manages 56 hotels under the Shangri-La and Traders brands with a rooms inventory of over 28,000.  Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services.  Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates.  The company has over 50 projects under development in Austria, Canada, mainland China, France, India, Japan, Macau, Maldives, Philippines, Qatar, Seychelles, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States.  For more information or reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com.

For digitised pictures of the group’s hotels, please go to http://www.shangri-la.com/imagelibrary