A city within a city, with an office complex, residences, a sandy beach, a hydrotherapy centre, and the blue ripple of its pools in the middle of West Bay, Doha's new 'place to be', a chic and trendy business district that was just a desert four years ago and has become the lifeblood of Qatar's capital.<\/p>\n
Ellen Boucher, spokesperson for the Four Seasons, confirms the scale of the hotel boom in her adopted city. \"We are planning to open a new Four Seasons at The Pearl\", she enthuses. The Pearl. A 400-hectare artificial island with 40 km of coastline that will soon become the residential and recreational centre of Doha, while West Bay will remain the business district, growing mainly in height. Office towers, residences and hotels are taking over this new urban landscape which, once the armies of cranes have disappeared, promises to be one of the most innovative in the world. Between autumn 2009 and spring 2010, three new five-star hotels are set to monopolise the skyline: Marriott Renaissance (50 storeys), City Center Rotana Hotel (also 50 storeys), Shangri-La (48 storeys), and a St Regis, scheduled for 2011.<\/p>\n
Last March, two little newcomers were already making news. Firstly, the W, which sets the scene for the destination, since this range of lifestyle design hotels never sets foot anywhere other than the trendiest places on the planet. \"The W is currently the fastest-growing luxury chain,\" explains Marta Andreeva, Marketing Director. Standing in front of the futuristic marquee of the W in West Bay, all metal curves covered in grass worthy of a Swiss alpine pasture, you can imagine the surprises to come. And indeed it is. Right from the 'living room' (in W parlance, not a business centre but a 'wired', no concierge but 'whatever whenever', so no lobby), the first surprise is a shower of royal blue fanoos, the lanterns of the sultans' palaces, falling from the mezzanine and making a veritable Oriental sky. Marta Andreeva points out that \"Qatari touches are omnipresent, such as the black pearl motif found on the marble floors and carpets\". Another surprise is the suspended aquariums and life-size 'lampshade horses' that light up the suites. Even more daring is the swimming pool, which changes colour from green to purple to the sound of underwater music, for snorkelling enthusiasts.<\/p>\n
The other hotel with the \"March 2009\" stamp of approval: the Grand Hyatt at West Bay Lagoon. Strategically located between the new towns of Lusail and Pearl, not far from the future airport. Luxury is everywhere, but without ostentation. The emphasis is on detail, from the rainbow of coloured crystal chandeliers to the star-patterned woodwork reminiscent of mosques, from the 70-metre central atrium to the sublime fountain in the lobby. \"We wanted to evoke an Arabian palace, with authentic stonework and interior gardens,\" explains Sales Director Andres Corrales. And as in a real sultan's palace, no alcohol is served. Or almost.<\/p>\n
It is said that locals in national costume are not allowed in hotel bars. Although it is not uncommon to see men in dishdasha chatting over a drink. This is because in Doha, as in many cities in the Gulf, social life is concentrated in these large, distinguished hotels, which are the only ones to have the right to a cocktail or a grand cru. Qataris, expatriates and visitors all go there. But it's very expensive and many prefer to enjoy their champagne while discovering a new trendy venue. And the celebrations are far from over, with the Qatar Tourism Authority announcing the opening of 45 hotels.<\/p>\n
Abu Dhabi is also announcing some new developments. An additional 30,000 beds are expected to be added by 2015, and $10 billion will be invested in the hotel industry over the next ten years. In the Emirates, no expense is spared. Looking at the Emirates Palace, \"the most expensive hotel in the world\", as Mohammed Alaoui, its marketing director, reminds us, it's easy to see why. Originally intended as a residence for visiting heads of state, the palace opened in 2005 and has since been transformed into a major hotel, managed by the Kempinsky group. In this kilometre-long building, the list of luxurious extravagances goes on and on: 40 conference rooms, marble imported from thirteen countries, 1,002 chandeliers, five kilos of gold tasted each year on the desserts, 800 trees... and exhibitions. One of which is a model of the future museums on Saadiyat Island. The Emirates Palace is not just a hotel. \"Last year, we organised the largest Picasso exhibition held outside an official museum, as well as a number of concerts,\" says Mohammed Alaoui.<\/p>\n
The presence of this luxury hotel has been emulated by others. Like Shangri-La, which opened in front of the Sheikh-Zayed mosque in 2007. \"We wanted to promote a brand new concept that we called city resort,\" explains C\u00e9line Doyle, Sales Director. The result is a 214-room establishment with a major asset: an unobstructed view of the third largest mosque in the world and, at the same time, a private inlet. The view from the infinity pool is sublime, a seaside detail that even attracts business customers. Hence the opening next July, on the same site, of a Trader, a four-star hotel under the Shangri-La brand: \"A four-star hotel with five-star services,\" continues C\u00e9line Doyle, \"where guests will be able to enjoy the Shangri-La restaurants, its five swimming pools, its spa... at unbeatable prices. \"Competition will soon be fierce. In 2010, two new Hyatts are due to open, including the Capital Gate Tower, an impressive 34-storey sloping tower, inclined at 33 degrees, which will undoubtedly become the icon of Abu Dhabi. In September, an Aloft hotel, a new Starwood concept modelled on the W, will target a business clientele looking for low prices but accustomed to luxury.<\/p>\n
The kind of luxury you find again and again in Dubai. After The Creek and The Palms, it's now the turn of Downtowm Burj Dubai to wow the world. This new business district, culminating in an 818-metre tower, is the provisional heart of this city still in the making. The decision-maker here is Emaar, which is behind not only the Burj Dubai, but also two luxury four-star hotels, the Al-Manzil and the Qamardeen, as well as a new five-star hotel opposite the tower, The Address, the flagship of a recently created chain. In this urban paradise that is The Address, none of the 196 rooms is exactly like the other, and there is not a single lapse of taste in this bath of contemporary luxury. While the direct view of the Burj is already impressive from the rooms (located between the 7th and 12th floors), it is above all from Neo, the lounge on the 63rd floor and its 360-degree panorama, that the height of the 'big one' and its 162 floors is fully appreciated. The future Armani Hotel, due to open in the Burj Dubai, will have to make do with a modest elevation, from the 6th to the 19th. Meanwhile, The Address and Emaar continue to gain ground, with The Address Dubai Mall about to open in the city's last major shopping centre, opposite the Burj Fountain and its great waters. The latest version of Versailles.<\/p>\n
Festival City is another up-and-coming area, with its abundance of hotels. A high-profile location that Pierre Gagnaire chose to open his sixth restaurant, within the walls of the new InterContinental, which has just been voted the best restaurant in Dubai. Festival City will also be the site of the 2011 opening of a new W - the first in Dubai - as well as a Versace Hotel and a Four Seasons. As for the Jumeirah group, the leading hotelier on the Dubai scene and best known for the famous Burj Al Arab, it is announcing a Jumeirah Business Bay Hotel. Finally, an Emirates Park Towers Hotel will take over two 77-storey buildings... only. Just for those who are not yet ready to face the vertigo of the world's tallest tower.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"