The hospitality sector in the country is bound to witness a surge in demand through government initiatives, global and local events, the biggest of which is the hosting of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 in November, said Hospitality Qatar – the longest-running International Hospitality and HORECA (Hotel/Restaurant/Café) trade show.
Hospitality Qatar, the country’s flagship and only trade event for hospitality, food and beverage (F&B) and tourism is back this year for its seventh edition. The event, together with Project Qatar will be held simultaneously at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center. Overall, the two expos combined into one major exhibition will welcome over 300 exhibitors, wherein 180 are international firms from 30 countries, seven of which will participate in official national pavilions, while 120 are Qatari companies from government and semi-government agencies.
“Sports events, staycation demand, cruise business, travellers from GCC countries, exhibitions, food festivals, and other such events will drive the growth of Qatar’s hospitality sector in 2022 to unprecedented levels. The hotel market’s supply alone is set to exceed 44,000 rooms by the end of 2022, almost a 50 percent growth from the current supply of 30,000 rooms, offering opportunities unmatched by any other market in the world,” said Hospitality Qatar on its website.
Latest report from the Planning and Statistics Authority revealed that the country witnessed a strong growth in the arrival of visitors which has boosted the tourism sector. April 2022 data showed that 97,854 visitors arrived in the country, compared to 13,312 in April 2019, a 635 percent rise.
In a press conference held recently, Dr. Henrik Christiansen, Group Chief Executive Officer of Estithmar) formerly IHG) said his organisation is embarking from medical to tourism sectors wherein currently, they are building a 7-star hospital near The Pearl called The View Hospital, and a Korean Medical Center in Lusail which are both valued at around $2.5bn. This announcement is another proof of the growing hospitality sector in the country.
Moreover, last week, the Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) revealed the soon to open luxury resort The Chedi Katara Hotel and Resort by GHM which will be a “global destination all year round.”
The boutique hotel will have 59 rooms and suites, and 32 villas, and is expected to open in July.
Organiser of the event, IFP Qatar's General Manager Haidar Mshaimesh said a large delegation from the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce, with over 25 members – the highest commercial delegation from the Saudi private sector will visit Qatar since the diplomatic relations between the two countries have been restored.
The event will gather all the market’s main buyers’ groups under one roof. The sectors that will be covered include hotels and facilities, F&B, interiors and design, entertainment and leisure, and travel and tourism.
It will also feature Hospitality Qatar Conference, which is a three-day multi-themed talk where topics include tourism, entertainment, F&B sectors, and opportunities available for investors in the Qatari market. It will also have a free-of-charge certified training programmes to support the continuous superiority of the professionals and practitioners in the hospitality sector in the country. Also, the B2B Matchmaking and Hosted Buyers Program will take place.
Last year’s Hospitality Qatar edition saw the participation of 178 exhibitors, wherein 122 are local and 56 are international; 14 countries joined; India, Iran, Italy and Turkey had their own pavilions, and the number of attendees reached 11,000.
