Katara Hospitality, the leading hospitality organization in the State of Qatar, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of the Gambia in joint initiative to develop the tourism industry in the African country.

Doha, 3 October 2012 - The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by HE Mrs. Faton Mass Jobe-Nije, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of the Gambia, and HE Sheikh Nawaf Bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Chairman of Katara Hospitality. The event took place at The Ritz-Carlton, Doha, on the 2nd of October 2012.

Under this MoU, the government of The Gambia offers Katara Hospitality a plot of land with an area of 18 hectares located in Bijilo Forest Park on the western African coast. Katara Hospitality commits to building here a hospitality complex that will contribute to the development of the tourism sector in the country.

"We welcome Katara Hospitality to the Gambia and we are confident that this investment in Bijilo Forest Park will contribute significantly to boosting the tourism sector not only in the area, but in the country", commented Mrs. Faton Mass Jobe -Nije.

 "One of the main pillars of our strategic expansion is to invest in emerging markets. By committing to this agreement, our primary goal is to support the development of the local community, while sharing our expertise in the hospitality field and investing into creating a strong partnership and lasting value", says Sheikh Nawaf.

With a pleasant sub-tropical climate, sunshine and sandy beaches and a rich heritage, tourism is the fastest growing sector of the Gambian economy, accounting for about 12% of the country's Gross Domestic Product. Efforts at tourism diversification are currently directed to developing the MICE market, while elevating the eco-tourism, culture and heritage tourism as well as the sports and health tourism.

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About Katara Hospitality: 
Katara Hospitality currently owns five internationally branded hotels in Qatar: Sharq Village & Spa, The Ritz-Carlton Doha, Sheraton Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, Doha Marriott Hotel and Mövenpick Hotel Doha. Two Merweb branded hotels - the Merwebhotel Central Doha and Merwebhotel Al Sadd Doha - and a third, the Merwebhotel City Centre Doha, which is scheduled to open in 2013, complete the domestic portfolio. In addition, it also owns and manages the Sealine Beach Resort, one of Qatar's favourite vacation spots. Katara Hospitality's international portfolio currently includes the Raffles Hotel Singapore, Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris, Schweizerhof Hotel Bern and Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh Golden View Beach Resort in Egypt. International properties under development include Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne (opening 2015), Royal Savoy Lausanne (opening 2014), Gallia Hotel Milan (opening 2014), The Peninsula Hotel Paris (opening 2014), another five star luxury boutique hotel in Paris (opening 2013), Comoros Beach Resort (opening 2015), Tazi Palace Hotel Tangier (opening 2015).

Katara Hospitality was formerly operated under the Qatar National Hotels Company (QNH) brand.

For media information, please contact:
Mihaela Tayar
Communications Manager - Katara Hospitality
Tel: +974 4423 7801
Mobile: +974 3366 3394
Fax: +974 4442 0477
mihaela.tayar@katarahospitality.com

www.Katarhospitality.com
Jelena Avramovic
WEBER SHANDWICK | MENA
Tel: + 974 4436 4385
Mobile: + 974 6631 1861
Fax: + 974 44364387
Katarahospitality@ws-mena.com
www.webershandwick.com  

© Press Release 2012