Sharq Village & Spa, operated by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company B.V., opened its doors in Qatar in the first quarter of 2007.
The resort, located in the area known as 'Sharq' or the Orient, is inspired by traditional Qatari culture and architecture.
'Qatar is well known for its impressive buildings with contemporary architecture. In a novel contrast, Sharq Village & Spa will stand out as a memorable experience for visitors seeking a destination resort with an exceptional 'sense of place' and historic accents,' said Abdul Aziz Al Emadi, General Manager of Sharq Village & Spa. This will be the second Ritz-Carlton property in Doha, Qatar.
Designed to reflect the close-knit communities of fishermen, pearl divers and merchants that shaped Qatar's vibrant history, Sharq Village & Spa is also equipped with modern facilities and amenities to meet the requirements of international leisure and business travellers.
Honouring the true sense of a traditional Qatari home, Sharq Hotel & Spa houses 174 beits (rooms). Each of which is decorated with intricately designed furniture, hand-made carpets, vibrant velvets and silk embellishments.
The courtyard beits reflect the legacy of Qatar's old trade routes - Qatari chests, lanterns, and furniture surround a hand made wooden four-poster bed in a room with ornate arches, glowing recesses and wooden ceilings.
Rooms are lavishly decorated with authentic copper, inlaid brass, and hand-woven carpets, providing a restive and private Qatari-style sanctuary, whilst still offering the most modern luxury amenities, such as deep soaking tubs, separate walk-in rainforest showers, private balconies, and state-of-art technology including wall mounted flat-screen LCD televisions and both hi-speed wireless and cabled data connections.
The hotel exterior resembles that of an elegantly marbled sheikh's palace, and the interior is no less regal with crystal-draped chandeliers hanging from the towering arched ceilings. The lobby houses Qatar's only indoor souq where one can purchase everything from luxury designer wear to traditional Arabic ornaments
Sharq Village & Spa is also home to over 12,150 sq. ft /1,130 sq. m of conferencing space split among two ballrooms, a board room and one grand reception foyer. All facilities are furnished with the most sophisticated technology to suit all business and conferencing needs and can receive up to a total of 950 reception guests.
The resort envelopes cooling pools, fountains, lush gardens and intimate courtyards; wandering through the streets and courtyard homes, guests will encounter a symphony of flavors and aromas of times past. Sharq Village & Spa offers some of the most unique and imaginative dining experiences in Doha. Each venue showcases exquisite culinary creations that blend into the rich ambiance of the ancient Qatari village complimented by impeccable service and comfort. Diners can choose to indulge their passion for food on the ample rooftop or terrace seating amongst lush tropical foliage or indoors, the village restaurants are comfortably positioned to offer the most breathtaking views and guarantees exceptional dining experiences, while the signature seafood restaurant Al Mahara at the water's edge offers the very best from the sea.
The four spa villages that make up the 6,500 square metre area of the Six Senses Spa are connected by a labyrinth of waving pathways, cascading fountains and lush greenery to tempt the senses into utter escape. The 23 treatment rooms are fashioned on a traditional Qatari environment resembling typical village houses with heated stone massage beds, mud baths, fully equipped gym, private majlis areas and several quiet reflective meditation rooms. With an endless assortment of treatments from traditional Arabian, Thai and Swedish therapies to the more holistic offerings of naturopathy and specialist visiting practitioners - guests could experience a new treatment every day for an entire month.
The legendary Qatari hospitality is as alive today as it was in the past, and while Sharq Village & Spa recreates and celebrates Qatar's long-standing traditions, it still caters for the needs of today's sophisticated traveller.
-Ends-
© Press Release 2007
