Inspired Location and Design Enhances Le Méridien's Global Portfolio and Guest Experience
29 January 2008 - Today Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. signed a long term agreement with Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Company to manage Le Méridien Doha, Starwood's fifth property and brand in Qatar. Le Méridien Doha will be the brand's flagship in Qatar.
Located in the upscale West Bay of Doha, construction works of Le Méridien Doha will start in early 2008 and are planned to be completed by 2010.
"The chic soul of Le Méridien emanates from its European heritage, tracing back to the brand's birth place in Paris in 1972. Le Méridien seeks to engage its guests in a meaningful way by bringing alive its passion points of arts, architecture, food and design, said Eva Ziegler, Senior Vice President, Le Méridien. Le Méridien Doha is a perfect addition to our portfolio, and will continue to deliver the brand promise and elegant lifestyle to its creative guests."
"We are very pleased to grow our partnership with Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Company that also owns our Four Points by Sheraton in Doha. Le Méridien Doha is a perfect compliment to our footprint in the region, said Roeland Vos, President of the Europe Africa and Middle East Division of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. This new project is not only illustrative of Le Méridien's core values, but also represents a perfect addition to Starwood's ever-expanding presence in the Middle East."
"We are proud to continue and evolve our partnership with Starwood, said Hisham Al Mana, Chairman and Managing Director of Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Company. We are convinced that Le Méridien is the perfect brand for this project and, as the flagship brand, we are confident that Le Méridien Doha will successfully position itself uniquely among the leading business hotels in Qatar, added Al Mana."
Le Méridien Doha will feature 250 elegantly positioned guestrooms and 100 serviced apartments, all-day dining, two specialty restaurants, fully equipped spa and gym and approximately 2,000 square meters of meeting and conference space.
-Ends-
About Le Méridien
Le Méridien brand, currently represented by approximately 120 properties in 52 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in November 2005. With close to 90 percent of its properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Le Méridien provides a strong international complement to Starwood's primarily North American holdings. Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Méridien-branded hotels and resorts within the next five years, concentrating in the U.S., Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, including destinations such as India, Thailand and China.
About Starwood
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 850 properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood® Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, Sheraton®, Westin®, Four Points® by Sheraton, W®, Le Méridien® and the recently announced aloft SM and ELEMENTS SM Hotels. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com/pressclub
For any further information, please contact:
Marco Ferrari
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
VP, Director of External Communication,
Europe, Africa & Middle East
Ph. +39-06-4880225
Fax +39-06-4881210
marco.ferrari@starwoodhotels.com
© Press Release 2008
