DOHA, QATAR (February 1, 2016)

Starwood Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: HOT), today announced the opening of The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa - Doha's new serene downtown sanctuary.  Located in the heart of the capital, the hotel marks Westin's debut in Qatar and further expands the brand's portfolio to four properties across the Middle East.

"We are delighted to introduce our Westin brand to Qatar which remains a key growth market for us in the Middle East," said Guido de Wilde, Senior Vice President, Regional Director, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Middle East. "In line with the brand's commitment to wellness, The Westin Doha will offer travelers and local residents a revitalizing experience, an escape from the hustle and bustle in the heart of downtown Doha."

Starwood opens the hotel with Ghanem Al Thani Holdings, headed by His Excellency Sheikh Ghanem Bin Ali Al Thani, who have been pioneers in Doha and opened their first hotel in the Bin Mahmoud neighborhood in 1979. The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa is at the forefront of the revitalization of Downtown Doha.

The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa boasts 365 contemporary spacious rooms, suites and villas including a 347sqm presidential suite, all offering views of Doha city or the hotel's serene oasis garden and pool area.   The room's modern furnishings, warm colour schemes and understated decorative accents help soothe the mind, body and soul.  All rooms feature the world-renowned Westin Heavenly® Bed, invigorating rainforest shower and separate bathtub - all reinforcing the concept of rejuvenation, along with Westin's signature bath amenities. 

The hotel features the Heavenly© Spa, offering the perfect escape from the arduous city life with nine elegant treatment rooms including designated male and female wings, complete with relaxation lounge. The wet spa areas with saunas, steam rooms and hydrotherapy pool facilities will open in spring 2016. Guests looking for a revitalizing-yet energized stay can power up in the WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio - a spacious state-of-the-art gym or take advantage of Doha's first man-made wave pool. The hotel also offers Westin's signature Gear Lending program, providing New Balance® shoes and athletic wear for guests looking to stay active while on the road.

Local residents and guests will also enjoy Doha's finest culinary delights across the hotel's six restaurants & bars. The hotel opens with Luxe Lounge, a coffee lounge with outdoor garden terrace, Seasonal Tastes - global cuisine restaurant, Waves Pool Café and MIX Bar, Lounge & Terrace. In March, the hotel will introduce new concepts in Doha such as Royal Thai themed Sabai Thai and contemporary grill restaurant Hunters Room & Grill which boasts a stunning, indoor green winter garden setting with natural daylight in the hotel's atrium, perfect for year round al-fresco dining experience especially during the hot summer months. The hotel will also introduce the popular 'Bubbalicious' brunch to Doha for the first time, an entertaining, interactive experience that provides the opportunity for friends and family to spend quality time together.

The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa is home to the largest pillar-less ballroom in Doha, featuring over 6,000 square meters of function space, combined with Westin's trademark, clutter-free instinctive service and attention to detail. For an unforgettable wedding experience, The Westin offers a beautiful contemporary designed venue, with a breath-taking pre-function foyer with Bohemian Crystal droplet chandelier, as well as separate dedicated bride and groom dressing rooms in addition to the hotel's bridal suite above the function space. Delicious cuisine and sublime attention to detail that create a memorable wedding experience are tailored to each guest's personal style.

The hotel is located right in the heart of Salwa Road, minutes away from Doha's central business district, museums and unique cultural venues as well as Hamad International Airport, which is a mere 20 minute drive from the property.

The opening of The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa marks Starwood's fourth hotel in Qatar. In the Middle East, Starwood currently operates 53 properties with a pipeline of over 40 hotels to open in the next five years.

Guests wanting to be the first to discover Doha's Downtown Sanctuary can take advantage of the hotel's Opening offer which includes 365QR daily credit to spend on restaurants & bars or Heavenly Spa. For more information visit westindoha.com, email reservations.doha@westin.com or call 4492 1600 to make a reservation.

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To learn more about The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa, visit www.westindoha.com

Stay connected to The Westin Doha: @westindoha on Twitter and Instagram and facebook.com/Westindoha.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts, a leader in wellness and hospitality for more than a decade, lives its philosophy "For a Better You™" through the brand's six pillars of well-being: Feel Well, Work Well, Move Well, Eat Well, Sleep Well and Play Well. At more than 200 hotels and resorts in nearly 40 countries and territories, guests can experience offerings that include the iconic Heavenly® Bed, RunWESTIN™ and Westin Gear Lending with New Balance®, delicious and nutritious SuperFoodsRx™, the innovative workspace Tangent, Westin Weekend signature experiences, and Heavenly Bath and Heavenly Spa. Westin is proud to offer Starwood Preferred Guest®, the industry's leading loyalty program. To learn more, visit www.starwoodhotels.com/westin. Stay connected to Westin: @westin on Twitter and Instagram and facebook.com/Westin.

Media Contact:
Yasmin Shehata            
Grayling      
+974 3362 1460 
yasmin.shehata@grayling.com 
                             
Chandan Belani, Regional Director of Communications
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Middle East
+971 50 506 8465
Chandan.Belani@starwoodhotels.com

Sona Shah
Marketing Manager 
THE WESTIN DOHA HOTEL & SPA
Salwa Road, Bin Mahmoud South, Zone 23, Doha Qatar
+97444921530
Sona.Shah@starwoodhotels.com

© Press Release 2016