Holiday Villa Doha Targets 60 Per Cent Occupancy In 2nd Year

DOHA (Qatar), Nov 1 (Bernama) -- Holiday Villa Hotel and Residence City Centre Doha, which opened for business on July 20 this year, is targeting a 60 per cent occupancy rate in its second year of operation.

Its General Manager and Managing Representative, Joey Chen, said the target was achievable given that Holiday Villa is only ten minutes away from the airport, which was a plus point for the hotel in attracting business travellers.

The hotel is also strategically located right in the heart of Doha City Centre where all the commercial offices, financial district (or Bank Street), government offices (The Corniche), Aspire Zone and Al-Waab City are located.

" At the moment, there are not many hotels within the vicinity of the airport, bearing in mind that most travellers to Qatar are on business," Chen told the Malaysian media on a familiarisation trip here organised by Qatar Airways recently.

Developed at a cost of 500 million Qatar Riyal (RM470 million), Holiday Villa in Doha is owned by the Taleb Group of Companies from Qatar and managed by Holiday Villa International Hotels and Residence.

Holiday Villa International has a presence in eight other countries namely Malaysia, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Australia, Sudan, Cambodia, Vietnam and China. The group is expanding rapidly in Europe and Asia.

In Doha, Holiday Villa has in its employment, 274 people from all nationalities, including 20 Malaysians with a majority of those in the management team comprising Malaysians.

Chen said its 734 hotel rooms and service apartments, which are new and spacious attracted families within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region since most of them would travel with more than six persons.

At the same time, Qatar Tourism's active role in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) market, which was also one of the hotel's target markets, was an additional advantage to Holiday Villa, said Chen.

" We position ourselves as a total premier integrated complex offering hotel accommodation with modern facilities which include hotel rooms, service apartments, food and beverage outlets.

" Our target markets are mainly business travellers, families and organisations hosting international sporting events or seminars here in Qatar," said Chen.

The average hotel industry occupancy rate in Doha is about 65 per cent.

" Response for the residence (apartments) has been positive with potential long term guests staying for more than two years. Currently, there are already long term guests, more to come in the next month," he said.

The hotel features 358 guestrooms, including 123 executive suites, 54 Prima Club rooms and 376 service apartments.

The residence offers spacious modern two and three bedrooms, all tastefully designed, and furnished with plush fabrics and engaging artworks.

For dining, the hotel operates a 24 hour Lagenda Restaurant that serves local, continental and Asian cuisine.

Malaysian journalists who were given a complementary three-day stay at the hotel gave the thumbs up to the "Truly Malaysian" breakfast of tasty fried noodles and nasi lemak.

The hotel industry in Doha is relatively new, with an estimated 20 hotels here, within the 4-star and above ratings.

-- From Salbiah Said for BERNAMA

cool... kalau depa sewa murah service apartment... mmg menarik...