Regency will build five-star Doha hotel

Qatar-based Regency group has announced the launch of the Grand Regency Hotel, a five-star property due to open in November.

The first phase will see the opening of a 192-room property to be located in the Al Sadd area close to the capital's city centre. A second phase will be launched after six months and will see the opening of an additional 100 rooms, a conference and banqueting hall, a spa and health club and additional 100 rooms.

The 80 million Qatari riyal project is only the first of a series of investments that the group is planning in Qatar and the rest of the region.

"The group aims to establish a chain of five-star luxury properties," Ayman Lotfy, general manager of the Grand Regency, told Gulf News.

He said three more properties will be established in Qatar by the end of next year.

In June the family-owned group signed a management contract with Möv-enpick Hotels and Resorts for a new five-star residence on Doha's Corniche. The new property, due to open in 2006, is Movenpick's first diversification in the Middle East from the concept of a city or resort hotel.

The 25-storey Mövenpick Residence & Suites Doha will be built in the heart of the commercial district in Doha's West Bay.

Most of the 204 studios and 140 one-bedroom apartments will have connecting doors that will allow them to be converted into 86 two-bedroom and 14 three-bedroom apartments when required.