Marriott International Debuts Three New Brands With Launch of City Center Hotels in Doha, Qatar

DOHA, Qatar, Nov. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) celebrated its new multiple-brand Doha City Center complex with an exclusive event featuring an RLife LIVE performance by emerging artist Hamdan al Abri. The celebration welcomed the 257-room Renaissance Doha City Center Hotel, 204-room Courtyard by Marriott Doha City Center and 123-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Doha City Center – the first of the three Marriott brands -- to Qatar.  (Click here for launch video)

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111128/PH11837)(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090217/MARRIOTTINTLLOGO )

All three properties are located within two 48-storey towers located in West Bay across from Qatar Financial Centre, adjacent to the Doha City Center Mall, featuring more than 340 shops and attractions, and just 15 minutes from Doha International Airport.  Each hotel has its own unique look and feel, while sharing many floors within the complex, including three expansive lobbies, nine restaurants and bars, 1200 square meters of meeting space, a world-class Vitality Zone health club and Marriott International's signature Saray Spa, known for offering traditional Middle Eastern treatments.

"The opening of the three hotels is a major step forward in reinforcing Doha's futuristic vision and surging tourism potential in Qatar," said Mark Satterfield, Chief Operating Officer Middle East & Africa."With the opening of these new hotels, we now have six properties in the country, which is quickly becoming a key business and leisure destination in the Middle East."

"Not only do we offer close to 600 rooms and three very distinct lodging brand experiences, but our nine distinctive dining options and health and fitness facilities create the wonder of the "West End" and spectacular Doha City Center complex," said Oliver Kahf, general manager.  "This unique lodging, shopping and entertainment complex is quickly becoming a tourism hub in Doha for both our hotel guests and locals."

Renaissance Doha City Center Hotel

The 257-room Renaissance Doha City Center Hotel stands out with its colourful fabrics, bold design and indigenous touch brought to life through artwork from Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani's collection of cultural and historical art. The Renaissance Doha City Center Hotel is equipped with the finest amenities and innovative technology, boasting 17 meeting rooms across 1,200 square meters (12,917 square feet). Embracing various local elements – from design to cuisine – the hotel provides visitors with a unique environment as well as comforts in forms of luxurious bedding, a Club Lounge, rooftop pool, Business Centre, high-speed internet and exclusive amenities. RLife LIVE, a signature program for Renaissance Hotels which launched in October 2010, is highly regarded as a leading entertainment hospitality program dedicated to providing guests and local patrons with the opportunity to engage with musical talent on-site at various hotels around the world.

Courtyard by Marriott Doha City Center

The 204-room Courtyard by Marriott Doha City Center combines comfort and functionality.  Guestrooms offer a smart and flexible design that is ideal for both work and relaxation. Elements such as a spacious work desk, high-speed internet, and laptop size safe assures the business traveler optimum efficiency, while flat screen television, deluxe bedding and mini-bar are perfect for unwinding. Throughout the hotel, from the rooms to the public areas, Courtyard delivers on its promise to provide guests a variety of options that they need to achieve greatness on the road. The hotel offers access to all 17 meeting rooms of the Renaissance Doha City Center Hotel.

Marriott Executive Apartments, Doha City Center

The Marriott Executive Apartments offers the ideal corporate housing solution and the perfect combination of upscale apartment-style living and premier hotel service.  Each of the 123 well-appointed apartments has a panoramic view of the city or the Arabian Gulf.  The fully-furnished, one-two-and three bedroom apartments are equipped with spacious gourmet kitchens, executive work areas and state-of-the-art appliances.  At the Marriott Executive Apartments Doha City Center, residents can relax at the residents' club – towering 44 floors above the city with a lap pool, Jacuzzi, and magnificent views of the city skyline. There is also a fitness and lounge area that can be booked for private events, exclusive to the residents of the apartments.

Saray Spa

The Saray Spa encompasses the rich customs that stem back to the caravanserai of the Silk Road. Embracing Arabic design elements and offering time-tested remedies, the spa consists of treatments and services that, combined, provide guests with an authentic and holistic experience. Paying homage to the best of Arabic healing rituals, Saray offers a unique variety of services including traditional Hammam bathing rituals, Silk Road massage and Arabic coffee awakener.

All three properties participate in Marriott Rewards, Marriott International's award winning guest reward program which allows members to earn points or airline miles for each dollar they spend during their hotel stays.

With the opening of the complex, Marriott International will manage six hotels in Qatar. Additional properties include the 374-room The Ritz-Carlton, Doha, the 362-room Doha Marriott Hotel, and the 174-room Sharq Village & Spa (managed by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C).

Promotional consideration for the launch celebration was provided by KATARA Cultural Village Foundation, Arabian Adventures, Rock Wallaby Productions, Bahrain Air, Air Arabia and Etihad Airways

RENAISSANCE HOTELS is an upscale brand with more than 150 properties in 34 countries that speaks to passionate travelers in search of authentic local discoveries when traveling for business or leisure. Renaissance Hotels has recently welcomed several new "gems" to its global collection – the historic  5-star St Pancras Renaissance in London, the exotic Renaissance Sanya Resort and Spa in burgeoning China, the urban boutique Renaissance Atlanta Midtown and the sexy Renaissance Sao Paulo.  These hotels join a rich portfolio defined by distinctive and well-known icons such as the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C., the Eden Roc Miami Beach Resort & Spa, and the Renaissance Paris Vendome Hotel. To make reservations and for more information visit www.renaissancehotels.com.  Follow Renaissance on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RenaissanceHotels, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RenHotels, and via the RLife blog at www.therenaissancelife.com.   

Courtyard by Marriott offers a refreshing environment that helps guests stay connected, productive and balanced.  Intuitive services and design accommodate guests' needs for choice and control. With more than 900 locations in 35 countries, Courtyard is Marriott International's largest brand.   For more information For more information go to www.courtyard.com.

Marriott Executive Apartments provides upscale serviced apartment accommodations for guests on extended stays of 30 days or longer outside the United States.  Offering studios to three-bedroom apartments, they combine comfort of residential living and services of a Marriott hotel, all designed to help long-term guests live, connect and explore.  Each property is influenced by local design elements and features state-of-the-art facilities and technology.  For more information and booking, visit www.marriottexecutiveapartments.com

Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.