The ongoing Qatar Summer Festival (QSF), organised by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), is helping bolster the country’s hotel and resort business during the off-peak summer season, said five-star hotels and resorts.
Hotels and resorts The Peninsula spoke to said the festival’s offerings along with the country’s improved visa rules boosts occupancy rate during summer, which is typically off season. “Every festival or event helps as it pushes our business. The Summer Festival increases our occupancy during weekdays by 20 percent, which we consider good during this time. This Summer Festival improved occupancy rates and with the new visa rules, we are confident that guests will spend more time in Qatar,” Saeid Heidari, General Manager at Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, said.
On its fourth edition, this year’s festival, which is the longest edition running until September 5, offers a wide array of rides, games and live entertainment as well as attractive shopping discounts, hotel promotions and travel packages.
“The Summer Festival provides a wide variety of activities, entertainment, events and promotions which encourage residents to stay and enjoy the city, whilst motivating foreign visitors to an interesting attraction. Our collaboration with the Summer Festival provides great value for guests looking for the ideal retreat which has in effect benefited all the tourism sector in the city,“ said Sharad Rattan, Executive Assistant Manager at Sharq Village & Spa a Ritz Carlton Hotel.
Nawaf Ali Al Obaidly, General Manager at Sealine Beach Resort, shared the same view saying “The city-wide celebrations at the Qatar Summer Festival, which this year range from concerts and live shows to shopping promotions and entertainment activities, makes the summer season fun for the whole family. “This helps put everyone in a ‘holiday’ mood and encourages residents and tourists to go out more often to explore the city and seek entertainment. To complete that ‘experience’, some families and groups of friends look for hotels and resorts to add a ‘vacation vibe’ to the summer and take a break from their daily routine. This can have a positive effect on hotels’ occupancy rates during the season and prompts our guests to actively be a part of the celebration,” he added.
Thomas Fehlbier, General Manager at Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara, said summer is usually peak season for the resort and this year it has achieved record numbers in comparison to the same period last year. “On average our guests stay between one to two nights with preferences over the weekend from families. Positioned as an ideal quick get-away or short-term stay, our hotel is extremely popular among local guests and visitors from Oman and Kuwait,” said Fehlbier.
To attract more guests, he said they had worked with travel partners in the region and created various summer packages such as I Love Qatar summer special, luxury escape packages and dining and recreational activities.
Sharq Village & Spa, on the other hand, has launched summer packages for Qatari citizens and residents providing guests unique room and dining promotions for an ideal staycation.
