When I wrote this post, I had just finished the incredible launch celebration in Doha, Qatar, of three of our newest hotels. The event for the Renaissance, Courtyard and Marriott Executive Apartments Doha, a project five years in the making, turned out to be just as extraordinary as the complex itself! The sheer size of multi-brand complex is impressive, and is the anchor of one of newest and most popular dining entertainment complexes, the West End. Check out the video from the launch!
Pulling extra-long hours and dealing with last minute fire drills (like the sheikh making a surprise appearance at our press conference!), I cannot say enough about the incredible team in Doha – from operations to marketing/PR, their passion for their hotels and destination was inspiring. I was equally impressed with Doha as a destination. It is clear that Qatar is investing a lot of money and resources into attracting tourist and business to the country.
As I mentioned in my previous post, this trip was timely for me due to my stay at The Chelsea. I was able to spend some time with the Marriott Executive Apartments team learning about the subtle differences between their brand’s offerings in Doha and how they compare to my experience here at Marriott ExecuStay. The most notable difference, of course, is that this Marriott Executive Apartment is attached directly to two fabulous hotels – not so sure how that would work on the crowded West side of Manhattan.
I also had the chance to spend some time with my team members at our Marriott offices in Dubai, where they also showed me the best of the city (see attached pic!)
All in all, I left the Middle East with many new friends, amazing memories and reinforcement that the Middle East is one of the world’s most vibrant and dynamic regions. After a 14-hour flight home, I was equally happy to return to my apartment at The Chelsea, where Stephen greeted me with a hug and my mail.
P.S. My blog happened to debut at exactly the same time as my visit, so I certainly did not escape some kind-hearted (and well-deserved) teasing from everyone I encountered. In fact, the teasing continues.
