Merweb is a fit-for-purpose business hotel brand   

Dubai, UAE, May 2, 2007: Qatar National Hotels Company (QNH) has launched Merweb, a new hospitality concept for the Middle East that will operate on a dual tier through Merweb hotels and Merweb Grand. The company also announced details of the two new-generation Merweb properties, currently under construction in Doha, Qatar.

Merweb Hotels, designed and built for purpose, and placed in the affordable mid-market sector, will cater exclusively to business travellers into and within the region. It will be marketed under a 'first for business' banner. Complementing this business brand, Merweb Grand will feature either new build or existing upscale mid-market offers, providing a wider range of facilities and amenities appealing to leisure and business travellers alike. 

Speaking at the company's inaugural participation at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM), acting CEO Sunil Vohra said that Merweb represented a new hospitality concept that would augur well for the business community. "Statistics show that 35 to 45 percent of all visitors to the region currently travel on business and this is forecast to grow by as much as 107 percent in the next 10 years. Concurrently, research reveals that there are considerable gaps in the provision of business hospitality. It is common knowledge that business travellers have unique and specific needs, but this niche has hitherto never been addressed in its entirety. With Merweb, QNH will offer built-for-purpose business hotels that are dedicated to business travellers - executives of large corporations, and managers and owners of small and medium sized enterprises," he stated. 

"Our aim is to provide maximum efficiency and comfort to our guests, by eliminating the many hurdles associated with hotel stays in unfamiliar destinations. Checking into a Merweb hotel simply means that they can focus on the business at hand," he said. 

He added that the first two hotels - Merweb Grand City Centre, and the Merweb Hotel Central, are located in Doha, where the company has its headquarters, and that several more are being planned.

Vohra added: "A Merweb hotel not only engages in direct dialogue with business travellers, but places them fully at the centre of this hospitality experience. This is a hotel where they can stay in contemporary and comfortable business-friendly accommodation, and experience a dedicated range of smart amenities and services. It is specifically designed to help them perform to their best ability - at a price point where they can enjoy excellent value for their money."

Typically, a Merweb hotel will comprise 200 signature guest rooms and 20 one-and two-bedroom business apartments. Acting as a focal point for business communities wherever it is located, each property will feature thoughtfully zoned spaces. The ground floor, a public space configured for meetings and networking, will focus around a unique 'business village' lobby with a 24 hour deli, and a lounge and grill area that serves meals and transforms into an evening entertainment venue. Each hotel will also house approximately 60 short-let and long term offices on two dedicated floors. Innovative technologies include property-wide Wi-Fi, paperless reservations and billing, in-room connectivity, automated check-in/check-out, and real-time online communications.

Advanced technologies are also deployed throughout the properties to reduce operational costs, enhance energy conservation, and provide safe and controlled access.