Accor Appointed to Manage Qatar’s Host Country Real Estate Operations
Doha, Qatar, November 1, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), the organisation responsible for delivering the required infrastructure, host country planning and operations, and legacy projects for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, has signed an agreement with Accor, a world-leading hospitality Group, to manage operations and deliver services to Qatar’s host country real estate portfolio through the end of 2022.
• For a comprehensive travel guide on Qatar and the FIFA World Cup 2022, go to VisitQatar.org
The agreement was signed in Doha, Qatar, in the presence of H.E. Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. H.E. Ali Al Kuwari, Minister of Finance and Chairman, Katara Hospitality, and H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, SC Secretary General, were also in attendance.
Engineer Yasir Al Jamal, Chairman of the SC’s Operations Office, and Vice Chairman, Technical Delivery Office, signed the agreement alongside Sebastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Accor, and Katara Hospitality’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Humphries.
The agreement will see Accor provide personnel to operate what will be the largest serviced real estate operation in the world, and include front office (check-in/check-out), operational supplies and equipment as well as housekeeping services among others. The agreement will make use of the country’s full real estate portfolio, further illustrating Qatar’s commitment to sustainability.
H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the SC said: “This groundbreaking agreement is another example of how Qatar’s approach is truly historic – not only in terms of setting the highest delivery standards, but also for legacy planning. By making full use of existing residential apartments and villas in Qatar, we can offer visitors a range of affordable and comfortable options; while also ensuring we have a sustainable hotel market that does not leave Qatar with excess permanent hotel rooms post-2022.”
Yasir Al Jamal, Chairman of the SC’s Operations Office, and Vice Chairman, Technical Delivery Office, said: “Today’s signing represents a significant step in our promise to deliver a wide range of affordable and exciting options to visitors traveling to Qatar. This agreement will enhance the overall experience for every visitor staying in the country and ensure that everyone receives the truly memorable, hospitable welcome for which Qatar and the Arab world is renowned.”
Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO of Accor, said: “The entire team is thrilled to have been selected to manage and provide services to Qatar’s exciting real estate portfolio. We share the region’s excitement for the coming year and look forward to welcoming visitors, and ensuring they have a comfortable and memorable stay in the country.”
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About the SC
Established in 2011 by the State of Qatar, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) is responsible for the delivery of the required infrastructure and host country planning and operations for Qatar to host an amazing and historic FIFA World Cup 2022™ that accelerates progress towards achieving national development goals and creates a lasting legacy for Qatar, the region and the world.
The stadiums, non-competition venues and other infrastructure the SC and our stakeholders are delivering will contribute to a compact and connected FIFA World Cup™ with sustainability and accessibility at its heart. After the tournament, the stadiums and surrounding precincts will become vibrant hubs of community life – an integral part of the legacy we are building.
Working closely with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC, the SC is also responsible for FIFA World Cup 2022™ host country planning and operations. Families and groups of fans arriving from around the world will experience a secure, human-centred tournament that both celebrates and exemplifies the hospitality for which Qatar and the region are known.
Finally, through programmes including Generation Amazing, Challenge 22 and Workers’ Welfare, and initiatives such as Community Engagement and the Josoor Institute, the SC harnesses the power of football to stimulate human, social, economic and environmental development in communities across Qatar, the region and around the world.
• For a comprehensive travel guide on Qatar and the FIFA World Cup 2022, go to VisitQatar.org
About Accor
Accor is a world leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,200 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries. The group has one of the industry’s most diverse and fully-integrated hospitality ecosystems encompassing more than 40 luxury, premium, midscale and economy hotel brands, entertainment and nightlife venues, restaurants and bars, branded private residences, shared accommodation properties, concierge services, co-working spaces and more.
Accor’s unmatched position in lifestyle hospitality – one of the fastest growing categories in the industry – is led by Ennismore, a creative hospitality company with a global portfolio of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Accor boasts an unrivalled portfolio of distinctive brands and approximately 260,000 team members worldwide. 68 million members benefit from the company’s comprehensive loyalty program – ALL – Accor Live Limitless – a daily lifestyle companion that provides access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences.
Through its Planet 21 – Acting Here, Accor Solidarity, RiiSE and ALL Heartist Fund initiatives, the Group is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity and inclusivity. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States.