Hospitality
IHG HOTELS & RESORTS TO DEBUT ITS LUXURY LIFESTYLE BRAND, KIMPTON IN QATAR
IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has announced the signing of Kimpton Al Rowda Doha, a 283-key luxury lifestyle hotel situated in the heart of the capital. Slated to open mid-2026, the hotel will bring Kimpton’s signature blend of playful design, culinary innovation, and genuine service to Doha, creating a vibrant hub for authentic human connection.
The Kimpton brand, famed for pioneering the boutique hotel concept over four decades ago, has built a global community of design-led hotels renowned for heartfelt hospitality and immersive lifestyle experiences. Kimpton Al Rowda Doha, situated in a vibrant downtown area, will fully embody the brand’s distinctive human-centered character. The hotel’s prime location places guests just steps from the city’s major commercial hubs, cultural landmarks, and premier attractions, making it an ideal destination for both business and leisure travelers.
Kimpton Al Rowda Doha will feature meticulously curated guest rooms, suites, and apartments. The hotel will establish itself as a culinary hotspot with five distinct dining and lounge venues, featuring a destination rooftop bar with panoramic views. Reflecting Kimpton’s distinctive blend of expressive design, imaginative dining, and warm, human-centered hospitality, the hotel will serve as a dynamic social hub for both travelers and the local community, proudly welcoming furry companions as a pet-friendly destination in keeping with the Kimpton tradition.
Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, IHG Hotels & Resorts – India, Middle East & Africa, said: “Bringing the Kimpton brand to Doha is a milestone moment for IHG in the Middle East. Doha is a city of compelling contrasts, where timeless tradition meets bold ambition. Kimpton’s talent for weaving local narrative into intuitive, design-forward hospitality makes it the perfect brand for this dynamic location.”
He added: “With this conversion, we are reimagining a well-located property into a beacon of boutique luxury, offering the personalized, experience-rich stay that today’s discerning travelers seek.”
Sheikh Khalid Bin Jassim Al Thani commented: “We are proud to partner with IHG to bring the first Kimpton hotel to Qatar. The transition to the Kimpton brand aligns with our vision for this landmark property and with Doha’s own trajectory as a leading global destination. Doha is firmly on the global map for luxury travel and lifestyle, and we look forward to transforming this prime property into a hotel that represents the avant-garde of boutique luxury hospitality in the region.”
As a leading global destination, Doha has seen sustained growth in international visitation, supported by world-class events, cultural investments like the Museum of Islamic Art and the National Museum of Qatar, and its status as a major aviation hub. The city masterfully blends ancient tradition with avant-garde architecture and modern luxury.
This signing contributes to IHG’s growing luxury and lifestyle presence in the Middle East, where the Kimpton brand is on a significant growth trajectory. The brand continues to build momentum with the successful opening of Kimpton KAFD in Riyadh, and will soon extend to new markets with debut openings in Dubai later this year and Jeddah to follow.
IHG currently operates 8 hotels in Qatar across 5 brands including InterContinental, voco, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites.
Hospitality
Qatar Airways Unveils Onboard Signature Music Created in Partnership with Award-Winning Composer Hans Zimmer
Qatar Airways today unveiled its new onboard signature music, created in partnership with world-renowned composer Hans Zimmer.
Inspired by Qatar and its culture, Qatar Airways’ new onboard music brings a distinctive sound identity to the passenger experience through its collaboration with the iconic composition of Hans Zimmer. The music is also featured on the ‘Burgundy Symphony’ album, a bespoke five-track album that encapsulates the airline’s wider sound identity and signature sound elements.
The collaboration brings together Zimmer’s acclaimed cinematic storytelling and Qatar Airways’ commitment to delivering memorable experiences, creating a recognisable sound that reflects the emotions, moments and memories that define travel.
The launch was celebrated at Hans Zimmer’s highly-anticipated concert in Doha on 6 November, where audiences were given an exclusive first look at the story behind the collaboration through a specially created film on the creative process and inspiration behind Burgundy Symphony, alongside a preview of the music. Qatar Airways passengers can experience the new composition onboard from today.
The Burgundy Symphony album captures the rhythm of travel through five original tracks, each reflecting a different stage of the journey:
Dawn opens the collection with a sense of anticipation and possibility experienced when stepping beyond the daily routine and discovering new horizons.
Dusk reflects the tranquillity of flight as daylight fades and travellers are carried above the clouds beneath a sky illuminated by stars.
The Orchard introduces a restorative pause, inspired by moments of calm and reflection amidst the pace of everyday life. The inspiration for the composition is drawn from the sense of escape offered by the ORCHARD – one of Hamad International Airport’s most distinctive passenger experiences.
Homecoming reflects the quiet gift of returning home and the small but lasting ways travel enriches life. The track encapsulates the adventure continues beyond touchdown, with memories of places and skies keeping moments of wonder alive long after the journey ends.
An Ode to Qatar, concludes the album with a tribute to the nation’s rich heritage and forward-looking vision. The piece brings together a sense of history, culture, and ambition, reflecting a country where tradition and progress exist in harmony.
Following the unveiling, Burgundy Symphony is now available on the Qatar Airways YouTube channel, inviting audiences around the world to experience Hans Zimmer’s original compositions inspired by the journey of travel and the spirit of Qatar Airways.
Hospitality
Coral Beach Resort Sharjah Wins Sustain Sharjah Award for Second Year Running
Coral Beach Resort Sharjah has won the Sustain Sharjah award for Hotel Properties at the Sharjah International Travel and Tourism Forum 2026, organised by the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA). This marks the resort’s second consecutive recognition under the initiative.
The accolade acknowledges the property’s progress at Level 2 of the programme’s Explorers journey, structured around four core pillars: Guest, Experience, Local, and Story. Across each pillar, the resort has prioritised measurable, practical measures that engage guests, support the surrounding community, and ensure transparent sustainability reporting.
Central to this achievement are three primary operational initiatives:
- Onsite water bottling plant: Replaces single-use plastics with reusable glass bottles, eliminating approximately 300,672 plastic bottles annually.
- Winnow AI food-waste system: Weighs and monitors kitchen waste in real time, enabling culinary teams to curb excess directly at source.
- Onsite biodigester: Installed in 2026, making the property the first hotel in Sharjah to process organic waste entirely on site.
Commenting on the achievement, Iftikhar Hamdani, Area General Manager of Coral Beach Resort Sharjah, said: “Securing the Sustain Sharjah award for the second consecutive year is an honour for our entire team. Initiatives such as our water bottling plant, AI-driven waste monitoring, and onsite biodigester reflect our daily operational commitment—one shared with our guests, partners, and the local community. We thank the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority for this recognition and for their steady leadership in advancing sustainable tourism across the emirate.”
Coral Beach Resort Sharjah is a signatory to the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism and continues to align its operations with broader international climate targets.
Hospitality
Qatar Airways Connects Doha to Caracas, Venezuela, and Bogotá, Colombia with First Flight
Qatar Airways has inaugurated its new twice-weekly service connecting Doha with Caracas and Bogotá. The service represents a significant milestone for the airline, as Qatar Airways becomes the first Gulf carrier to serve Venezuela, and the first airline to operate nonstop services from the Middle East to both Bogotá and Caracas. The new route underscores the airline’s commitment to strengthening global connectivity for the region and is operated on Boeing 777-200LR aircraft.
Qatar Airways flights to Caracas (CCS) and Bogotá (BOG)
Qatar Airways’ flight schedule has been designed to provide smooth onward connections through Hamad International Airport to key markets including Australia, China, Japan, Lebanon, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. This offers passengers greater flexibility and seamless transfer options across Qatar Airways’ global network of over 170 destinations.
Departing every Wednesday and Sunday:
Doha (DOH) to Bogotá (BOG) – Flight QR783: Departure 07:35; Arrival 16:25
Bogotá (BOG) to Caracas (CCS) – Flight QR783: Departure 17:55; Arrival 21:00
Caracas (CCS) to Doha (DOH) – Flight QR783: Departure 23:30; Arrival 20:35
The addition of Caracas and Bogotá marks the 16th and 17th destinations in the Americas served by Qatar Airways. The airline began serving South America in 2010 with its inaugural flight to Brazil’s São Paulo.
The airline has recently expanded its partnership with LATAM to include LATAM Airlines Colombia, offering travellers greater access to the region. Qatar Airways will place its code on LATAM-operated flights between Bogotá and key domestic destinations including Cartagena, Armenia, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cali, Cúcuta, Ibagué, Leticia, Medellín, Montería, Neiva, Pereira, Pasto, Riohacha, San Andrés Island, Santa Marta, and Yopal.
Qatar Airways continues to strengthen global connectivity, serving more than 170 destinations this winter. Bookings can be made at qatarairways.com or through the airline’s mobile app.
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