Tourism to contribute $1.1 billion to Qatar economy in 2012

World’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas spends heavily on transport infrastructure to support tourism sector Top industry executives and officials will head to the annual Arabian Hotel Investment Conference 2012 (AHIC), which takes place in Dubai on 28-30 April at Madinat Jumeirah, to discuss investment opportunities in a region where governments are ploughing billions of dollars into tourism infrastructure. Flush with cash from multi-billion dollar sales of gas, Qatar has embarked on an aggressive infrastructure spending programme as it prepares to host the 2022 World Cup, and for life beyond. The direct contribution of travel and tourism to Qatar’s GDP is expected to reach US$1.1 billion in 2012, compared to US$800 million in 2009, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. “The economic conditions are excellent. We see Qatar as a crucial addition to our GCC portfolio and look forward to seeing our core brand Radisson Blu make its entry into the market in 2012. The country has certainly become a key hotel investment destination,” commented Kurt Ritter, President and CEO, the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. Over the next five years the Gulf state will invest around US$65 billion in new transportation schemes. These include the new US$11 billion Doha International Airport, the US$6 billion Doha port project and a US$25 billion metro and railway. Qatar is investing US$20 billion alone into tourism infrastructure for its World Cup preparations according to the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), with most of this investment going into building new hotels. The Gulf state plans to have 30,000 hotel rooms by 2013, up from 15,500 late last year, and aims to add 5,000 new hotel rooms each year up until 2022, bringing the total number of hotel rooms to 75,000, according to QTA. Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, organiser MEED Events in partnership with Bench Events has put together a three-day programme designed to explore the outlook for hotel investment in the Middle East’s changing landscape. As well as focusing on the Middle East’s investment landscape after the Arab Spring, AHIC will hold a session that looks at the issues facing Egypt, while key industry figures will address the challenges of developing and operating in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. There will also be a separate dedicated session exploring investment opportunities outside the Middle East. For more information on the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference: www.arabianconference.com - Ends - Photo caption: Kurt Ritter, President and CEO, the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. To pre-register as media please follow the link: http://www.arabianconference.com/index.php/forms/media_registration Notes to the editor The confirmed list of speakers includes: Mark Wynne-Smith, Global CEO, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels; Alex Kyriakidis, President & Managing Director MEA, Marriott International; Rudi Jagersbacher, President, Middle East & Africa, Hilton Worldwide; Jan Smits, CEO, Asia, Middle East & Africa, IHG; Bashar Al Natoor, Director, Corporates, Fitch Ratings; Iyad Duwaji, CEO, West Asia Capital; Fergal Harris, Head of Real Estate Middle East, Standard & Chartered; Olivier Ebner, Senior Manager at Project and Structured Finance, National Bank of Abu Dhabi; Alexis Waller, Partner Clyde & Co; Olivier Granet, Director of Development, ACCOR Middle East; Kurt Ritter, CEO & President, The Rezidor Hotel Group; Bassel S.Hamwi, Chief Executive Officer, Bank Audi Syria; Lo’ai B. Bataineh, DGM, Investment & Development, Head of Investment Management Group, Oman Arab Bank SAOC; Nilay Orzral, Director of Real Estate Operations, Aldar Properties PJSC; Sanjay Tanna, Director – Business Development and Investments, Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company. About MEED Events MEED's comprehensive portfolio of events has been developed over the last decade to cover the region's key business issues and sectors. From large-scale summits and conferences to unique one-to-one networking opportunities, MEED Events provide high-profile speakers, relevant and critical business content and the latest news from across the GCC. About Bench Events Bench Events is one of the founders and organisers of several leading conferences for the hotel investment industry including the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF), the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), Central Asia and Turkey Hotel Investment Conference (CATHIC), the Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference (RHIC) and the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) About the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference AHIC attracts over 500 industry leaders annually from over 40 countries, including many of the most influential names within the Middle East’s hotel investment community, as both speakers and attendees. Details of AHIC can be found on www.arabianconference.com Platinum sponsors: The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, IHG, Jumeirah Group, Wyndham Worldwide. Emerald sponsors: Corinthia Hotels, Hilton Worldwide, Jebel Ali International Hotels, Moroccan Agency for Tourism Development (SMIT) Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. Gold sponsors: Accor, AECOM Design & Planning, Argentina National Institute of Tourism Promotion, Clyde & Co, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, Fonatur, Golden Tulip Hotels, Suites & Resorts MENA, Horwath HTL, Hyatt International, IFA Hotel Investments, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, Marriott International, MENA Hotels and Resorts, Orient-Express Hotels, Premier Inn MEA, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Investments and Development Authority, Rixos Hotels, STR Global, Turnkey Ventures, WATG. Media contact Jason Benham Account Director PO Box 502701 Office 106 Al Sufouh Tower Dubai Media City Dubai, United Arab Emirates Tel: +9714 365 2711 Cell: +971 50 1897556 E-mail: jason@smc-pr.com

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