IHG Signs Up A New Crowne Plaza In Qatar

a room with a round table and chairs

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IHG has announced that it has signed an agreement to convert the M Doha Hotel into the Crowne Plaza Doha West bay by the end of August 2018. With the property in its current guise fairing reasonably well on TripAdvisor this could be a nice addition to the IHG portfolio for those visiting the Middle East.

Location

The new Crowne Plaza in Doha is in the West Bay district of the city which is essentially the center of the diplomatic district.

a map of a city with water and landClick to Enlarge

It’s location looks pretty good with a series of other international hotels sharing the same area. Within walking distance of the Crowne Plaza Doha West Bay you’ll find:

  • InterContinental Doha – The City
  • W Hotel Doha
  • Hyatt residence Doha
  • Marriott Marquis City Canter Doha
  • Hilton Doha

a map of a cityClick to Enlarge

Nobu is just a 20 minute walk or 8 minute car ride away and Hammad International airport is 12-15 minutes away by car depending on traffic….so the hotel is well located.

About The Crowne Plaza Doha West Bay

This property opened as the Melia Doha in February 2015 and was launched as the “first 5* Spanish hotel in Doha” offering “contemporary design, an array of premium restaurants and a spa”.

As the Crowne Plaza Doha West bay the property will maintain the 317 rooms it had under its previous owners (280 rooms and 37 suites) but IHG hasn’t said if a serious refurbishment work is planned.

There shouldn’t be too much refurbishment needed as the property is still very young but, if the images of the existing property are anything to go by, the furnishings may need a little modernising.

a room with a large bed and a televisionImage M Hotel Doha

Here’s what IHG says guests can expect:

  • 8 meeting rooms
  • An executive lounge
  • Outdoor pool
  • Gym
  • 5 “dedicated food and beverage outlets catering to all tastes” including Indian celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s restaurant ‘Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor’, which will serve contemporary Indian cuisine to guests staying at the hotel, as well as the residents of Doha**

**This restaurant has been on site since the property opened so this isn’t a new IHG addition.

a pool with a deck chair and a building with a city viewImage M Hotel Doha

IHG hasn’t said what the other dining options will be but it may be keeping the eateries and bars that are already in place and include:

  • Aceite Restaurant – Spanish style menus
  • Nidaaya All Day Dining – international cuisine from around the world with live cooking stations
  • RiQQa – a coffee shop
  • Noir – cocktail bar
  • Le Pool Club – casual dining for snacks and drinks.

a bathroom with a shower and sinkImage M Hotel Doha

Bottom Line

The location looks good, the pictures of the existing property look fine and the TripAdvisor reviews are reasonable so this a good base from which IHG can build.

Award nights shouldn’t be too expensive here as all the other IHG properties are pretty reasonably priced (the two IC properties at which awards can be booked cost just 25,000 & 35,000 points respectively) so I’m going to guess IHG will start this property at around 25,000 points/night.

I may be passing through Doha towards the end of the year so, if I book a layover, I’ll try to check this place out.