(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Hospitality Qatar 2016, an exhibition for the hospitality and hotels, restaurants, and cafes (Horeca) sectors in Qatar, will be held on October 18-20 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), it was announced.
The show, licensed by the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), will be one of the premier hospitality-related events in the region, as it features all aspects of the hotel and franchise market in the Gulf region.
The exposition is designed to build a strong platform for local, regional, and international Horeca suppliers to meet hospitality professionals from around the region.
It will also allow franchise brands, hotel groups, developers, bankers and consultants to network and build new business opportunities with hotels and franchise investors.
Rawad Sleem, project manager of the show, said: 'There has been a tremendous response from exhibitors, especially those that participated in last year";s successful Hospitality Qatar show.”
He said that companies had cited the rapid growth of the hospitality and Horeca sectors in Qatar as a reason for vying to be part of this year";s exposition.
'With obvious business drivers such as the FIFA 2022 World Cup and the Qatar National Vision 2030, we are expecting a record turnout by exhibitors and attendees, alike,” Sleem said.
Hospitality Qatar 2016 is being launched at a time when Qatar is emerging as a major player in the hospitality and franchise investment market in the GCC. Due, in part, to the massive build-up required for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the markets for food and beverage (F & B), Horeca supply, and hotel construction are peaking.
Through Qatar";s National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030, Sleem said Qatar had adopted a comprehensive approach to addressing sustainability in all aspects of the tourism industry, with a special focus on creating a thriving hospitality sector in the country.
He noted that more than $40bn of investments were planned in the sector over the next 15 years.
'We are very pleased with the high level of international interest from suppliers outside of Qatar, such as China, Germany, India, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania,
Turkey, among others,” he said.
According to Sleem, Hospitality Qatar 2016 is playing a major role in helping suppliers from around the world meet many types of visitors.
These include hotel investors, consultants and engineers, franchise and retail investors, hotel/restaurant/lounge managers and owners, franchise operators, Horeca operators, hotel management companies, F & B executives, event and catering managers, operations and procurement managers, sales and marketing managers, facility managers and corporate purchasing managers.