culture > doha diary

The record-breaking 18,000kg

chandelier that hangs in the atrium
space to this day is from 1980s

The Sheraton has been

renovated to its 80s
grandeur.
By Sindhu Nair

82 > QATAR TODAY > FEBRUARY 2015

Memories
Rebooted

hen it was announced that

Sheraton Doha was being
closed for renovation, pictures
of a new building rising in the
place of the impressive pyramid structure was the conjecture; bearing
in mind Dohas proclivity for new and shining towers. But the building was in full view
throughout, and the detractors were in for
a surprise when the management reopened
the hotel in a short span of eight months,
and invited the media to have a preview of
the redesigned premises.
Reflecting old traditions and keeping
memories intact, the hotel has been restored back to its earlier regal grandeur. In a
country where new, international and glass
are popular tags, Qatars first internationally branded hotel, owned by the government entity Katara Hospitality that played
host to many memorable royal occasions
and once-in-a-lifetime gatherings, made a
comeback in a way that is truly special.

Designed by William Hill, the building,

when it was completed in 1982, was a structural marvel of sorts with an atrium that
penetrates the central structure, providing
its public areas with natural light during
the day, while its unique location provides
shade for its outdoor spaces. The atrium is
still the eye-catching element of the premises, with the rich red upholstery on the
seats spattered with gold frills, and is one of
the favourite spots for Qataris.
J. Thomas C. van Opstal, Complex General Manager at Sheraton Doha Resort &
Convention Hotel, has been in Doha for two
years but had been to the hotel as a visitor
in its glory years in the 80s and has respected it from a far. Like everybody, I too loved
the shape of the structure and the wow factor of the atrium, which has always been an
integral part of the success of the hotel and
is also special to me, he says. The reaction
of guests when they enter the atrium is still
a pleasure to watch and that hasnt changed

Framework of the Atrium Lounge in 1981

J THOMAS C VAN OPSTAL

Complex General Manager at Sheraton Doha
Resort & Convention Hotel

since the early 80s, when it had just opened

to the public.
According to van Opstal, Sheraton is
about connecting people. Being part of the
Starwood group of hotels, this is a virtue
that is inherent to the brand.
However, Sheraton as a local hotel brand
was more about events with high-profile
personalities and it has been perceived
as an exclusive property. But after the reopening, the officials want to change that
and make it a more inclusive brand which
values all its customers while giving special
consideration to its Qatari guests.
Sheraton has been part of the community since the country was in its infancy.
The country has grown, and the hotel is
still here. Qataris view this as a part of their
heritage; their memories are connected
to this property since it was the only hospitality brand available at that time. Since
then many historic events have been part
of Qatars growth and Sheraton has been a
witness to many of them, he says.
Taking us through the historic events,
van Opstal mentions a few: GCC meetings,
UN meetings, Arab summits, NATO presentations and conferences and host to
many dignitaries, prime ministers, head
of states and family visits from celebrities,
many who have stayed at the hotel and continue to do so, but those names cannot be
revealed as it is strictly against hotel policy.
He mentions that the previous German

View of the refurbished hotel interior

Chancellor Gerhard Schrder is a Sheraton fan who has called it an amazing

property.
A hotel becomes part of the community
when there is a direct connection through
the services it offers and the personal
touches. Sheraton has a Qatari kahwa server who is part of the heritage of the hotel;
he has been on the premises for ages and
greets you at the door with a smile and a
kahwa in the true Qatari tradition.
Beyond the service is the central atrium
that has been the venue of many traditional majlis gatherings, courtesy of the view
that overlooks the beach, which gives the
visitor time to reflect on the fast-paced
development of the country. The chandelier that hangs in the atrium space is a record-breaking creation by the glassmakers
Murano, and has more than 20,000 pieces which took almost three months to be
pieced together. Weighing a total of 18,000
kgs when installed, it continues to shine
down on the visitors to the hotel to this day.
But the true treasure of this museum-style property is the art that adorns its
walls. Most of the paintings are the works
of Qatari artists and take you on a trip
through the history of the country, through
its souqs, horse riding, and falcon hunting
traditions. One particular work is special: a
calligraphic piece of tapestry that hangs in
the convention centre.
A refurbishment was carried out in all

371 rooms and suites in addition to the

35,000 sq ft convention centre and other
meeting spaces. All public areas and recreation facilities have also been enhanced. All
the rooms are inspired by the Qatari form
of design.
But van Opstal maintains that, though
there has been a renovation, the construction of the hotel had no flaws that had to be
reviewed or reconstructed. The building
is amazingly strong. Nothing needed to be
touched on the structure. The hotel was
like an old majestic lady whose makeup
needed to be reapplied, he says.
Van Opstal has lived and worked in different countries, from Pakistan to China
and Australia, and has loved each of the different opportunities. While Pakistan was
special because of the wonderful people he
worked with, he fell in love with Melbourne
for its natural and scenic beauty.
You can have the most beautiful building with marvellous interiors but if the service is bad all the frills make no impact. On
the other hand, if you are served by someone who remembers you by your name, the
contact is personal and special. The people
in the industry make the brand and hence
are very important elements.
Each hospitality brand comes with its
own commitment but the bottom line for
the industry is the service, he says. We
all love to be looked after, the more, the
better.
QATAR TODAY > FEBRUARY 2015 > 83