meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) segment. The more than 180 major events scheduled in Qatar this year are expected to further increase demand for hotel rooms, mirroring the solid 25 per cent increase in room space recorded in 2009.

CristalHotels and Resorts, one of the fastest-growing hotel chains in Abu Dhabi, has announced that it plans to open new hotels in Qatar to capitalize on the country’s strong tourism and hospitality markets. The move will form part of a broader and aggressive expansion across the Middle East. Cristal recently announced that it achieved one of the highest month-to-date occupancy rates among Abu Dhabi’s 4-star and 5-star hotels, scoring 84 per cent average occupancy in January 2010. It has been able to emerge as one of Abu Dhabi’s top hospitality companies less than a year after its opening in July of 2009.