New hotel standards to host people with special needs in Qatar

MOU signed between Qatar tourism and exhibitions authority and Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs

Doha, Qatar (March 3, 2009) – Qatar tourism and exhibitions authority (QTEA) and Shafallah Centre for Children with Special needs signed today a memorandum of understanding with the aim of implementing new standards for hotels and tourist establishments in Qatar to host people with special needs.

The MOU was signed by Dr. Saif Al-Hajari, Vice Chairman of Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs, and the Chairman of Qatar tourism and exhibitions authority, Mr. Ahmed Abdallah Al Nuaimi, at QTA’s premises in the West Bay Area.

Following the hotel regulation set up by Qatar tourism and exhibitions authority in 2007, specific ratings for hotel offering particularly good facilities and services are now the core of QTA's action to improve Qatari hospitality management.

On the occasion of this signing ceremony, Mr. Ahmed Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Qatar tourism and exhibitions authority commented: "This MoU is a step forward in Qatar hospitality. We are very pleased to make this partnership with Shafallah Centre for Children with Special needs, as they are the most innovative for the care of people with reduced mobility and special needs. We will together insure that the highest quality of services for every visitor is offered, as per Qatari spirit of warmly welcoming everyone."

Qatar is experiencing a fast pace of increase in hotel capacity, with more accommodation due to come online. 29,000 luxury rooms and furnished stars apartment will be available by 2012, totalling a 400 per cent increase in hotel capacity. 101 hotels are currently under construction.

The Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs was established at the behest of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Bin Abdullah al Missnad to create a "center of excellence" so that Qatari society could provide comprehensive services to children with disabilities. The Shafallah Center premiered its state-of-the art facility in 2006, helping Qatar to become a leading country in special needs awareness through its innovative practices.  The Center, chaired by Mr. Hassan Ali Bin Ali, is a non-profit, NGO serving as a model for the provision of special education, therapeutic, and health care support services for children with disabilities from birth to age 21. 

For more information please visit: www.shafallah.org.qa.

 

Launched by the Emiri Decree (24) in 2007, Qatar tourism and exhibitions authority (QTEA)’s role is to organize, enable, and supervise tourism industry development in Qatar, as well as represent and promote Qatar as a quality tourism destination for leisure, business, education, and sport. Qatar tourism and exhibitions authority gets actively involved in organizing events and promotions which positively reflect on the general image of Qatar as an evolving tourism destination.

For additional information please contact John Watts (johnw@brownlloydjames.com +974 66876682) or Solene Rochefort (solener@brownlloydjames.com +97455024992).