CHICAGO—Preferred Hotels & Resorts and Katara Hospitality have entered into a master partnership agreement for the recently launched Murwab Hotel Group, Katara’s hotel operating division.
Effective immediately, four of Murwab Hotel Group’s existing luxury hotels in Qatar and Switzerland have been brought into representation of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, and five additional properties currently under development in Europe and the Middle East will join over the course of the next 18 months.
Designed to support Murwab Hotel Group’s strategic vision for expansion following its March 2015 launch, the move allows the company’s properties to tap into Preferred’s sales capabilities in the corporate- and leisure-travel sectors, and in the independent and small-hotel collection space, its marketing and distribution platform and network of sales professionals located in 40 offices worldwide. In turn, the alliance allows Preferred to establish first-time presence in Qatar and greater brand awareness in other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Lindsey Ueberroth, president/CEO of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, termed Katara Hospitality a “dynamic” hospitality brand and indicated Preferred was “honored” to be selected as “the best partner to support their hotel operating arm, Murwab Hotel Group.”
Immediate Murwab Hotel Group additions to the Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ portfolio include Saraya Corniche Hotel (Doha, Qatar), Sealine Beach Resort (Mesaieed, Qatar), Simaisma, A Murwab Resort (Doha, Qatar) and Hotel Royal Savoy Lausanne (Switzerland).