The Hotel Inter-Continental Doha, which opened with a record 100 per cent occupancy, celebrated its first year of record successes recently.

At a gala first anniversary party attended by more than 500 local dignitaries and guests in January, general manager Johnny Fattaleh underscored the hotel's record success while promising an equally exciting second year.

"It took just 17 months from breaking ground to opening our doors which I am sure you will agree is quite an achievement, and I believe is probably a record," Fattaleh told the guests.

"We started operating with 100 per cent occupancy for our first night and we have continued impressively ever since."

Fattaleh who is also the regional vice-president of Six Continents Hotels, Northern Gulf, said that in its first year, the hotel had seen stays by eight presidents, two prime ministers, members of various royal families, entertainers, actors, actresses, and sports personalities from golf, football and squash.

The nine-storey, 245-room hotel boasts Qatar's longest private beach and became a welcome addition to the country's five-star hotel scene after 18 years when it opened in November 2000.

Located ideally for both business and leisure guests, the hotel's architecture reflects a harmonious integration between modern style and traditional Arabic elements.

The hotel which offers extensive business and leisure facilities broke new ground by becoming the first in Doha to provide direct in-room Internet access to guests.

It also scored other firsts among hotels in Qatar - three rooms designed specially for disabled travellers; separate bath and shower in all rooms; underwater swim bar in the middle of the pool and a safe in every room.

Led by its showpiece Sultan Ibrahim Lebanese-style fish restaurant, all five of the hotel's restaurants promise gourmets something to appreciate.