The Ritz-Carlton, InterContinental and Sheraton of Doha joined hands to sign a room agreement with World of TUI, Europe's largest tour operator.

The agreement initially provides for 65 rooms at the three hotels for TUI every day.

But, this could be changed depending on demand, Qatar Tourism Authority general manager David Tewelde Tewelde was quoted as saying by Gulf Times. This was the first time the hotels in Qatar are signing a joint agreement.

The agreement, sponsored by Qatar Tourism Authority, is to last from November 1, 2003 to May 2004.

TUI in Qatar is represented by Travco Qatar Holidays.

The announcement was made at a conference attended by David Tewelde, Ritz-Carlton's director of sales and marketing Craig Senior, TUI's contracting manager Anja Keune, Travco's general manager Adnan Osman and InterContinental's regional director for sales and marketing Waddah Abu al-Ghanam.

A mere mention in TUI's brochure opens the market for Qatar in a number of nations and prompts other operators to list the country in their brochures, they said.

TUI prints 800,000 to 1 million copies of the brochure for distribution in Germany alone.

The new brochure is expected in September 2003.