BAVARIA Hotels International (BHI) is on course for soft openings in March of two of its major properties in the Gulf, says a company spokesperson.

The company will be talking up its 4,500 suites under development in the region at WTM.
BHI’s Caroline Tapken told TTN that Bavaria Executive Suites Dubai will open with 500 of its 2,100 suites, lobby, restaurant, pool and Lifestyle fitness centre, while Bavaria City Suites Doha (with a total of 2,200 units) is also on course to take in guests around the same time.
The Dubai property, she says, has already inked contracts with UK tour operators, several of whom have already begun selling.
Opening in 2008 is the brand’s Bavaria Executive Suites Sharjah, with 350 luxury suites situated close to Dubai airport.
According to Thomas Gertz, CEO Bavaria Hotels International, “The hotels continue the Bavaria Hotels International trend of large all-suite hotels, and represent quality developments in key growth markets. Our corporate philosophy of offering a luxury product at acceptable rates, combining lifestyle, family and business features will continue throughout the Middle East in the years to come.” 
Despite the name, Bavaria Suites are being marketed as a hotel, says Volker Windhoefel, general manager at the Doha property. “It is a fully serviced hotel for short and long stay guests. The word apartment just symbolizes the word for comfortable stay, meaning we supply our guests with complete facilities.”
The group hopes to capitalise on the growing MICE market in Dubai and Doha, he says. “Qatar, particularly, is a booming country and there are a lot of developments. Many people coming to Qatar need accommodation for their employees, with or without their families and with the portfolio we are offering we can certainly accommodate. In the beginning about 70 per cent of the mix will be long stay, i.e. three to 12 months and as the MICE and leisure market grows the figures will balance out a little more.”
Bavaria City Suites Doha is to be located in Qatar’s West Bay overlooking the Corniche and Arabian Gulf. There will be 2,300 one, two, and three bedroom suites and studios as well as extensive wellness and recreation facilities, business and meeting centres and a variety of international restaurants.