WHEN looking for a centrally located hotel for your clients, whether they are on business or leisure (or indeed both) in Doha, look no further than InterContinental Doha The City.

It is close to the business area of West Bay including both Exhibition Centres, to City Centre Shopping Mall, the Doha Golf Club and an easy journey to the newly opened mixed-use Doha Festival City, the largest leisure and retail development in the Gulf.

Arriving to the hotel, the natural light from the atrium in the lobby area, created a warm welcome and somehow a great feeling for the start of your stay.

With 302 rooms and 58 suites, you have a number of options for your clients’ needs.
Free wireless in all room categories (a must in this day and age) whether your guest is in a classic room of 48 sq m, or one of the executive rooms or one to four bedroom residents suites.

I was fortunate enough to have stayed in an executive room which, between the lounge area, bedroom and huge bathroom, I had a 360-degree view of the ever-changing West Bay area – great to wake up to or even better at night with all the lights on in the city.

With an Executive room or one of Suites, you have free access to Club InterContinental lounge on level 45, also with excellent views of West Bay. The lounge serves breakfast and one of the longest happy hours in the evening I have experienced, serving snacks and refreshments including adult beverages. Even though I only stayed two nights, I was really impressed with both the morning and evening staff remembering me, and what I enjoyed for breakfast and in the evening, my favourite drink. I find this kind of service more memorable than sometimes, even the most comfortable room and bed!

Sadly, I didn’t manage any time to enjoy any of the other food and beverage offerings at the hotel due to early morning start and back late, but with seven outlets to choose from ranging from Italian, seafood, pan-Asian, a steak house and all day dinning – your clients will be spoilt
for choice.

I also didn’t manage to get out the old gym gear this trip, but I did have a quick look into the fitness centre (thinking that I really should get in there) which has all the state of the art equipment needed to keep up with your fitness routine. There is also a rooftop swimming pool, separate men's and women's sauna and steam baths and whirlpools available for you to relax and calm down after a busy day.

InterContinental Doha The City would come highly recommended by this traveller.

By Kim Thomson