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QA24_TO_Torch_WaelAlSharif

QATAR - Tourism

Wael Al Sharif

Area General Manager, The Torch Hospitality

Bio

Wael Al Sharif graduated in hospitality management from the Lebanese American University in Beirut. He later began his career in the hospitality industry as a management trainee, where he learned the ropes from the ground up. He later transitioned into catering sales and then into food and beverage operations,

The Torch Hospitality has made a key contribution to the local tourism landscape by offering high-quality services, managing various establishments, and aligning with Qatar’s economic diversification goals.

The Torch Hospitality has made a key contribution to the local tourism landscape by offering high-quality services, managing various establishments, and aligning with Qatar’s economic diversification goals.

What is your view of Qatar’s tourism sector and its development in the last few years?

We have seen great developments within the tourism sector in Qatar, especially over the last few years. The highlight was during the World Cup, when the number of hotel rooms in the country grew from 30,000 to almost 40,000. Qatar’s tourism industry is modern and safe, with family-friendly activities and world-class facilities. Lately, the country has seen an influx of cruise ships, which naturally brings in a major influx of tourists. The Mina Hotel and Residences, under The Torch management, has an excellent view of the cruise terminal. Qatar also has amazing infrastructure that supports the tourism sector, including beautiful parks, numerous museums, and well-developed cities such as Lusail and the Msheireb area. Qatar National Vision 2030 aims for tourism to supply 12% of the GDP by 2030, with a development target of 6-8 million tourists. We saw this vision being fulfilled by recent events like the World Cup and look forward to achieving this target by 2030.

What is The Torch Hospitality’s contribution to the Qatari tourism landscape?

Our iconic building and hotel is The Torch, which is the country’s landmark and the start of our hotel brand journey. We gradually introduced The Torch brand to the market, and people were drawn to our high-quality and personalized services. When we entered the market, we concentrated on providing unique services and customer satisfaction. We have accommodated high-level sports teams like Paris St. Germain, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid. The Torch is well known for its in-room management system; guests can control the entire room and mood lighting system from an iPad. It is extremely high tech, modern, and stylish. We are now branching out into hotels and residences management. We acquired Al Aziziyah Boutique Hotel, which was previously a Mövenpick hotel. In addition, we have also grown our portfolio into different sectors of hospitality. We manage F&B catering services for Aspire Zone, Aspetar Hospital, and Naufar Rehabilitation Hospital, a five-star wellness center. We also do a significant number of catering events to the private and government sectors and managed 13 such profiles during the World Cup, including serving 150,000 meals at Khalifa Stadium. During the World Cup, under the management of The Torch, we added two new entities: the Mina Hotel and Residences and 21 High Street Residence at Katara Cultural Village. Overall, under The Torch brand, we target managing iconic establishments in unique locations. We do not just manage any hotel; they must fit these requirements to remain consistent with our brand. Our hotels also vary in terms of style. The Torch as a brand serves all sectors in the market; we have something for everyone no matter if guests prefer modern, luxury experiences, wellness and relaxation, or a cultural seaside getaway such as Mina

How would you assess The Torch Hospitality contribution to the government’s economic diversification efforts?

We are in alignment with the country’s vision to develop different sectors. We work on continuously improving our sustainability programs and providing a high standard of living. QNV2030 aims to improve the country’s standard of living and sustainability efforts, and all our initiatives are developed accordingly. Part of the vision is for tourists to come to Qatar and not have to worry about services, quality, hygiene, or food safety. This is where we can play a major role.

How important is it for The Torch Hospitality to promote Qatari heritage and traditions?

It is important to promote Qatari culture. During the World Cup, visitors truly enjoyed experiencing Qatari and Arab culture firsthand. Qatar did an excellent job in showcasing this to visitors, who saw how modern society can meet traditional values. This is always exemplified through new developments in the tourism sector, like museums for example. Guests can see the Qatari culture in all our projects through high service standards, personalized services, generosity, and cultural influences in upscale interior design.

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