BTN interview: Aurelio Giraudo, cluster general manager, Banyan Tree Doha & La Cigale | Focus

When it opens later this yr, Banyan Tree Doha will grow to be the initially city, luxurious vacation resort in Qatar and a chief in the broader Middle East marketplace.

It is also the initially home formulated underneath the Banyan Tree-Accor strategic partnership.

Situated in the coronary heart of Msheireb, the vacation resort sits within just the Doha Oasis task, a leading city destination comprising of luxury office keep, an indoor experiential theme park and a cineplex.

The 341-vital house is in shut proximity to the industrial district of the cash and cultural sights, this kind of as the Museum of Islamic Art and Souq Waqif standing market.

La Cigale has been a Doha institution considering that 2006

La Cigale lodge is a five-star luxurious hotel in the coronary heart of the dynamic centre of Doha Town, approximately 20 minutes away from the Hamad International Airport.

Opening since 2006, it has been recognised as Qatar’s Foremost Hotel by voters at the Earth Travel Awards.

It was rebranded less than the Accor umbrella from Dec 2019.

It has 225 keys, 10 eating and enjoyment stores with out of doors seating solutions two state of the artwork ballrooms a 490 sq. metre gymnasium a 20-meter-long daylight indoor swimming pool and a deluxe spa.

Here Breaking Journey Information speaks with Aurelio Giraudo, cluster typical manager for Banyan Tree Doha & La Cigale Lodge Managed by Accor, to find out a lot more about the challenge.

Breaking Vacation News: Can you inform us a tiny about the forthcoming opening of Banyan Tree Doha?

Aurelio Giraudo: Banyan Tree Doha will be one particular-quit vacation spot comprised of luxurious resort, lavish residences, fine eating dining establishments, prestigious French fashion office retail outlet Printemps, reducing-edge Vox cinemas and point out-of-the-artwork, indoor, to start with at any time concept park in Qatar, Quest.

Banyan Tree Doha will open up later this yr

BTN: What is on offer you at the assets?

AG: Our hotel will aspect the signature Banyan Tree Spa with a Rainforest hydrotherapy facility, Saffron fine-dining Thai cafe, and Vertigo, a 28-storey rooftop bar overlooking panoramic metropolis skyline of Doha.

For Italian food items enthusiasts, we will be getting Il Galante a great Italian dining cafe, Qalamkarri, an Indian restaurant motivated by standard Kalamkari art, and Panya Lounge, a patisserie with a combination of Asian and European aptitude.

BTN: When can we expect it to open up?

AG: Banyan Tree Doha is anticipated to open this calendar year.

The residence will be the to start with of its form in the Qatari capital

BTN: How does this suit with the wider expansion of the tourism sector in Qatar, with the FIFA Environment Cup 2022 now just all around the corner?

AG: Loads of fascinating new initiatives are coming up in Qatar for FIFA Environment Cup 2022 and Banyan Tree Doha is a single of them.

I am incredibly thrilled to lead the staff of specialists who will be working incredibly closely with me for launching the hotel.

Loads of initiatives are previously taken by the Qatar governing administration in selling sports tournaments, primarily football.

Even nevertheless our market is going as a result of difficult occasions owing to Covid-19, Qatar as a industry has noticed a growth of organization around the earlier decades, driven by govt initiatives and quarantine desire.

With vaccination travel in comprehensive development, we anticipate current market to recover by quarter four of 2021.

With increased demand and fewer source, our forecast for the resort is incredibly wholesome and we anticipate the similar to proceed till end of FIFA Environment Cup 2022.

The FIFA event time need design has forecasted 1.7 million men and women could go to Qatar throughout the Planet Cup, with approximately 500,000 website visitors in the place on the busiest days.

So over-all pretty healthful indications for the marketplace.

Banyan Tree Doha is the 1st joint job from the brand name alongside Accor

BTN: You have a prolonged monitor history of success in the hospitality marketplace – what helps make this home interesting to you?

AG: I did take a look at this job ahead of taking up this fascinating assignment and was blown away.

The present day metal elliptical shape, protected in exotic, awe-inspiring gardens, its location becoming in the heart of Msheireb and the just one-halt destination concept with lavish lodge and lavish residences will be a vital to good results for this assets.

Far more Data

Locate out additional about the forthcoming hotel on the formal web page.

Giraudo retains a bachelor’s degree in resort administration from Italian Hospitality and has concluded a range of senior management plans at Cornell & Bocconi College.

Prior to his latest appointment with Accor, he was the cluster general manager for Kempinski in Kenya.

Giraudo has four decades of expertise with main luxury hospitality providers such as Four Seasons, Shangri-La, Preferred Accommodations & Resorts, Dusit Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Global and Accor.

He is also no stranger to Banyan Tree, as in the course of his early yrs in hospitality market he was operating for them in Banyan Tree Bintan Indonesia.

In his existing purpose, he is in cost of repositioning the La Cigale less than the Accor umbrella and to guarantee the thriving opening of Banyan Tree Doha.

With his intensive abilities in revenue and marketing and advertising, food and beverage, income administration and finance departments, he will be dependable to accomplish the business aims of both equally the resorts and position them as the desired place for regional and global travellers.