Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced it has signed The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa in Qatar.

The planned opening of the 372 room Westin Doha Hotel & Spa in 2015 marks the growth of the Westin brand in the Middle East, with two properties in the UAE already, there are four further hotels planned in the region.

“We are pleased to be growing Starwood’s presence in the Middle East and Qatar specifically as we sign our first Westin property in Doha,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East.

“We see huge potential in Doha, particularly in the thriving Central Business District where the hotel will be situated.”

Located in the heart of the Central Business District in Doha, The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa will be within easy reach of the Museum of Islamic Art, Education City and the Al Mushreib rejuvenation project of Doha’s downtown area.

Just 15 minutes from Doha International Airport, the hotel will sit midway between the airport and the West Bay area where the Sheraton Doha and W Doha are located.

The hotel site will comprise a total landscaped area of 49,000 sqm, quite unique for a location in the heart of Doha. Facilities will include a spa, three swimming pools and a choice of five restaurants and bars, the hotel will also offer ten meeting rooms.

The owner, His Excellency Sheikh Ghanem Bin Ali Al Thani, said: “We are excited to be developing this hotel with Starwood.

“We believe there is space in Doha for a hotel like this and the site is ideally located in an area that is undergoing rapid development.”

Westin Hotels & Resorts, like all brands within Starwood’s robust portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest program, which made headlines when it launched in 1999 with a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards.

SPG offers members the ability to redeem awards at more resorts, more luxury properties, more European hotels and more golf properties than any other hotel program.