Although Marriott is exploring new investments, Marriott International’s Satya Anand said the company is not ready to make announcements yet.
Marriott International’s President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Satya Anand, praised Qatar’s rapid rise as a world-class tourism destination during the Qatar Travel Mart 2025, adding that the Gulf country has undergone a dramatic transformation. Anand said the progress is especially striking compared to his first visit nearly two decades ago, when Qatar’s tourism landscape looked “entirely different”.
“The first time I came was in 2006, when the number of hotels were very limited,” he said. Reflecting on what has changed since then, Anand described Qatar’s evolution as “just spectacular,” Anand told Doha News.
Although Marriott is assessing new investment opportunities, Anand said the company is not yet ready to make any formal announcements. “I think there are some huge opportunities in this region. We’re looking at a few deals”.
Satya Anand was appointed President for Europe, Middle East & Africa in October 2020 and is accountable for developing and managing Marriott’s hotel portfolio in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, which comprises of 28 brands in 78 countries and territories.
He highlighted that although new hotels have been part of the progress, Qatar’s wider investment in tourism infrastructure has been key.
“It goes back to some of the great hotels that have opened over time, but it’s the overall infrastructure which has been built, which is, it’s really amazing, whether it’s the museums, the airports,” Anand said.
“The destinations that have been created, but also the events which are taking place in Qatar, which is just absolutely amazing,” he added.
Anand also recalled his time in the country in 2022 during the FIFA World Cup. “I was here for the World Cup. I had the pleasure of being here and watching some of the games. The whole, you know, stadium was incredible. The people were fantastic”.
Marriott’s growth in Qatar: “Today we have more than 22 hotels”
Marriott’s footprint in Qatar has expanded dramatically over the past few years. “When we started off a few years back, we had literally only 2 hotels in this region, and today we have more than 22 hotels,” Anand said.
He described the growth as “a testimony to the partnership and support that we’ve had from the Qatari business people, the Qatari government, but also the population as a whole”.
Anand began his career with Marriott International in 1988.
He has served as Chief Operations Officer, Luxury & Southern Europe and Global Design EMEA where he was responsible for the overall operations of the luxury portfolio in Europe and the complete portfolio of brands in Southern Europe as well as leading the Global Design team.
Prior to this, Anand was Europe’s Chief Financial Officer for four years and held Area Vice President roles for Western and Central Europe as well as various Cluster General Manager, operations and finance positions both on and above property.
He noted that Marriott plans to strengthen its ties in the country. “We want to show our appreciation. We want to be closer to the places where we do business,” he said, confirming he had visited the company’s Qatar office earlier in the day.
He described the move as “absolutely something that we believe in”.
Looking ahead, Anand believes Qatar’s growing calendar of global events will continue to attract travellers. “But what is going to happen in Qatar in the few years to come, it’s just going to be even more exciting,” he said.
With more events taking place “within the GCC, but also across the globe and bringing people here,” Anand called Qatar “a great reminder of what a country can do to support tourism in the future”.
