Qatari business group Retaj Hotels & Hospitality has signed a management agreement for an upcoming five-star luxury resort, Vichy Célestins Spa Hotel by Retaj, near Aqua Park Qatar on Salwa Road.
The contract was signed by Nesf bin Mohamed al-Boenein, member of the board of directors at Retaj Group; Abdulla Hassan al-Ghanim, CEO of Hala Group Enterprises; and Jerome Phelipeau, chairman of Vichy Company France.  
The high-end property will feature 78 standard guestrooms and suites and 90 villas, ranging from one to three bedrooms. The resort will also include three restaurants, two cafes, a 3,500sqm medical spa specialised in weight-loss programmes, prevention of diabetes, metabolism and anti-ageing treatments.
The resort is to be equipped with a meeting area, a business centre, jewellery shops, a hairdresser, a fitness centre, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a lazy river, tennis courts, a landscape area and a water boutique.
Vichy Célestins Spa Hotel by Retaj is “bringing an entirely new hospitality and medical spa concept to the country and the whole region,” the hotel’s promoters said at the signing.
Vichy Company holds a concession over two thermal facilities and an estate that includes nine springs, including the famous Vichy Célestins in France. The company owns the 5-star Vichy Spa Hotel Les Célestins, a 4-star hotel, 3-star hotel and two 2-star hotels.
The contract signing was hosted by Dr Kamel Senhadji, CEO of Retaj Hotels & Hospitality, and attended by the corporate team, general managers and management team of Retaj Group.
At the signing, Senhadji expressed happiness at his group’s co-operation with Vichy and Hala, stressing that the step was an embodiment of Retaj Hotels’ vision to expand at the local, regional and international levels.
Hala Group general manager Ijaz Malik said among the major attractions of the upcoming resort are a huge lobby, a 3,500sqm spa area, a 4,000sqm artificial lake, a waterfall, a 600m-long river with six swimming pools in addition to an Olympic-size outdoor pool, indoor hydrotherapy pool and a beautiful landscape.
Hala Group, whose first project was Aqua Park Qatar - which is open to public for the last six years, said it would continue to add projects in the hospitality and tourism sector.
The latest resort project in Doha is expected to be ready by the middle of next year, according to officials.
The Retaj Hotels & Hospitality portfolio includes nine hotels: Retaj Al Rayyan, Retaj Royale Doha, Retaj Residence Al Corniche, Retaj Inn Marina Residence and Retaj Inn (all in Doha), Retaj Royale Istanbul and Retaj Thermal Hotel & Spa Yalova (Turkey), Retaj Moroni Sports & Leisure Resort, and Retaj Al Rayyan Makkah in Saudi Arabia, in addition to two new hotels to open soon - Retaj Al Nasr in Doha and Retaj Al Salam in Djibouti.