Just until swerving up to the doors of Hotel Centro Capital Doha, Rotana’s spanking new offering in the modest environs of Bin Mahmoud district, one might be forgiven for toning expectations down to a minimum.
Set on Al Jazeera Street, the approach road and the general atmosphere around are nothing bad; just unremarkable and humdrum. And that only enables the first impression of Centro Capital to ambush you by sweet surprise.
Spacious lobby with large glass walls draped in chic curtains made of long black threads bring in a welcome sense of quiet that you must have longed for no matter how good your day has been, high ceilings minimise visual suffocation and maximise natural light, a sprawling all-day dining restaurant c.taste, the modern bar c.mondo, and a compact 24-hour take-away dining shop c.deli, Hotel Centro Capital Doha wins your heart from the get-go.
Packing in 229 rooms and studios in a contemporary setting, the hotel stands out in the Qatar hospitality crowd for its disarming style, swift service, hearty food, warm ambience, and most importantly, its reasonable prices for a quality package – the best available rate for a room is QR375.
No space is wasted in the rooms and yet space doesn’t seem to be lacking in the least. The top-quality beds are a delight to doze off in; the bathrooms are an achievement in creative architecture; in-room entertainment is taken care off by a plethora of channels; and the furniture is just as elegant as functional. The spread of food in the offing, courtesy Executive Chef Shaikh Toufik Imam, is fulfilling in terms of both taste and variety.
In the one month’s time that the hotel has opened its doors, the demand for bookings is “increasing dramatically”, we are told. To know more, Community sat with Luca Medda, General Manager of Centro Capital Doha, down for a chat.

 The design of the hotel’s lobby, premises and the rooms are rather striking. What was the idea?
LWD, which has designed the hotel, is one of the most well-known design groups. The hotel’s design is very fresh and modern; it is for the new generation. A businessman who wants to travel to Doha or the UAE doesn’t want to spend QR800/night. Yet he wants to enjoy the stay and feel comfortable. Our design is trendy and the lighting is subdued. This is a new look for Doha. The young will especially love it. Take a look at our bar, c.mondo – it has a modern vibe with laidback seating arrangements and has mirrors fitted with TV screens. We believe we can soon create a meeting point where people can get together and have a good time.
 
Take us through the features of the hotel.
We have 229 rooms, which includes the Centro classic rooms, 12 studios, and 14 Centro Plus rooms, which are larger and include a kitchenette. We offer a fast, 50 Mbps Internet connection, 40 inch smart TVs complete with beIN sports channels in the guest rooms, and the same linen and mattresses as Oryx Rotana City Centre. So essentially, we are offering five-star facilities for a three-star price. We have an outdoor pool on the rooftop and our gym is open all day. Our all-day dining restaurant c.taste offers a distinctive taste and a variety of international cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while c.deli refashions the concept of takeaway food. We have three floors underground for car park. The location of the hotel is quite practical, too, as it is close to West Bay, Souq Waqif, Corniche, Aspire Park, and Salwa Road.
 
Is Centro a new concept?
Well, we have five Centros in the UAE – one in Dubai, one in Sharjah and three in Abu Dhabi. This is the sixth and they all follow the same concept. Now we have two more Centros coming up in Saudi Arabia – one in Riyadh and one in Jeddah. Centro, therefore, is growing quite fast. The businessman is asking for Centro as he would like to save some money while being able to enjoy the pleasures of good accommodation.
 
What kind of response have you fetched for the other Centros in the UAE?
Very positive. Centro is well-known in the UAE. The location of Centros is usually practical, the quality of services is uncompromised, and our Food and Beverage (F&B) is fabulous. Usually, in three- or four-star hotels category in the UAE and also in Qatar, the quality of F&B is quite poor. Centro, however, is offering the same quality of F&B as one would find in Oryx Rotana and City Centre Rotana.
 
How have you tried to set Centro Capital apart from the others in the hospitality market?
I feel we have a big plus by being part of Rotana as a brand. Oryx Rotana enjoys a terrific reputation in the market; both in terms of rooms and F&B. City Centre Rotana that opened more recently is doing great as well. So it’s easier for us to position ourselves since we have these two established, big brothers in the market. The current financial scenario has made companies pay closer attention to their budgets. I think we are the right concept in the right country at the right moment, as companies want to offer good accommodation to their employees but also save some money. That’s also where we step in as the best fit.