(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
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The Peninsula
Though the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 came to a happy ending on December 18 with a Lionel Messi-led Argentina victory, the impact is and will still be felt for a long time to come here in Qatar and beyond its shores.
While the on-the-field activities expectedly carried the major headlines, the importance of the hospitality sector in making the stay of every participant, most especially the 32 participating teams and their crews and supporters, a memorable one in Qatar cannot be overemphasised.
Everyone who was in Qatar to witness the tournament held from November 20 to December 18 last year could bear witness to the wonderful hospitality provided by the hosts, as there were no major issues throughout the month-long event.
For Karim Tayach, the Cluster General Manager of the Marsa Malaz Kempinski, the base of the USA team in Qatar in 2022, the World Cup was the happy ending of a journey that started about three years ago.
“We are very delighted to have the opportunity to successfully host one of the high-profile teams of the World Cup-the USA team-and to receive feedback from them acknowledging their wonderful stay in Qatar. The team started showing interest in us about three years ago with a number of visits to check us out and see how we were regarding their requirements and checklists,” Tayach told The Peninsula.
According to him, the USA team initially started with a list of 32 hotels before they pruned it down to 16, after some background checks, and then 10, before finally shortlisting the final three, out of which Marsa Malaz Kempinski was the final choice.
“They stayed with us to check us out several times to see the security point of view, the services we can provide, and all that. They also sent their delegation to stay with us discreetly to check us out without our knowledge. I believe that the feeling of staying home away from home and the quality of services the hotel provides made the difference in the end,” Tayach, who also oversees the hotel brand in Oman and Saudi Arabia, said.
He noted that despite the fact that many of the USA team members were in Qatar for the first time, they were happy with the services offered.
“We got an email from them shortly after they left, expressing their desire to return to Qatar in the near future. The email read, 'We stayed for five weeks, but we truly felt home away from home'. This isn't just about us; it's about their overall experience in Qatar. Qatar 2022 has no doubt set a high standard, which might be difficult for future hosts to meet up with,” Tayach said.
He pointed out that the USA team stood out with their friendly attitude and openness throughout their stay in Qatar.
“We were very impressed with the team because they were very down to earth, even though some of them are big players with major teams in Europe. They were very approachable, and they mixed freely with our team members and colleagues in the hotel.
“When they left, there were some tears as the hotel felt like they should stay forever,” Tayach said, adding that the team freely gave away autographed t-shirts and other takeaways without prompting.
“They lighted up everywhere with their presence and made the World Cup fun for everyone. They were so friendly with everyone and courteous as well. They bonded very well with the staff.
“This is not just about the players but the entire team, including the coaching crew,” he noted.
Tayach added that he looks forward to Qatar hosting more of these events in the future, as it has not only further thrown the country into the limelight but also shown the organisational prowess of Qatar. With the World Cup, Qatar has proven to the world that it can successfully host any event, no matter the size.