Partner Content: Six reasons the new luxury destination is ideal for well-travelled connoisseurs and families seeking elegant spaces, privacy and discovery
There are few hotel brands that signify luxury as much as Waldorf Astoria does.
Known for sincerely elegant service, beautiful interiors and incredible F&B, Waldorf Astoria is the byword for a luxurious stay.
Now, the famous name is in Qatar, with Waldorf Astoria Lusail already welcoming guests to a world of timeless luxury and world-class hospitality.
It is yet another reason for people to visit Qatar, a country renowned for its warm hospitality and commitment to excellence. The country is keen to help grow international visitor arrivals, with plans to welcome six million visitors a year by 2030.
The hotel’s general manager Chris Franzen said: “Visitors to the country are looking for unforgettable travel moments, experiences that will change and inspire them, and that are truly meaningful.
“The Waldorf Astoria Lusail aims to bring together the essence of Qatar within an unparalleled luxury experience and position the country as a destination with a superlative hospitality offering.”
Here are six ways the hotel is bringing luxury to a new level.
The new luxury destination
The Waldorf Astoria Lusail’s façade is reminiscent of the clean lines found in nautical design, with the sweeping effect of the balconies generating a building form that is constantly animated, whatever the angle.
Inside, Arabesque patterns and plush furniture blends with the contrasting light-and-dark palette. Further inside the lobby is the impressive staircase leading to the higher floors. Guests can climb to the top for the best views of the ornate Peacock Alley with its magnificent clock.
A connoisseur’s paradise
A Sky Villa at Waldorf Astoria Lusail
The resort’s 11 Sky Villas are located on the rooftop and sprawl across 460 sq m, offering guests the ultimate luxury accommodation.
Sunlight streams through the floor-to-ceiling windows to gleam off translucent floors. The 154 sq m terraces wrap around the luxe sanctuary providing privacy in an opulent setting.
The spacious accommodation features two bedrooms with large ensuite bathrooms, a private Jacuzzi, separate living and dining areas and a fully equipped kitchen with furnishings in light tones and wooden accents, lending them a soothing, contemporary aesthetic.
The interiors of the 60 sq m Deluxe Rooms are designed to create an urban oasis that is timeless yet contemporary. Floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive balconies provide stunning views, while the rooms include a king or double-sized bed and living space with high ceilings matched by a relaxing palette and designer furnishings.
Long-staying guests have a choice of studio, one-, two- or three-bedroom residences. The well-appointed accommodation features a living room and fully equipped kitchen with natural night flooding the spaces through the floor-to-ceiling windows, creating spacious, intimate environments. A private balcony with sea views, expansive bathrooms and high-end amenities make the residences ideal for families.
Unforgettable experiences
The hotel’s Aloha Surf Club
Inside the resort, guests can also relax at Praia, the private beach and lounge, or unwind by one of the luxurious pools.
For younger guests, endless fun awaits on the waterslides and outdoor playgrounds. The immersive Kids and Teens’ Clubs, Kunuz and Kunuz Teens, provide creative and sensory-rich activities for children and teenagers from arts and crafts activities to curated outdoor explorations with new friends.
Those seeking an adrenaline rush can catch the waves at Aloha Surf Club. The boogie boarding ride brings guests the experience of real ocean surf in a controlled pool.
The ultimate wellness getaway
Relaxation at ESPA Life Spa
The pioneering ESPA Life Spa – the only one in the region – is a refined wellness retreat that focuses on creating an atmosphere of relaxation, rebalance and rejuvenation.
ESPA Life Spa blends a trilogy of proven holistic practices with innovations in scientific well-being and technology. Light therapy, cryotherapy and lymphatic massage work in synergy with holistic therapies to connect and reset physical and mindful well-being.
It is located over three floors with 19 signature treatment rooms and a couple’s suite.
The waters of the traditionally inspired hammams, extensive thermal experiences and a mindful studio for lifestyle classes are designed to regenerate the body and mind and elevate well-being.
Suites for beauty and grooming services include everything from facial reflexology to massages, while a gym and studio with spectacular views of the sea and an outdoor workout terrace, are equipped with the latest fitness equipment.
Meet us at the clock – in Qatar
Waldorf Astoria Lusail’s famous clock
Ever since it was crafted in 1893, the lobby clock of New York City’s Waldorf has been a legendary part of the city’s lore and a meeting spot for generations of New Yorkers.
This first chronograph has served as the inspiration behind the timepieces that are part of luxury brand’s heritage, and have been welcoming visitors at Waldorf Astoria hotels globally for close to 130 years.
Paying homage to Qatar’s maritime legacy and the compasses that helped seafarers track the movement of stars across the night sky, the exquisitely crafted clock at the Waldorf Astoria Lusail, made from marble and leather, welcomes guests in spectacular style at Peacock Alley, with its dramatic location overlooking the sea.
It sits in contrast to an ever-changing world where analogue lives in harmony with digital, the very personification of a nation where tradition embraces modernity.
Signature flavours from around the world
Inside SUSHISAMBA
There are seven innovative and celebrated F&B outlets at Waldorf Astoria Lusail, offering the best in modern gastronomy both indoors and al fresco.
SUSHISAMBA blends Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisines and, for the first time, is in a beach club setting, where eclectic live performances will enhance the offering even further.
Coastal brasserie ByWater
There is also Scarpetta, the modern Italian restaurant from New York, and ByWater, the coastal contemporary brasserie that bridges the indoors with the outdoors, with an extensive à la carte, a special menu for kids and diverse drinks offering inspired by travel and history.
Scarpetta’s terrace
When it comes to exclusive experiences, The Highmore is set to be one of Qatar’s premier venues. Spread over three floors, the lounge is inspired by an original members club in London. The Highmore has a chic rooftop and a dual-level lounge, with a dedicated games room, a cigar lounge, a walk-in humidor and a unique waterside terrace with music.
The Highmore’s library
Waldorf Astoria’s Peacock Alley draws on the character of the original, with beautiful views, an elegant crowd and an exquisite menu. Set by the sea, it is the perfect place to enjoy the signature afternoon teas and beverages.
Praia is the ideal place to enjoy classic beach fare with a local twist. Located right on the beach, it offers ice-cold beverages and a range of nibbles, an ice cream trolley and shisha.
The cuisine at health-focused Wyld Erth plays a significant role on the path to wellness and has been approved by ESPA Life’s international nutritionists. Presenting a combination of taste and health, with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients, the diverse offering ranges from organic and macrobiotic fare to pre- and post-workout smoothies, as well as teas and herbal tinctures for relaxation.
