Qatari Royal Family Names Boston Firm to Design Hotel in Doha

J/Brice Design wins $30 million project in Qatar, whose capital city Doha is becoming a new Middle E

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. October 14, 2008

BOSTON, MA, January 27, 2006 - J/Brice Design International, Inc. of Boston has been selected to direct the interior architecture and design of Hotel Khalifa in Doha, Qatar. Sheik Ahmed Al-Thani and Brothers, who are members of the Qatari Royal Family, are developing the 150-room hotel property. Hotel Khalifa is slated to open mid 2007. Project budget, not including site acquisition, is $30 million.

Says Jeff Ornstein, CEO and founder of the Boston-headquartered J/Brice Design," The Hotel Khalifa^1s French chateau motif will be a counterpoint to the international architectural style sweeping the capital city during a period of unparalleled growth, and distinguish it immediately as a unique and iconic property." Doha, once a sleepy way station, is embarking on a building program that will add 200 new hotel buildings and office towers to the skyline over the coming years.

J/Brice Design (www.jbricedesign.com) has served India^1s dominant TAJ Hotel chain, Abu Dhabi National Hotels, as well as Boutique Hotel Properties in Dubai, the Arabian Gulf^1s present hub. J/Brice also serves US chains developing properties worldwide. Ornstein credits his firm^1s international experience and recognition within the industry as a responsible, market savvy, trend setter for winning the plum assignment in what has become one of the wealthiest and perhaps fastest growing nations in the Middle East.

Staff members of J/Brice will relocate to the firm^1s Doha office to manage the project. Participating in design development will be Noor Kuwairi who serves as interior designer for Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bin Nasser Al-Missned. Government liaison and official sponsor is Jamal Al Kuwairi.

Ornstein notes, "J/Brice is among the elite US firms with the professional capability and management resources to operate in today^1s global hotel design market. Our business model gives us the ability to synthesize local flavors, themes and customs with the expectations of 21st century international travelers. Procurement has also become predominantly international as the global marketplace gels. To compete on quality and price we source furniture and fixtures directly from manufacturers in countries that dominate the category. For example we obtain furniture from China, lighting from Australia and stone from Brazil."

The Hotel Khalifa lobby will boast a grand, stairway and four-story atrium with a magnificent water feature. In addition to its 150 guestrooms, the four-story red-brick, granite and yellow ochre stucco structure will include four duplex super-suites and amenities such as an Olympic-size pool, luxury spa and fitness center, ballroom-conference space with state-of the art audio-visual equipment. A trend-setting nightclub with well-appointed game rooms featuring snooker, two theme restaurants offering Thai and Indian cuisine as well as a continental restaurant will make Hotel Khalifa a destination property for locals and travelers.

Situated 35 miles into the Arabian Gulf, Qatar, the Thumb of Arabia, attracts beach goers and golfers who play the Doha Golf Club, home of the PGA - Championship Tournament Qatar Masters. In addition to the Hotel Khalifa, the Ritz Carleton, Hotel Intercontinental and Sheraton Hotel & Resort have recently developed properties there.

Doha is gaining on Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as a booming international city in the region and destination for royalty, wealthy vacationers, European and American oil industry executives and engineers and as an airline hub. On the political front, Qatar came into the American consciousness as a staging point and media briefing center for US forces in the Middle East. It is the headquarters for Al Jazeera news operation. Qatar will host the 2006 Asian Olympic Games.