Taj Hotels has entered into a strategic partnership with Qatar Sports Investment, a fully owned entity of the Government of Qatar, to operate and manage the Taj Exotica Golf Resort and Spa in Doha, Qatar.

This will be a key addition to the Taj Hotels portfolio worldwide. This Resort will be developed at the Doha Golf Club, which is located near the prestigious West Bay Lagoon and is currently the only PGA standard 18-hole golf course in Doha, Qatar.

QSI will invest approximately US $ 40 million in the entire project and build it to the specifications of Taj Hotels. This luxurious new resort is the latest addition to the growing portfolio of the Taj Hotels in the Middle East.

Announcing the project, Mr. Raymond N. Bickson, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, The Indian Hotels Company Limited, said, "We are very excited with this new project, which marks our foray into the golf resort segment, in this region. The Taj Exotica Resort & Spa brand is today recognized for its luxurious offerings including an elevated degree of service, outstanding food, unique spa concept and uber chic design. We are delighted to partner with the Qatar Sports Investment for the Taj Exotica Golf Resort and Spa in Doha, Qatar. Today, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, all form part of a strategic group of countries in the Gulf region. Leisure and hospitality in this region is growing exponentially and it is important for the Taj Hotels to be present in these strategic countries of this region, which is rapidly morphing into a tourism hub of the future.

Mr. Abdulla Khalid Al Qahtani, Chairman, QSI commented: "Our mission is to develop the reputation and stature of Qatar as a sporting nation through investment in exciting and innovative developments in the world of sports, leisure and entertainment. This investment marks the beginning of a strategic process that will deliver our mission, both in Qatar and abroad. Taj is the ideal company to manage the first of our endeavors in this space, thanks to its history of expertise in hospitality management."

To be unveiled early-2009, the Taj Exotica Golf Resort and Spa, Doha, Qatar will target the premium leisure and business travelers. The proposed design includes a low-rise five-star boutique hotel complete with a host of world-class facilities, comprising of 150 rooms and suites, restaurants and a bar, meeting and conferencing facilities, and a Jiva Grande Club and Spa.

The golf course at the Doha Golf Club encompasses an area of 150 hectares and includes an 18-hole championship course and a 9-hole floodlit academy course. The Qatar Masters, which is now co-sanctioned by the European PGA tour and the Asia PGA tour, has been a regular feature on the Doha Golf Club calendar since 1998. The Doha Golf Club has a total of 600 members and is currently at full capacity. There is a proposal to extend the Golf Course by adding another 18-hole course within the complex. The Club House is currently undergoing an upgradation of facilities.

Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces' current portfolio in the Middle East includes the Taj Palace Hotel in Dubai; Taj Sheba Hotel, Sana`a in Yemen and the Taj Exotica Resort and Spa under development at the Palm Jumeirah Crescent in Dubai.