Hotel spends £1m to cater for thirsty supporters

A HOTEL in Qatar has spent £1m to cater for thirsty Wales fans, it has been revealed.

The Intercontinental Doha hotel has hosted parties for Wales on both its World Cup match days and will again tomorrow before their match against England.

As a result, the four and a half star luxury site has become the Red Wall’s home in Doha, with Wales fans regularly taking over its six restaurants, bars and topfloor nightclub.

Those venues are run by hotel business partner Rhodri Williams, the Welshman who made a name for himself in the UK as a presenter on Sky Sports and popular shows including Animal Hospital.

Williams now works at Qatar’s Al-Kass Sports Channel where he anchors the network’s Englishspeaking output, but balances that role with his business interests.

And he has revealed he had to spend £1m on “special drinks” ahead of the World Cup, in a country where the sale and consumption of alcohol is heavily regulated.

One of the main issues in ensuring Wales fans did not go thirsty has been the installation of “supercharged” fridges, as hotels in Doha do not have cellars.

The hotel has also spent money importing a number of drinks, including Penderyn whiskey.

More than 1,600 Welsh fans took over the hotel on the day Wales played its first World Cup match in 64 years.

On the first floor, events were hosted at the hotel’s Curry House, as well as the hotel’s Aussie Hive and Steak House. Meanwhile, on the ground floor, fans soaked up the action at the hotel’s Al Jasla Garden lounge and La Parisienne, while some enjoyed the spectacular views at the Al Jasla Garden lounge.

Folk singer Dafydd Iwan and Welsh football supporters band the Barry Horns have been among its regulars during the tournament.