Construction of the $233 million Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay hotel in Qatar is running a year behind schedule due to changes in the hotel design, the project developer has said.

According to Engineer Nassr Zubaidi, managing director of La Jolla Building and Contracting, there has been a 33.33% change to the hotel’s built up area (BUA). He told Zawya Projects that the ‘slight delay’ has also resulted in an increase to the overall budget of the hospitality project.

“The (project) budget has gone up due to the increase in the overall BUA to 104,000sqm from 78,000sqm,” he explained, adding that the new project cost was approximately $233 million. He did not disclose the budget increase.

Meanwhile, a senior executive from Hilton Hotels & Resorts – the hotel’s operator – said that the 42-storey hotel would be open by the end of next year.

“The development of Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay is moving ahead, with the expected opening in Q4 2017,” Carlos Khneisser, vice president of development for Hilton Worldwide Middle East and North Africa, told Zawya Projects in an emailed statement.

Designed by Lacasa, a Dubai-based architectural and engineering firm, the hotel will feature 250 guestrooms and suites, along with 80 serviced apartments.

According to a statement from Hilton Worldwide in 2013, the Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay was expected to open in 2016.