Originally Posted by Thunderroad

Just a quick update as a data point for any folks interested in this down the line. When I finally reached QR by phone, it did in fact confirm that it would provide complimentary visa, hotel and transportation services, as well as a food voucher (worth something like $40). I received an email (which you are supposed to print out) confirming these services a couple of days later. I believe you have to set this up at least 72 hours in advance and that if your ticket qualifies you must have at least an eight-hour stopover.

The office that sets this up is not clearly marked, but is just before immigration at Doha...as I was facing immigration coming down to that level, it was off to the right. I had to ask at an information desk in order to locate it. I don't recall the name...might have been Maha (???) Travel Services? In any event, once I found it, it was a very professional operation where you can sit comfortably while things are taken care of, though I had to wait about 10 minutes to get the visa processed. Aside from the immigration officers themselves, most of the staff seemed to be Japanese.

In the end, ironically, I only ended up availing of the visa service since in the middle of this process I received a text from colleagues saying they'd arranged for another hotel for me. Because of that, I did not stay at the QR hotel (the Movenpick) or use the transportation service or voucher. But it was clear that the good service would have extended all the way to escorting me to the hotel transportation at the curb.

If the opportunity arises to use this service again, I wouldn't hesitate.