H E Alessandro Prunas, Italy’s Ambassador to Qatar, H E Dr. M. Mustafa Göksu, Turkey’s Ambassador to Qatar, Haidar Mshaimesh, General Manager of IFP Qatar, and other officials addressing a press conference at the InterContinental Doha The City, yesterday.
Doha: The 6th edition of Hospitality Qatar 2021 which will be held under the patronage of the Minister of Commerce and Industry H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Abdullah Al Thani, in partnership with Qatar Tourism and the support of Qatar Airways, is all set to showcase and foster the readiness of the country’s hospitality sector ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
More than 170 exhibitors from over 30 countries will participate in the four-day event which will open on November 8 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC). Organised by the IFP Qatar, the expo will also showcase various activities in partnership with the Qatar Tourism, Qatar Airways, and talabat.
Addressing the media yesterday, Haidar Mshaimesh, General Manager of IFP Qatar said over 70 international stakeholders and about 100 Qatari entities will also join the event, which is the same number of participants during its pre-pandemic edition in 2019.
Mshaimesh went on to reiterate Qatar’s hospitality sector’s strong comeback, and added that holding the exhibition two years after its last edition confirms the success of the hospitality and tourism sector in Qatar in surpassing the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 crisis; and is now moving forward with its preparations as the host of the world’s biggest sporting event next year.
“IFP Qatar has prepared a comprehensive and interactive program for this edition in partnership with several government and private stakeholders, most notably the ‘The Countdown Begins’ conference which will be held in partnership with Qatar Tourism. Other programs include the Destination Pavilion sponsored by Qatar Airways, an awards ceremony recognising the best restaurants in Qatar in partnership with talabat, a barista competition to be held in cooperation with Corona International, as well as live cooking shows with the participation of the best chefs in Qatar. The event will also hold a number of training workshops in various areas and other activities to make this edition exceptional,” said Mshaimesh.
In a statement, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive H E Akbar Al Baker highlighted that the Destination Pavilion sponsored by Qatar Airways will once again be a key feature at the event. “For the second year in a row, Qatar Airways is sponsoring the Destination Pavilion in Hospitality Qatar. This year, the pavilion will be larger than before to accommodate 22 different tourist destinations where Qatar Airways operates flights. As the world reopens to travel, we encourage everyone to visit the pavilion and get inspired for their next destinations,” he added.
Christoph Hodapp from Qatar Tourism commented: “Qatar’s hospitality sector, like the wider tourism industry here, has proven to be extremely resilient. At Qatar Tourism, we remain committed to working with our stakeholders to offer authentic experiences to visitors – rooted in the country’s tradition of hospitality. We are proud to support events such as Hospitality Qatar, where sector partners come together to share best practices and innovations in the field. The business events sector introduces new audiences to Qatar, facilitating investment and showcasing the breadth of our offerings”.
Participating for the first time, talabat, the delivery mobile application is this year’s ‘Food Tech Partner. Commenting on the partnership, Francisco Miguel De Sousa, Managing Director of talabat Qatar said: “We are excited to partner with IFP for the upcoming Hospitality Qatar exhibition as their ‘Food Tech partner’. In this first of its kind event, talabat will feature the tala-bot autonomous delivery vehicle and will present the Food Tech conference. We are also thrilled to present, for the first time, the Restaurants Choice Awards, in which talabat will pick the customers’ favourite restaurants. This event fits within talabat’s engagement in supporting the Hospitality sector in Qatar and helping it flourish”.
During the first two days of the exhibition, Corona International Company will organise a free barista training for café workers in Doha followed by an international competition with the participation of international experts recruited from outside Qatar. Boecker, a global leader in health and safety, will also hold a free food safety training and the Qatar Clean Program for workers in Doha hotels and restaurants. Participants will receive certificates accredited by the CPD Foundation in London after completion of the trainings.
In addition to the business programs and industry trainings, culinary lovers will be able to enjoy live cooking shows throughout the four days which feature the best chefs in Qatar as they present innovative recipes for various cuisines.
Hospitality Qatar 2021 will feature a rich blend of exhibition, conference, training workshops, an awards ceremony, various competitions, and live performances to promote the hospitality, tourism, and food sectors.
H E Alessandro Prunas, Italy’s Ambassador to Qatar, H E Dr. M. Mustafa Göksu, Turkey’s Ambassador to Qatar, and other officials from Al Sraiya Hotels & Hospitality Group, Gulf Crafts, Askar Industrial Company, Partners & Partners, and Lama also spoke during the press conference.
