(L-R) Katara Hospitality Director of Operations, Mohammed Alasmakh; Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Thierry Antinori; Qatar Tourism COO, Berthold Trenkel; and MC Presenter and Moderator, Alexandra Topalian. PIC by Marivie Alabanza/The Peninsula
Planning a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) event in Qatar is convenient due to the country’s renowned status as one of the world’s most open nations, from visa facilitation, unparalleled venues and hotels, organisers can expect a hassle-free experience when arranging their event here.
With its efficient B2B visa solutions, obtaining necessary visas for participants will be a hassle-free experience. Moreover, the country’s commitment to leveraging any MICE event ensures that organisers and attendees can expect unmatched support and resources to make their event a resounding success.
Qatar Tourism COO, Berthold Trenkel said in a panel discussion “Qatar – a new rising regional hub for the MICE industry,” during the UFI MEA Conference that: “when we talk about MICE, this is a massive tool that simplifies who wants to organise [here] because you will not have any headaches with visa, because there is a B2B solutions for visa as well – again it’s a unique thing, that is being leverage for large scale events, where MICE falls under. Whether we have an event, exhibition or any large-scale event or down to destination wedding, we will be leveraging this.” When it comes to selecting a destination for a MICE event, Qatar is a top choice due to its exceptional attributes. One significant factor is its seamless connectivity, allowing delegates from around the world to easily reach the country through its state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport (HIA), which serves as a major transit hub.
Moreover, Qatar’s unique blend of modernity and tradition provides an enchanting backdrop for events, with sleek skyscrapers juxtaposed against historic landmarks. Adding to its allure, the country is renowned for its unwavering commitment to service excellence and quality.
Trenkel explained: “In Qatar, we are competing with quality and service excellence – these are the two key things we want to be known for and stand out.”
“Qatar has the best mix for someone coming from outside the region to really expand the GCC, you get tradition, heritage and values we present in the region, the same time we have the modern infrastructures, and not to mention again we keep rubbing this point, (we have the) Best Airline (Qatar Airways), Best Airport (HIA), and we will use that to our advantage.”
“The connectivity of Qatar Airways is a huge play, the whole visa part is different, last thing is because it’s a small country, when we do things we do about MICE, we can connect from immigration to customs to Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Interior – players make things happen that others can’t and that’s very important when you’re trying to pull off something complicated, you need to be able to have a government that works together, where people are available ‘round the clock, where you can get an approval overnight, and we’ve done it so many times.”
The COO provided assurance that any business organisation intending to host a MICE event in Qatar will be highly valued and prioritised. “We can deliver on things either on standard or exception, service excellence you can’t get anything else in Qatar.”
The UFI MEA Conference was held from May 9-11 for the first time in the country bringing business professionals worldwide.
