Chief of Tourism Development at Qatar Tourism, Omar Al Jaber (Scond left); Chief Executive Officer, GCC, at Ipsos, Panicos Ioannides (third left); and Managing Director at Ipsos, Bahaa Barakat (fourth left) during the launch of ‘Taste of Qatar’ programme yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar Tourism launched ‘Taste of Qatar’ programme yesterday, a new restaurant rating programme designed to evaluate and enhance the dining experience across Qatar’s restaurant sector.
Created in partnership with the global research firm Ipsos and the Ministry of Public Health, Taste of Qatar integrates front-of-house service evaluations with thorough back-of-house hygiene and safety assessments. The outcome is a public rating system aimed at ensuring that restaurants in Qatar adhere to the highest international standards, said officials addressing the launch event held coinciding Qatar International Food festival.
“The launch of Taste of Qatar represents a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to elevate Qatar’s culinary landscape and enhance the overall visitor experience. This initiative will not only raise the standard of dining across the country but also establish new benchmarks for service excellence, ensuring that Qatar’s restaurants are recognised globally for their quality and innovation,” said Chief of Tourism Development at Qatar Tourism, Omar Al Jaber.
“By supporting our culinary community with valuable insights and promoting top performers, we are reaffirming our commitment to positioning Doha as a premier culinary destination on the world stage,” he added.
Seven categories of dining experiences - including fine dining, upscale casual, casual dining, quick service, premium cafes, quick service cafes, and food trucks are evaluated by the Taste of Qatar programme.
Restaurants that excel in the programme will be awarded a prestigious 3-star certification, increasing their exposure across Qatar Tourism and Visit Qatar platforms. Being certified by the Taste of Qatar programme provides a valuable marketing opportunity for restaurants, positioning them to attract both international and local guests.
“At Ipsos, we are proud to contribute our expertise in data-driven assessments to Taste of Qatar. By applying global bench-marking methodologies, we ensure that the evaluation process is rigorous and aligned with international best practices. Our approach provides restaurants with actionable insights that will drive service excellence and enhance the overall guest experience,” Chief Executive Officer, GCC, at Ipsos, Panicos Ioannides said.
According to Managing Director at Ipsos, Bahaa Barakat, ‘Taste of Qatar’ equips restaurant operators with the tools needed to refine service delivery and operational processes.
“The programme follows global strategies, but there are also unique occasions for development. And the variation will be augmented by training programmes, ensuring objective and standardised assessments. Further to regulatory instructions, this programme is designed to really support restaurant operators with insights and our own vision that will help them define their service standards and elevate guest experience and instruction,” he said.
As the culinary scene continues to develop in the country and in the light of the recent Michelin Guide’s presence in Doha, Taste of Qatar will be crucial in fostering restaurant excellence, enabling operators to consistently improve customer satisfaction and operational standards.
