“We encourage any organiser considering Qatar for the first time to liaise with the Qatar Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (QTEA) in order to gain an understanding on Qatar’s meeting/exhibition sector,” says Daniela Grendene, marketing and communications manager for QTEA.
“The infrastructure is growing very fast and we can give an overview which is in general beneficial (and time saving) for the organiser. Also, often organisers have a misperception about Doha, making assumptions that Qatar is part of the UAE or is another Dubai, which are both incorrect.”
In communicating with QTEA at the initial stage the organiser can better understand Qatar’s vision and make the best choice for the group in question assuring its success.
“Qatar is not aiming to the mass market and is a selected type of destination,” she says.
As in all Gulf countries meetings/conferences/exhibitions can take place all year around but she suggests the months of July and August when it is particularly hot might be avoided. And during the month of Ramadan (the Islamic fasting period) generally very few events take place.
The Qatar International Exhibition Centre is located in the centre of Doha, occupying a site of 82,000 square metres, with an indoor exhibition hall of 10,000 square metres, and 8000 square metres of outdoor exhibition area.
Nearby hotels include The Ritz-Carlton Doha, Sheraton Doha Hotel and Resort, Hotel InterContinental Doha, Doha Marriott Hotel, Four Seasons Doha, Ramada Hotel Doha, Rydges Plaza, and Diplomatic Club.
There’s plenty happening in Doha to improve its attraction as a conference or business event destination. The new Museum of Islamic Arts is scheduled to open in March 2008. It was designed by the renowned architect I.M. Pei and it will house the most comprehensive collection of Islamic art in the world.
“It should definitely be included in everyone’s visit in the future,” Ms Grendene says.
“Also everybody enjoys a stroll in the Souq (market) Waqif, which was completely restored and expanded last year and it is one of the best ways to experience the local way of life as it has been for centuries.
“We also always recommend a half-day trip in the desert including viewing the beautiful scenery of Khor Al Udaid (the Inland Sea), a natural environment where the sea meets in the desert creating very large lakes.”
Souq Waqif is the oldest of Doha’s traditional markets, originally used by bedouin traders as a place to buy and sell meat, wool, milk, and other staples. Today it is a maze of alleyways packed with everything from traditional clothing and incense to camping equipment and hardware. There are also textile gold souqs as well as the popular Thursday/Friday Souq where clothes, perfumes, shoes, fabric, household goods and carpets are on offer.
Here are some of the activities available in Doha:
• 4WD desert safaris
• Cruises on traditional dhows (boats)
• Water sports: jet skiing, water skiing, parasailing and scuba diving
• Golf on an 18-hole, 72-par, 7181-par championship course
• Strolling along the Corniche, a 7km landscaped stretch of coastline running parallel to Doha Bay.
Perhaps realising this, the powers that be in Qatar have committed to establishing a state-of-the-art facility of world standard that will help cement the destination as a serious player in the global conference market.
Clearly, the business events industry has been identified as a growth sector for Qatar. With its state-of-the-art meeting facilities soon to be realised when the convention centre is complete, Qatar will be well-positioned to host events of any size.
What’s more, savvy meeting, convention and incentive travel planners will find everything they need to host highly successful and very enjoyable meetings. In addition to the first-class hotels and facilities available, Qatar offers business travellers beautiful scenery and wonderful shopping in a relaxing environment – giving planners a wonderful combination of business and leisure options.
Surrounded by the Arabian Gulf on three sides of the peninsula, there are plenty of opportunities for water sports and cruising. Two artificial reefs have been built for scuba-diving and create a welcoming environment for marine life.
Sailing is popular, and several private companies offer boats and windsurfers for hire, as well as sailing lessons for novice and experienced sailors.
A sunset cruise on a traditional dhow in Doha Bay provides a stunning view of Doha at night, while luxury yachts can be rented for half and full-day fishing trips. There are both jet-skiing and water-skiing rentals, as well as pedal boats, water cycle, and kayak rentals.
Golf enthusiasts are also taken care of at the impressive Doha Golf Club. This 18-hole, par-72 championship course was designed by Peter Harradine and has played host to major international golfing championships. There is also a nine-hole floodlit academy course and a splendid clubhouse with three restaurants and a golf shop. The long-established Mesaiseed Golf Course offers an outstanding course and has tennis courts and a swimming pool.
A desert safari is also a great option for groups for either full or half-day experiences. Experienced tour operators can take visitors on 4WD desert experiences followed by lunch and a swim in the warm inland sea.
The only problem with holding events in Qatar may be finding time to fit everything in while your group is there.
In the heart of the Arabian Gulf, there is a definite buzz in the air as construction goes into full swing for the Middle East’s newest international standard convention center in Qatar.
Operated by international venue management specialist, AEG Ogden, the Qatar National Convention Center will be one of the architectural showpieces of Qatar Foundation’s Education City.
The stunning design incorporates a huge tree-like structure in the main façade symbolising the Sidra Tree. Traditionally the shade of the Sidra tree was a retreat for poets and scholars, who gathered beneath its branches to discuss and impart knowledge. The fruit, flowers and leaves of the Sidra, whose deep roots allow it to flourish in harsh desert climates, were components in many traditional medicines. All these qualities make the Sidra Tree a beloved icon in Qatari history and culture.
General Manager for the Qatar National Convention Center, Mr Paul D’Arcy said the Center will set a new benchmark in world-class convention facilities. The extraordinary attention to detail in the overall design elements will meet the most sophisticated demands of global conference organisers.
With an opening date soon to be announced, the Qatar National Convention Center will include a 2,500-seat auditorium, a 500-seat theatre and two lecture halls for 300-400 delegates each. An additional 15 meeting rooms and a 4,000-seat multi-purpose hall for conferences or seating 2,500 delegates banquet style. Initially, 4,200sqm of exhibition space will be built, extending to 15,000sqm in Stage 2.
“The Center is only one part of a whole new city devoted to providing excellent opportunities to the people of Qatar and the Gulf,’ said Mr D’Arcy.
“Education City is being created to develop what Qatar identifies as its greatest resource – the potential of its people. It is envisioned as a community of institutions that serve the whole society, from early childhood education to post-graduate study.”
The City aims to be an intellectual hub for the generation of new knowledge – providing researchers with world-class facilities; a pool of well-trained graduates; the chance to collaborate with like-minded people and the opportunity to transfer ideas into real-world applications.
As well as the Qatar Science and Technology Park and the Sidra Medical & Research Centre, five world-class universities will be under one roof at Doha’s Education City including; Weill Cornell Medical College, Texas A&M University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Carnegie Mellon and Georgetown University.
After hosting the successful 2006 Asian Games, Qatar is focused on becoming the leading business events destination in Arabia.
AEG Ogden currently manages 16 venues including the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Cairns Convention Centre and the new Darwin Convention Centre opening in mid 2008. www.aegogden.com
For more information contact: Mr Paul D’Arcy, General Manager, Qatar National Convention Center. PO Box 5825, Doha, Qatar t: +974 4546001
f: +974 4546005 e: sales@qatarconvention.com www.qatarconvention.com
The award-winning airline is also one of the fastest growing carriers in the world with unprecedented expansion averaging almost 40 percent year on year for the past decade.
Since its relaunch in 1997, Qatar Airways has achieved staggering growth in fleet size and passenger numbers. The airline currently operates 59 aircraft.
From its hub in Doha, capital of Qatar, the airline has developed a global network of destinations, flying to 81 cities covering Europe, Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Far East and America.
In line with the company’s philosophy to be innovative, the airline opened the world’s only dedicated commercial passenger terminal for its first and business-class passengers at Doha International Airport.
The US$90 million Premium Terminal, built in just nine months, opened in November 2006. It features facilities such as dedicated check-in for first and business-class passengers, a spa, jacuzzi, duty free, business centre, fine dining restaurants and a cocktail bar.
Under the stewardship of Al Baker, who was appointed CEO in 1996, Qatar Airways has matured into a leading force in regional and global aviation, earning many admirers around the world for its excellent standards of service.
The airline’s commitment to offering high service and quality from a dedicated workforce earned it a string of accolades over the years including being named in 2007 Best Airline in the Middle East by readers of US-based Global Traveller magazine.
Also in 2007, Qatar Airways cabin crew were named “Best in the Middle East” by Skytrax for the fifth year running following a survey of more than 12 million passengers.
The airline once again passed the IATA safety audit, a bi-annual review that examines the safety standards of airlines around the world. Qatar Airways was the first airline in the world to pass the audit with 100 per cent compliance when it was introduced in 2003, a feat maintained subsequently in 2005 and 2007.
In December 2007 Qatar Airways unveiled its next generation inflight entertainment system onboard its newly-delivered Boeing 777 aircraft offering every passenger more than 700 entertainment options. There are more than 150 international movies, 150 hours of TV programming, more than 50 games and 500 audio CDs for passengers to choose from. Passengers have greater control of their entertainment options either through touch-screen seat-back TV monitors or browse channels using handsets installed in each seat.
At the recent 2007 Dubai Air Show, Qatar Airways announced firm orders from Boeing for 30 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft and 27 Boeing 777s in a deal worth an estimated US$13.5 billion. A further 35 Boeing aircraft are on option. These orders are in addition to the 80 Airbus A350s already on order.
Qatar Airways is a launch customer of the twin-deck Airbus A380 “super jumbos” with five aircraft on order and scheduled for delivery from 2010.
Qatar Airways also made a commitment at the Air Show to investigate fuel-related benefits of using gas-to-liquids kerosene fuel. This would see Qatar Airways become the first commercial airline in the world to operate flights using this form of fuel. Use of the new technology would provide an environmentally friendly alternative to current aviation fuels, helping to significantly reduce carbon emissions and reduce the impact on climate change.
Qatar Airways’ award-winning Privilege Club recently won an unprecedented eight accolades at the annual US-based Freddie Awards, designed to honour loyalty programs across the global travel industry. For more information visit www.qmiles.com and for more information on Qatar Airways visit www.qatarairways.com.
ABOVE: The jaccuzi is one feature of the world-first dedicated premium terminal in Doha.
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