“Business as usual” for Qatar’s hotel sector, according to industry stakeholders

Qatar’s hospitality sector, like the tourism industry at large here, has proven to be extremely resilient, according to Christoph Hodapp of Qatar Tourism at Hospitality Qatar, which will be held November 8-11. at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC).
“At Qatar Tourism, we remain committed to working with our stakeholders to deliver authentic experiences to visitors, rooted in the country’s tradition of hospitality. We are proud to support events, such as Hospitality Qatar, where industry partners come together to share best practices and innovations in the field. The business events sector is bringing new audiences to Qatar, making it easier to invest and showcasing the breadth of our offerings, ”said Hodapp.
This was reiterated by Haidar Mshaimesh, Managing Director of IFP Qatar, at a press conference yesterday, saying that “the confidence is there; the resilience is there. The hospitality industry has what it takes to weather the impact of the pandemic. ”
“Amid the deadlines to be met before Qatar hosts the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the country also has its national vision 2030, which sets many goals,” Mshaimesh said, citing Qatar Tourism’s global campaign for attract “6 million tourists by 2030”.
He said: “These ambitions give Hospitality Qatar attendees and stakeholders the opportunity to grow the sector and develop it further. It is also an indicator that Qatar’s hospitality sector is the fastest growing industry in the country.
Italian Ambassador Alessandro Prunas added: “Hotels and restaurants in Qatar have become increasingly crowded, which indicates that the sector is returning to normal or has returned to normal and is growing even more.”
Turkish Ambassador to Doha Dr Mustafa Goksu highlighted the strong relationship between Qatar and Turkey, saying Turkey is keen to support Qatar in its attempt to position itself as a leading destination in the industry. hotel industry, which has seen steady growth amid the challenges of Covid-19.
Hospitality Qatar 2021 offers a rich mix of exhibitions, conferences, training workshops, an awards ceremony, various competitions and live performances to promote the hospitality, tourism and food sectors. .
The “Destination Pavilion”, sponsored by Qatar Airways, will once again be the key element of the event. Qatar Airways Group CEO, SE Akbar al-Baker, said: “For the second year in a row, Qatar Airways is sponsoring the Qatar Hospitality Destination Pavilion. 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 lodge and be inspired for their next destinations. “
Participating for the first time, the mobile delivery application, talabat, is this year’s “Food Tech Partner”. Francisco Miguel De Sousa, Managing Director of talabat Qatar, said: “talabat will feature the ‘tala-bot’ autonomous delivery vehicle and present the Food Tech conference. We are also excited to present, for the first time, the Restaurants Choice Awards, in which talabat will select customers’ favorite restaurants. This event is part of talabat’s commitment to supporting the hotel industry in Qatar and helping it prosper.
During the first two days of the exhibition, Corona International Company will organize a free barista training for cafe 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 organize free training on food safety and the Qatar Clean program for hotel and restaurant workers in Doha. Participants will receive certificates accredited by the CPD Foundation in London after completion of the training.
In addition to business programs and industry training, cooking enthusiasts will be able to attend live cooking shows throughout the four days, featuring top Qatar chefs and showcasing innovative recipes for various cuisines.