QTA announces Katara Hospitality as Strategic Partner with Hotel Park confirmed as main venue;
New elements introduced to shed light on Qatar’s diverse hospitality, F&B sector
Preparations are underway to create tantalising experiences for residents and visitors at the 8th edition of the Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF), Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has announced. Set to be held between Wednesday 29 March and Saturday 8 April, the festival will take place at the scenic Hotel Park, overlooking the Doha Corniche.
QIFF is a multicultural festival that celebrates the country’s diverse food, beverage and hospitality offerings. The annual event forms part of Qatar’s strategy to grow and diversify its tourism offerings in partnership with the private sector. This year’s Festival will stretch beyond the usual week-long period to offer residents and visitors a flavourful spring break, where culinary delights of every kind can be enjoyed: from gourmet experiences to authentic local dishes.
According to Mr. Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development Officer at Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), QIFF is timed to fall within school holidays in the region to help attract visitors from neighbouring countries. “In addition to bringing Qatar’s five-star food and beverage options together in one location, QIFF provides a greatopportunity for residents and visitors to revel in Qatar’s wonderful spring weather, enticing cultural activities and outdoor entertainment,” she said. “The success of the inaugural edition of Shop Qatar has given us a strong start to 2017, and we look forward to leveraging the growing popularity of tourism festivals to drive footfall to some of the newly opened spaces in Qatar.”
In 2017, residents and visitors will be able to enjoy QIFF throughout the country with the introduction of the new QIFF Menu. Participating restaurants and cafes will be offering a special QIFF Menu from 23 March until 8 April, featuring flavourful dishes at discounted prices. The new QIFF Menu will encourage visitors and residents to enjoy the festival experience at their favourite restaurants and to discover the exciting new culinary delights, which have entered the Qatari food scene since the last edition of the festival. With four set prices of 59, 99, 139, 179 Qatar Riyals and multiple cuisines represented, the QIFF Menu will offer something special for all taste buds.
In another first for the Festival, a series of Chef’s Table events will also be held at select five-star hotel restaurants, giving residents and visitors an opportunity to enjoy special live cooking and dining experiences with internationally-acclaimed chefs. The events will offer diners exclusive access to their favourite renowned chef, giving them rare glimpses into their cooking rituals and a seat on the dish’s journey from raw ingredients to decorated plates.
QIFF also returns this year with a new brand, with a square design alluding to the inviting table around which different people gather to nourish the body and spirit.
This edition of QIFF will be organised and delivered by Qatar Tourism Authority with the support of numerous partners representing various sectors in the country. QIFF 2017’s Strategic Partner is Katara Hospitality, the global hotel owner, developer and operator based in Qatar.
Mr. Hamad Abdulla Al-Mulla, Katara Hospitality Chief Executive Officer, commented “We are honoured to be part of 8th edition of Qatar International Food Festival and relish the opportunity to showcase Qatar’s diverse food and beverage offerings, which form an integral driver of tourism to the country. This partnership is part of our commitment to further shaping Qatar’s hospitality industry as well as an opportunity to share our passion for creating unforgettable guest experiences.”
The first edition of QIFF was organised in 2010 at the Doha Exhibition Center. Over the years, QIFF has grown to become one of Qatar’s most popular festivals, receiving a record-breaking 200,000 visitors in its 2016 edition. During March 2016 – the month during which QIFF was held – Qatar welcomed 305,014 visitors, the highest number of visitor arrivals to be recorded in a single month.
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