Qatar Duty Free launches Viale di Lusso, a new premium fashion avenue at Hamad International Airport
The new premium shopping avenue at Hamad International Airport features prestigious retails and dining outlets
DOHA, Qatar, 2021-Aug-03 — /Travel PR News/ — Qatar Duty Free (QDF) today (02 August 2021) celebrated the launch of Viale di Lusso, a new premium fashion avenue at the heart of the award-winning Hamad International Airport (HIA), introducing the world to a unique luxury travel experience, featuring an enhanced retail and dining portfolio and a number of global and regional firsts.
The Viale di Lusso official opening ceremony was officiated by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Hamad International Airport Chief Operating Officer, Engineer Badr Al Meer, and Qatar Duty Free Vice President Operations, Mr. Thabet Musleh. The Ambassador of Greece to Qatar, H.E. Mrs Eleni Michalopoulou, the Deputy Ambassador of Italy, Mr. Filippo Perzolla, and the Italian Embassy First Secretary, Ms Carlotta Colli, were welcomed as guests of honour.
Viale Di Lusso houses the first airport boutique in the Middle East for the renowned fashion designer Valentino, as well as prestigious designer labels such as Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Jimmy Choo and Pucci, elevating QDF’s existing impressive collection of brands.
The Emporio Armani Ristorante and Emporio Armani Caffe’, world’s first at an airport, add glitz to the Viale di Lusso, enticing passengers to indulge in culinary delights in a luxurious and relaxed setting. A Starbucks Reserve coffeehouse will provide coffee connoisseurs with unexpected creations and discoveries of rare, single-origin selections of unique roasts.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H.E. Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “At Qatar Airways Group, we know that the excitement and anticipation of international air travel begins the second travellers step through the doors of the airport and into an exciting, memorable, and fulfilling journey. This collaboration between QDF and HIA proves our continuous efforts to offer an unrivalled retail and dining experience for our passengers.”
Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, said: “Hamad International Airport is proud to launch Viale Di Lusso, a unique luxury avenue at the heart of the award-winning airport terminal, offering a suite of global brands joining its existing retail portfolio. As a diverse lifestyle destination of its own, HIA continues to curate memorable luxury and exclusive retail experiences for travellers, designed around their discerning tastes, convenience and wellbeing.”
Mr. Thabet Musleh said: “Viale Di Lusso represents another step in the delivery of QDF’s mission to transform the retail and dining offer at HIA to ensure that we continue to raise the bar in travel retail globally, providing our passengers with a differentiated, memorable, and unique experience. It is an exciting period for us as we continue to grow and expand looking forward to further enhancing our retail and dining portfolio in the next few months.”
Globetrotting millennial fashionistas, from iconic fashion destinations around the world, joined in revealing QDF’s new avenue of luxury. Dressed in bespoke creations, showcasing unique sartorial inspirations from Africa, South America, the Middle East, and Europe, they accompanied guests in attendance of the ceremony on an exclusive tour of the high-end boutiques of Viale Di Lusso, which concluded with a food tasting at the Emporio Armani Ristorante and Caffè.
Across the last few months, QDF has undergone a complete transformation, unveiling a significant investment in transforming HIA into a premier global destination for international air travellers. In October 2020, HIA and QDF were voted as “Best Airport Voted for by Millennials” and “Best Airport Retail Environment”, respectively, by the Travel Retail Awards 2020.
Notes to Editors:
About Qatar Airways:
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’ and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. Qatar Airways is the only airline to have been awarded the coveted “Skytrax Airline of the Year” title, which is recognised as the pinnacle of excellence in the airline industry, five times.
Hamad International Airport (HIA), the airline’s home and hub, was recently ranked “Third Best Airport in the World”, among 550 airports worldwide, by the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2020. Rising from fourth position in 2019 to third in 2020, HIA has been steadily rising in the ‘World’s Best Airports’ rankings since the start of its operations in 2014. In addition, HIA was voted the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for the sixth year in a row and ‘Best Staff Service in the Middle East’ for the fifth year in a row.
Qsuite, a patented Qatar Airways product, features the industry’s first-ever double bed in Business Class, as well as privacy panels that stow away, allowing passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room, a first of its kind in the industry.
Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 160 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.
Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system offers passengers up to 4,000 entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, B777, A350, A380, A319 and select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the award-winning airline’s on-board Wi-Fi and GSM service.
Qatar Airways proudly supports a range of exciting international and local initiatives dedicated to enriching the global community that it serves. Qatar Airways, the official FIFA partner, is the official sponsor of many top-level sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, reflecting the values of sports as a means of bringing people together, something at the core of the airline’s own brand message – Going Places Together.
Qatar Airways Cargo, one of the world’s leading international air cargo carriers, serves more than 60 freighter destinations worldwide via its world-class Doha hub and also delivers freight in the belly-hold deck of passenger aircraft to an extensive network. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet includes two Boeing 747-8 freighters, 24 Boeing 777 freighters and six B777-300ER mini freighters.
Qatar Executive is the private jet charter division of Qatar Airways Group. Luxury jet services are available for worldwide charter on board the operator’s wholly-owned business jet fleet. Qatar Executive is the launch customer for Gulfstream’s G700, the world’s first commercial service operator of the Gulfstream G500 and largest commercial operator of the G650ER worldwide. Qatar Executive’s service portfolio also includes aircraft management, maintenance and Fixed Based Operator services.
For further information, please contact:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 4022 2200
Email: qrmedia@qatarairways.com.qa
Source: Qatar Airways
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