Qatar Duty Free unveils “21 in 21” project at Hamad International Airport to mark its 21st anniversary

New outlets will cater for all tastes and budgets

DOHA, Qatar, 2021-Jul-16 — /Travel PR News/ — Qatar Duty Free (QDF) is marking its 21st anniversary by unveiling a significant investment and an enhanced retail portfolio of 21 new shopping and dining outlets. With a focus on embracing a range of tastes and budgets, the “21 in 21” project will elevate the existing award-winning duty free experience at Hamad International Airport (HIA), transforming it into a premier global destination for international air travellers.

The new outlets, which will be located in both the departure and arrival areas, will gradually open over the coming months featuring global brands, several convenience and travel-essential stores – including a Big Value – and an enhanced dining offer that will make QDF the perfect place for all passengers to wind down with some shopping therapy and culinary delights between flights.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H.E. Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We aim to offer an unrivalled retail and dining experience in a unique environment for all our passengers travelling through HIA – the best airport in the Middle East and the third-best in the world – and introduce our customers to an enhanced Qatar Duty Free shopping experience.”

Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer at HIA, said: “The latest expansion of QDF’s retail portfolio is part of its joint effort with HIA to provide passengers with a diverse range of retail and culinary experiences. HIA’s expansive commercial space offers brands the opportunity to reach out to a truly global audience. We are always looking to diversify our offering to curate memorable retail experiences for all.”

Mr Thabet Musleh, Vice President, Operations, Qatar Duty Free, said: “In celebration of 21 years of award-winning accomplishments and delivering a five-star service to customers, this major investment marks the start of a new chapter in QDF’s history and demonstrates our continuous commitment to providing a world-class duty free experience.”

Adding to an existing outstanding portfolio of brands, Vialle di Lusso – a new shopping avenue at HIA – will incorporate luxury outlets such as Armani and Chloe with an unrivalled selection of ready-to-wear fashion items and accessories. In addition, QDF will launch the first airport boutique in the Middle East for the  fashion designer Valentino and will debut stand-alone stores – the first in an airport in the Middle East – for prestigious brands such as Emilio Pucci, Fendi and Jimmy Choo. An Emporio Armani Ristorante and Caffè will add more glamour to the Vialle di Lusso and offer an exquisite culinary experience in a relaxed setting, making QDF the first travel retailer in the world to house the Emporio Armani Ristorante and Caffè.

A stunning new Perfumes and Cosmetics store will also include the first Christian Louboutin boutique, making QDF the first travel retailer in the world to provide Christian Louboutin products. QDF will also be home to the first Adidas airport store, Q-Denim – a multi-brand men’s denim store – and the Qatari fashion brand Kashkha.

For diners, there will be something for all, including grab-and-go eateries for those on the move, a range of dine-in outlets, and fine-dining concepts to satisfy customers’ appetite with more time to spare. In April, Qatar Airways signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a Joint Venture with HMSHost International, part of Autogrill Group, the largest food and beverage operator at high traffic locations globally.

The arrival duty free will reveal a new look and feel and a larger footprint with a wider selection of products and an impressive selection of global brands for travellers arriving in Qatar.

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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