UK travel experts on Qatar attractions

The Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) showcased the country’s attractions at a gathering of the UK travel professionals last week. Mohamed al-Ansari, chief of hotel classification and tourist activities, and Soha AlFadl Moussa, chief of promotions and organising abroad exhibitions, attended the C&IT Agency Forum, a gathering dedicated to the meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) market. “On August 4-5, we met with high-level buyers and planners to showcase Qatar as a unique and world-class business destination. This is a key travel event in the UK and to be present here shows that the country is really establishing itself on MICE landscape,” al-Ansari said. He said that the top QTA executives had more than 20 high-level meetings with influential planners and buyers at the event while Qatar, through the support of the QTA, has established itself as a top destination for meetings and events. “We saw a great deal of interest this year from MICE industry professionals given the announcement of the Qatar 2022 World Cup hosting rights. There is certainly a worldwide interest in what Qatar has to offer all visitors whether they are here for business and events or tourists looking for a unique experience. Planners and buyers are looking for a new destination to hold large-scale events in 2012/2013 as well as smaller, more niche incentive groups. There was high interest in the cultural offerings Qatar has developed including the Museum of Islamic Art and Katara,” he added. During the two-day event, the QTA held a competition for the attending planners and buyers, which involved participants answering a questionnaire about Qatar’s MICE facilities. The winner of the competition was Carmen Mauldon an accounts manager at MCI UK. Mauldon was the lucky winner of a trip to Qatar, including business class flights by Qatar Airways as well as a two-night stay at the Merweb Central Hotel and a tour of the country organised by Qatar International Tours. “We are very much looking forward to welcoming Ms Mauldon to Qatar so she can experience in person what a fresh and exciting destination it is,” Moussa added.