Qatar Airways Supports Lavish Media Awards Night
Prince Charles Chief Guest As Airline Sponsors Key Award At London Event
UK-Based Foreign Press Association Honours TV, Radio And Print Journalists
2 December 2008
His Royal Highness Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales at the Foreign Press Association Media Awards Dinner
Prince Charles was the guest of honour at the London event attended by over 400 guests including Ambassadors, politicians, business leaders and journalists celebrating excellence in television, print, radio and web-based news reporting.
Journalists in a dozen categories were honoured during the evening at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel where Prince Charles gave an impassioned keynote speech on the state of the natural world and the need for international media to keep the global spotlight on the environment.
Qatar Airways Executive Vice-President Commercial Ali Al Rais (right), with Prince Charles (left) during a pre-dinner reception at the Awards. Also pictured is the Charge d'Affair of the Qatar Embassy in the UK, His Excellency Fahed Al Mishiry.
For many years, the Heir to the British throne has campaigned long and hard for governments and legislators around the world to work in harmony and take drastic measures to preserve and protect the environment.
Prince Charles has long been a champion of greater understanding between different cultures, hence the Foreign Press Association – made up of members from over 70 countries – brought together the crème de la crème of London-based international journalists.
Qatar Airways UK Area Manager Rachel Finn (second right) presented an award on behalf of the airline to the production team of the BBC's 'Wonderland: End of the World Bus Tour' - from left, Marco Crivellari, David Clews and Nick Mirsky.
Qatar Airways was represented at the event by Executive Vice-President Commercial Ali Al Rais, who had an audience with Prince Charles during a pre-dinner reception.
Qatar Airways sponsored the TV and Radio travel story of the year during the event hosted by television and radio personality Sandi Toksvig.
UK Area Manager Rachel Finn presented the award on behalf of the airline to the production team of ‘Wonderland: End of the World Bus Tour’, a BBC production on an unusual holiday – the ultimate – to see Armageddon, the end of the world. The BBC beat stiff competition from the UK’s Channel Four and BBC World Service for stories on the Olympics in the eyes of Tibetans and tourism in Gambia, respectively.
Notes to Editors
About Foreign Press Association
Founded in 1888, the FPA is one of the oldest press associations led by a committee of professional journalists. The London-based association puts together regular briefings with politicians, the business community and international organisations.
About Qatar Airways: Qatar Airways is one of only six airlines in the world with a Five Star ranking for service and excellence awarded by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry monitoring agency. Skytrax also named Qatar Airways’ cabin crew as Best in the Middle East for the sixth year running in 2008 and the airline was voted Best in the Middle East for the third year in a row following a survey of more than 15 million passengers worldwide. For more information, log onto www.qatarairways.com. The carrier currently operates a modern fleet of 64 Boeing and Airbus aircraft to 83 destinations worldwide from its Doha hub.
For further information
Qatar Airways Corporate Communications
Tel: +974 4496956, Fax: +974 4620132
E-mail: qrmedia@qatarairways.com.qa