DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways’ exclusive Al Safwa First Lounge at Hamad International Airport has been presented the prestigious Seven Star First Class Lounge Award by the Seven Stars Luxury Hospitality and Lifestyle Awards at an award ceremony held in Marbella, Spain on 15 October.
Famed as the ‘Oscars of Luxury’, the organisation separates the exceptional hospitality and lifestyle brands from the very best with the bestowing of the Signum Virtutis, translated to Seal of Excellence. Qatar Airways’ Al Safwa First Lounge becomes the world’s first lounge to be presented with the special award and joins an elite class of establishments awarded the Seal of Excellence.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are very proud to receive this prestigious seven star award for our Al Safwa First Lounge. Qatar Airways is truly committed to creating the very best travel experiences, both in the air and on the ground, and this exclusive Seal of Excellence for the Seven Star First Class Lounge Award exemplifies the tireless effort that continually goes into the detail of service delivery and design to form the ultimate luxury experience that we provide our customers.”
Inspired by Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art, Qatar Airways’ Al Safwa First Lounge features a number of Islamic fine art installations and artefacts on loan from Doha’s national museum as part of a continuous partnership. Passengers can also enjoy a la carte dining, a full business centre, a luxury spa, a cinematic media or games room, and a dedicated family area. Private rooms featuring a bed, TV, desk and private bathroom with a shower are available, or guests may relax in one of the many luxurious spaces available throughout the expansive lounge while experiencing Qatar’s warm Arabian hospitality.
Qatar Airways Senior Vice President of Customer Experience, Mr. Rossen Dimitrov, said: “To be awarded the Seven Star First Class Lounge Award and to receive the Seal of Excellence is an incredible honour, and is testament to the commitment every Qatar Airways employee brings to creating memorable travel experiences for our customers. Still in its first year of operation, the Al Safwa First Lounge has been providing customers with an unparalleled level of luxury and we look forward to welcoming even more customers to our award-winning lounges as part of their journey with Qatar Airways.”
Qatar Airways’ Al Safwa First Lounge is available to passengers travelling in the airline’s First Class on its premier fleet of A380 aircraft. Qatar Airways offers a First Class service on select flights to London, Paris, Bangkok, Guangzhou in China, and most recently, Sydney, where A380 service debuted on 15 September.
The Seven Star First Class Lounge Award is the latest addition to a number of other accolades achieved by the airline this year, including World’s Best Business Class, Best Business Class Airline Lounge, and Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East at the prestigious 2016 Skytrax World Airline Awards.
Notes to Editors:
For images please visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/qatarairways/albums/72157675179688136
Access to Qatar Airways’ Al Safwa First Lounge is available for all First Class passengers departing from Hamad International Airport (HIA). Access is granted to passengers inbound to HIA if they have a connecting flight in First Class. If a passenger is inbound to HIA on a First Class ticket but their connecting flight is in a lower travel class, they will not be granted access to the Al Safwa First Lounge; the only exception in this instance is if their transit period exceeds five hours.
About Qatar Airways:
Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Now in its 19th year of operations, Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 190 aircraft flying to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across six continents.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was awarded World's Best Business Class; Best Business Class Airline Lounge and Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East at the prestigious 2016 World Airline Awards managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax.
Qatar Airways is a member of the oneworld global alliance. The award-winning alliance was named the World’s Best Airline Alliance 2015 by Skytrax for the third year running. 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 150 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.
Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ inflight entertainment system offers passengers up to 3,000 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, A350, A380, A319 as well as 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 is one of the world’s leaders in sponsoring global sporting events, including the strategic team sponsorships of FC Barcelona and Al-Ahli Saudi Arabia FC. Qatar Airways’ strategy reflects 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, the world’s third largest cargo carrier, serves more than 50 exclusive freighter destinations worldwide via its Doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations globally on 190 aircraft. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet now includes eight Airbus 330Fs, 11 Boeing 777 freighters and two Boeing 747 freighters.
For further information contact:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 4022 2200, Fax: +974 40225350
E-mail: qrmedia@qatarairways.com.qa
Visit our homepage www.qatarairways.com or our sites on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, and YouTube.
For Qatar Airways corporate images, please click here: http://www.qatarairways.com/corporateimages