A Global Dining Destination in its Own Right: Qatar Duty Free Wins Seven Awards at the 2024 Food & Beverage (FAB) Awards

Qatar Duty Free receives top accolade of ‘Airport Food and Beverage Offer of the Year’ for the second year in a row

The operator also scooped international awards for ‘Airport Lounge of the Year’ and ‘Airport F&B Opening of the Year’

Regional wins also included ‘Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year’, ‘Airport F&B Opening of the Year’, ‘Airport Lounge Food & Beverage Offering of the Year’, ‘Airport Food & Beverage Offer Best Representing Sense of Place’

The FAB Awards are widely recognised as the leading measure of excellence in food, beverage, and hospitality within the global airport industry

DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Duty Free (QDF), owner and operator of all catering outlets at Hamad International Airport in Doha, enjoyed an award-winning evening at the 2024 Food & Beverage (FAB) Awards held in Ontario, California.

The awards ceremony, organised and hosted by acclaimed international publisher, The Moodie Davitt Report, saw Qatar Duty Free succeed in a total of seven categories. This success is a testament to the innovation, investment, and pioneering standards exemplified by the business’ entire culinary team – a diverse group of more than 1700, including more than 340 chefs, delivering over six million meals per year across 70 dining outlets.

An independent panel of seven expert judges spanning the prestige culinary, hospitality and aviation sectors voted Qatar Duty Free winners in the following categories:

• Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year – Qatar Duty Free, Hamad International Airport
• Airport Lounge of the Year (International) – Louis Vuitton Lounge
• Airport F&B Opening of the Year – Souq Al Matar

QDF also received regional awards for the following categories:

• Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year (Regional Winner Middle East and Africa) – Qatar Duty Free, Hamad International Airport
• Airport F&B Opening of the Year (Regional Winner Middle East and Africa) – Souq Al Matar
• Airport Lounge Food & Beverage Offering of the Year (Regional Winner Middle East and Africa) – Louis Vuitton Lounge
• Airport Food & Beverage Offer Best Representing Sense of Place (Regional Winner Middle East and Africa) - Basta

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said: “As a leading hospitality provider, Qatar Airways Group is dedicated to exceeding industry standards to set new global benchmarks across all aspects of our operations. From our airline services to our airport lounges, we consistently strive for excellence, and that is equally true of our F&B offerings. This recognition at the 2024 FAB Awards highlights Qatar Duty Free's leading role in delivering world-class dining that enriches the customer experience at Hamad International Airport.”

Qatar Duty Free Senior Vice President, Mr. Thabet Musleh, said: “Our team at Qatar Duty Free is continually striving to put Hamad International Airport on the map as a destination in its own right. F&B plays a pivotal role in the overall airport experience, and we are extremely proud to be recognised by a panel of experts for redefining this experience. We consistently invest in strengthening our offerings, upgrading outlets and delivering world-class concepts to ensure that our ability to truly deliver “Something for Everyone” is not an empty promise, but a guarantee. We are increasingly becoming the benchmark as the world’s best F&B airport experience and we are delighted to be recognised as such at the FAB Awards.”

The awards underline the diversity of Qatar Duty Free’s unparalleled F&B offering, truly offering something for everyone. Among the award-winning concepts were the Louis Vuitton Lounge, Souq Al Matar and Basta. The world-first Louis Vuitton Lounge brings an exquisite fusion of luxury gastronomy to travellers, providing a private sanctuary to relax, unwind and indulge. Meanwhile, Souq Al Matar captivates visitors with its authentic Qatari charm and a vibrant selection of local culinary delights, including Basta, which epitomises the concept of 'sense of place'. The recognition of these concepts reflects Qatar Duty Free's dedication to elevating the airport experience, setting new standards in hospitality, and reaffirming its position as a pioneering presence in the global duty-free industry.

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About Qatar Duty Free

Featuring over 200 retail and dining outlets, Qatar Duty Free (QDF) is creating a new airport experience while reinventing airport shopping and dining for a new generation of travellers.

Since its initial conception in 2000, with less than 50 staff members, QDF has grown to over 4,000 employees from 62 nationalities.

We offer diverse eating and shopping opportunities and unique ways to enjoy Hamad International Airport, as well as being the launch pad for experiences not found anywhere else.

QDF sits within a unique, wider eco-system that also includes Qatar Airways (the parent company) and Hamad International Airport. This ‘trinity’ model of airport, retailer and airline creates a world-class retail experience for passengers. Each company harmonises with the other as part of an integrated ecosystem. Together, we provide our shared customer base with a 5-star experience, including innovative retail products, global brand firsts, exclusives and exceptional dining opportunities.

Qatar Duty Free has been named the 'World's Leading Airport Duty Free Operator 2022' and ‘the Middle East’s Leading Airport Duty Free Operator 2022’ in the World Travel Awards. QDF also won the 2022 "Best Customer Experience Airport Retailer” at Global Brands Magazine Awards, and recently scooped an unprecedented 12 titles at the Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Awards 2023, including Airport Food & Beverage Offer of the Year. The award-winning travel retailer also scooped the top prize of Airport Retailer of the Year at the 2023 Frontier Awards, along with the Best New Shop Opening and Outstanding Contribution titles.

Hamad International Airport won the “World’s Best Airport for Shopping” at the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2024 for the second year in a row, attributed to Qatar Duty Free retail and F&B strategy to offer the best experience for passengers at the airport.