QATAR. Qatar Duty Free is building towards this year’s FIFA World Cup – which kicks off in Doha on 21 November – and the opening of Hamad International Airport’s (HIA) much-anticipated expansion with a flurry of store openings and innovations.
The Moodie Davitt Report recently toured HIA – including a rare sneak preview of the expansion – guided by Qatar Duty Free Vice President Thabet Musleh. While we can’t yet reveal the details, we can assure you that the new facility will be a contemporary wonder of the aviation world.
As reported, Hamad International has this week been named world’s best airport for the second year running by Skytrax.
Over coming weeks we will be revealing rolling details of the various new openings at HIA and in due course of the expansion. Each episode of our QDF Series will focus on different store and food & beverage outlet openings together with other aspects of the HIA consumer experience.
We start today with the pioneering QDF Factor shop-in-shop. Has there ever been a travel retail industry competition like The QDF Factor?
In terms of size of prize, certainly not. Held in 2020 and 2021, The QDF Factor was a pioneering initiative jointly hosted by Qatar Duty Free and The Moodie Davitt Report to encourage innovation and differentiation by brand owners during the most sustained and severe crisis in travel retail sector history.
The winners (in fact, dual winners in 2020) captured a six-month high-profile promotion at Qatar Duty Free’s (QDF) award-winning retail offer in Hamad International Airport.
They also received a free six-month US$50,000 multi-media advertising campaign with The Moodie Davitt Report.
Thanks to the generosity of QDF parent company Qatar Airways’ Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker, the runners-up and even other finalists are also featured.
As reported, the shop-in-shop is anchored by Wines of Golf Legends from French wine company Peuch & Besse, the winner of The QDF Factor 2021, and 2020 winners Long Haul Spa and Make Sure, with a bountiful presence from other contestants.
“We really feel we have done The QDF Factor justice here,” Thabet Musleh told The Moodie Davitt Report during a wide-ranging interview (coming soon).
The Wines of Golf Legends concept is a unique collaboration between some of the world’s most illustrious golfers and an array of outstanding winemakers. The collection begins with an initial range of fine wines selected in collaboration with golfing stars Jean Van de Velde (France), José María Olazábal (Spain), Costantino Rocca (Italy), David Frost (South Africa) and Ian Woosnam (Wales)
Italian skincare and wellbeing brand Make Sure is the brainchild of sister Elene and Giulia Sella, who leveraged their personal values and design background to bring a #CleanVibesOnly philosophy to travel retail.
Long Haul Spa, founded by Australia-based entrepreneur Christine Keeling, offers skincare products designed specifically to protect, refresh and hydrate your skin during long haul flights. has global ambitions, it is also deeply rooted in Australian culture and works closely with ethical artisans and suppliers in Brisbane.
Cannes on steroids and gobsmacked in an airport wonderland The Hamad International Airport expansion will feature 380 trees (and we are talking seriously big trees, many already in place); 26,000 shrubs; a waterfall; and a dazzling array of retail and food & beverage experiences, the likes of which I promise you the airport world has never seen. |
