Qatar Tourism announced the winners of the inaugural Qatar Tourism Awards (QTA) during a colourful ceremony at the Raffles Doha on Thursday.

The awards acknowledged the outstanding contributions of various organisations and individuals towards enhancing the visitor experience in Qatar.

Qatar Tourism launched QTA in partnership with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Qatar Tourism Chairman Saad Ali Al Kharji thanked the individuals and businesses who formed the backbone of Qatar’s tourism industry.

“Qatar’s tourism sector has witnessed an extraordinary transformation, one that has successfully propelled our nation into the spotlight as a world-class tourist destination. The credit for this success goes to the devoted individuals and businesses that form the backbone of Qatar’s tourism industry,” said Al Kharji.

“Through initiatives like QTA, we aim to celebrate and recognise those who’re committed to delivering outstanding and distinct tourism experiences in Qatar, while at the same time inspiring the industry to continually innovate and raise the bar even higher,” he added.

The QTA focused on three principal categories — Service Excellence, Cultural Experiences and Smart Solutions — which together highlight different aspects of the visitor experience. 

QTA also announced a surprise category — the Community Contribution Award — to recognise individual community members who have gone above and beyond to display hospitality and provide exemplary services to visitors.

Community members who are significantly contributing to providing visitors with a unique and hospitable tourism experience are:

* North Sedra Farm

* Ain Mohammed Village

* Al Kubaisi Educational Reserve

* ENK Farm and Classic Car Museum

* Khalid Jamal Al Ajmi

* Khalid bin Abdulla Albinali 

The winners of the Service Excellence category, which exemplifies an organisation’s commitment to delivering service that consistently meets and exceeds the expectations of visitors, are: 

Casual Dining

* Em Sherif Cafe, Millennium Hotel Doha

* Dalchini Restaurant and Bar, Centara West Bay Hotel and Residences Doha

Dining in Touristic Areas

* SMAT Restaurant, Aura Hospitality and Food Services

* Belhambar Restaurant, Aura Hospitality and Food Services

Cafes

* Cafe #999

* MIA Cafe

Fine Dining

* Em Sherif Restaurant Aura Hospitality and Food Services

* Parisa, Al Messila Resort and Spa

* IDAM by Alain Ducasse

Hotel Restaurants

* The Master Kitchen Team Mondrian Doha

* Sharq Village and Spa, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel

* Riva and Q-Lounge

Spa & Wellness

* Banana Island Resort Doha

* Hilton Salwa Beach Resort and Villas  

Entertainment & Recreation

* Doha Quest

* CurioCITY

Retail and Local Shops

* Ali Bin Ali Holding - Galeries Lafayette

* IN-Q Gift Shop by Qatar Museums 

Shopping Malls

* Doha Festival City

* The Gate Mall

Tour Operators

* Regency Holidays

* Fal Travelmart, Travel and Tours

Tour Guides

* Alena Kishmaraia

* Cecilia Castro

* Pia Sundstedt

* Ajith Wijenayaka Hewa Kokawalage

Outstanding Service Excellence for Individuals

* Moza Abdulaziz Al As-haq

* Hassan Attia

* Wassim Daageh

* Bouthaina Al Emadi

4 Star and 3 Star Hotels

* Jouri a Murwab Hotel

* Radisson Blu Hotel Doha

* Premier Inn Doha Education City

* Premier Inn Doha Airport

5 Star Hotels

* Raffles Doha 

* Banana Island Resort Doha

* Hilton Salwa Beach Resort and Villas

* Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som

Tourism Support Organisations

* Katara Hospitality

* Qatar National Convention Centre

* Qatar Rail 

* Discover Qatar

Winners of the Cultural Experience category, which recognises entities that emphasis and focus on delivering unique and memorable cultural experiences to visitors, are:

Cultural and Tourist Attraction

* United Development Company (UDC), The Pearl Island

* Basta Restaurant

* Chernovil Art Gallery 

Cultural Experiences

* Embrace Doha

* Oryx Group Entertainment and Hospitality

* Regency Holidays

Cultural Heritage

* Msheireb Properties

The winners of the Smart Solutions category, which reflect an organisation’s commitment to enhance the visitors’ experience through innovative products and solutions, are: 

The Digital and Innovation Experience

* Qatar Rail

* ViaVii

New Solutions in Sustainability

* Doha Festival City

* Mowasalat Karwa

Visitor Mobility and Accessibility

* Msheireb Properties

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