Qatar Tourism launches awards programme to celebrate excellence in tourism industry

Qatar Tourism, in partnership with the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) launched the Qatar Tourism Awards, a programme designed to celebrate and recognise the "remarkable contributions" made by businesses in delivering outstanding and distinct tourism experiences in Qatar.
Developed in partnership with UNWTO, the programme will recognise stakeholder efforts in “curating unique and exceptional tourism experiences.”
The Qatar Tourism Awards will focus on three principal categories-cultural experiences, smart solutions, and service excellence, which highlight the different aspects of the visitor experience.
The three main categories contain multiple subcategories totalling 50 awards.
An esteemed jury of prominent businesspeople, along with representatives from Qatar Tourism and the UNWTO will choose the winners, it was announced in Doha Tuesday.
The awards will be distributed at a glittering ceremony in Doha in November this year.
These awards are designed to shed light on the factors that contribute to curating a visitor's experience at every touchpoint of their journey, by awarding tourism businesses that continually achieve excellence in customer service delivery.
This initiative aims to encourage all stakeholders who play a direct or indirect role in the delivery of tourism experiences to continue to develop and emulate exceptional initiatives characterised by uniqueness, sustainability, accessibility, and high-quality service.
Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, HE Akbar al-Baker said, “We are delighted to launch the Qatar Tourism Awards, which are designed to recognise the exceptional work of stakeholders in the tourism sector. Qatar is home to some of the world's most iconic tourism experiences, and this is achieved by the vision, hard work, and dedication of the businesses and individuals in the tourism sector.
“Through this programme, we hope to inspire and encourage our partners to develop new and innovative initiatives that will continue to elevate Qatar's reputation as a world-class tourism destination.”
Entry to the Qatar Tourism Awards is open to all tourism businesses, operators, entrepreneurs, visitor attractions, organisations, and events that operate in Qatar and promote Qatar to a domestic and international audience.
Service Excellence awards celebrate both organisations and individuals whose professionalism and quality service delivery created overwhelmingly positive and memorable experiences for Qatar’s visitors.
For organisations, there are more than 33 service excellence awards up for grabs across 14 subcategories.
For individuals, there are up to seven awards available across three subcategories.
The cultural awards recognise organisations that support visitors’ experience of Qatar’s values, traditions, and heritage.
In this category, judges review entries that showcase Qatar’s modern, multicultural society. There are about eight cultural experiences awards up for grabs across three subcategories.
Smart Solutions awards honour organisations that enhance visitors’ experiences using new technologies, products, processes, or organisational innovations.
In this category, judges review entries for excellence in digital information and marketing, visitor mobility and accessibility, environmental conditions, and improvement of the overall visitor experience. In this category, there are up to six Smart Solution awards across three subcategories are up for grabs.
Submissions for the awards are now open, and winners will be announced in a special ceremony later this year.
Qatar Tourism and the World Tourism Organisation noted “they aim to use the Qatar Tourism Awards to further heighten the service delivery standards of the country’s tourism sector.”
The programme emphasises the importance of offering visitors memorable and unique experiences and delivering service that exceeds their expectations.
Special consideration will be given to entries that show a commitment to preserving the natural environment, educating the world about local culture and traditions, and contributing to the socio-economic development of Qatar.
Entrants are also encouraged to ensure broad access to products and services to all visitors, regardless of gender, age, nationality, language or disability.
Qatar Tourism chief operating officer Berthold Trenkel was also present at the press conference Tuesday.

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