Qatar Airways fashions grand designs on the turf

One of the world’s top horse racing venues is playing host to a partnership between Qatar Airways and the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) for the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The partnership celebrates, at one of the highlights of the social season in the UK, Qatar Airways’ “support for the power of sport in bringing people together”, the airline said in a press statement.Bringing a sense of style and fashion to the turf, Qatar Airways will also recognise the best hats worn at Ladies Day at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, taking place at the renowned Goodwood racecourse in West Sussex, UK. Throughout Ladies Day, racegoers are encouraged to enter their hats into the Qatar Airways competition, judged by leading style influencer Hermione Olivia. The winner will receive a pair of return Business Class tickets from the UK to Doha, plus five-star hotel accommodation provided by the QREC. Several hundred racegoers are expected to enter the competition, with entries to be highlighted throughout the day on Instagram using the hashtag #firstclasshatQatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker said: “As an airline that brings the highest levels of service and style to everything we do, Qatar Airways is delighted to be associated with the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The UK is a very important market for Qatar Airways and is always at the forefront of our innovations. It was the first route for our award-winning Business Class concept, Qsuite, which entered service from Heathrow in June this year. “Next year, our network of UK destinations will continue to grow with the welcome addition of Cardiff, complementing existing flights to Edinburgh, Manchester, London and Birmingham.”The Qatar Goodwood Festival, taking place until August 5 in partnership with the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, is a long-established part of the UK’s social calendar and a major sporting and social highlight of the ‘British Summer Season’.Over the five-day festival, top jockeys and horses will compete in some of the UK’s most prestigious races, including the Qatar Sussex Stakes, one of the highlights of the flat racing season, with prize money of £1mn attracting a world-class field.Qatar Airways will be present at Goodwood throughout the event and display its First Class seat to showcase its award-wining cabins and in-flight services to race-goers.Alex Eade, general manager of Goodwood Racecourse, said: “Qatar Airways’ sponsorship of our flagship meeting is another milestone in making the Qatar Goodwood Festival a unique and global event.”Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi, general manager of QREC, said: “The Qatar Goodwood Festival is one of the highlights of our global sponsorship portfolio and we are delighted to welcome Qatar Airways as a partner.”