Winners of the newly launched third Qatar Tourism Awards will gain exclusive access to the recently established “Alumni Network,” a platform designed to foster industry engagement and celebrate excellence across Qatar’s thriving tourism and hospitality sectors, a Qatar Tourism official has announced.
This initiative highlights a commitment to nurturing top talent and fostering a collaborative environment within the rapidly expanding sector, Omar Al-Jaber, Chief of the Tourism Development Sector at Qatar Tourism, said at the recent press conference at Vendôme Mall marking the official launch of the awards and their application window.
Al-Jaber stressed that the Qatar Tourism Awards remain a “cherished initiative through which we continue to highlight stories of excellence by honouring individuals and institutions who contribute to raising standards in the tourism sector”.
A significant feature of this year’s awards is the renewed strategic partnership with the UN Tourism, he said.
Al-Jaber pointed out that this collaboration heightens the award process with increased credibility and reliability, ensuring the awards are managed with the highest levels of global transparency and accuracy due to the UN Tourism’s expertise and internationally recognised standards.
He noted that the presence of Mr. Jaime Mayaki, Director of International Development and Co-operation (IDC) at UN Tourism, was acknowledged as a proof to their continued support.
According to Al-Jaber, the awards’ evaluation mechanism has been “enhanced to be more detailed and precise than in previous editions: “The final evaluation will be entrusted to a distinguished judging panel comprising prominent local and international experts, with the judges slated for official announcement in June”.
This edition, he said, also sees a comprehensive review of its categories, definitions, and evaluation criteria, ensuring alignment with global developments, responsiveness to the evolving needs of the sector, and reflection of best international practices.
Demonstrating a continued commitment to improvement, Al-Jaber announced that two new subcategories have been introduced to recognise outstanding Hotelier of the Year, and Leading Chief Concierge.
He said the application window is now officially open and will run until August 7 for those who want to participate. Applicants are required to register on the awards website, answer five specialised questions aligned with their chosen category, and submit a supporting file with comprehensive evidence to validate their responses and enhance evaluation accuracy.
Applicants in the Culinary Experience category are required to participate in the “Taste of Qatar” programme, the first national restaurant evaluation and development initiative launched earlier this year. It is set to play a key role in achieving global recognition for local dining experiences, especially following the recent arrival of the Michelin Guide in Doha.
Al-Jaber urged all partners and entities in the tourism sector to “take part in this initiative,” as Qatar Tourism anticipates for “nominations and learning about more success stories that deserve to be shared, celebrated, and emulated”.