Qatar Duty Free (QDF), the second largest duty free operator in the Middle East, is hosting the 2013 MEADFA conference in Doha with over 500 delegates in attendance.
This is the first time the event is held in the country. The two-day conference which began yesterday, centres around four key themes: the role and importance of commercial activities in new airport design and infrastructure, geopolitical and economic challenges across the Middle East and North Africa, understanding consumers in the African continent, and defending the duty free and travel retail industry in the region.
The role of retail in new airport infrastructure is a key focus of the conference. As the association embraces Africa officially, the conference has also enabled delegates to learn more about the African consumer, whose importance to global travel retail is set to grow.
Keith Hunter, senior vice president, QDF, delivered a keynote address explaining how the new Hamad International Airport will help realise the fast-growing airline’s ambitions to establish Doha as a global hub.
He also emphasised how the business models of Qatar Airways, Doha International Airport and Qatar Duty Free have been structured in such a way that they are
complimentary.
QDF was recently named Travel Retailer of The Year at the Duty Free News International Global Awards for Travel-Retail Excellence in London.