Hamad International Airport (HIA) won the ‘Best Customer Experience’ Initiative Award at the Future Travel Experience (FTE) Asia Awards 2018, which took place in Singapore, awarding the leading hub for transforming its terminal and bringing the FIFA World Cup experience to its travellers.
The award distinguishes the most customer-centric ‘on the ground’ initiatives over the last 12 months, and marks HIA’s fourth consecutive win at FTE Asia Awards, according to a press statement.
Judged by an expert panel and criteria that evaluated the airport for initiatives that had an overwhelmingly positive impact on its customers, HIA was recognised for its success in merging its state-of-the-art facilities, hospitable culture and love for football by delivering a month-long FIFA World Cup celebration during 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia in partnership with The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC).
Commenting on the award, Badr Mohamed al-Meer, chief operating officer of HIA, stated: “We are honoured to be recognised for our outstanding customer experience at this year’s FTE Asia Awards. At HIA, we strive to deliver truly unique and authentic experiences that leave a lasting impression on every traveller that visits our state-of-the-art terminal.”
FTE founder Daniel Coleman added, “Everyone at Future Travel Experience would like to congratulate Hamad International Airport on their success in the 2018 FTE Asia Awards. The FIFA World Cup Fan Zone is a great example of an airport embracing creativity to provide passengers with a unique and memorable experience.”
The award-winning airport, in addition to launching an Airport Football Fan Zone, broadcast live matches in three themed viewing areas and transformed the yellow Lamp Bear area of HIA into a football pitch to host games and activities for passengers. The airport Fan Zone welcomed as many as 2,600 active participants on a single day, with a total of 50,000 active participants from around the world who enjoyed month-long World Cup festivities at the airport.
As part of the festivities, a ‘digital portal’ was installed in the terminal to provide football fans at HIA the chance to interact directly with fellow football fans all the way in Russia through with interactive live streams of different Russian landmarks during the 2018 FIFA World Cup, including Kamergersky Lane, Revolutionary Square, Tsvetnoy Boulevard in Moscow, Bolshaya Morskaya street and Dvortsovaya Square in St Petersburg.
Abdulaziz al-Mass, vice-president of commercial and marketing at HIA, receiving the award.
