FAB TALKS
Qatar Duty Free – the gateway to gastronomic delights
Qatar Duty Free Senior Vice President Thabet Musleh captivated the FAB + Hospitality Conference 2023 audience in a session dedicated to sharing the enormous ambition and execution of several recent Hamad International Airport (HIA) food & beverage projects.
In a talk called ‘A Case Study in Ambition and Execution’, Musleh explained how the food & beverage offering at HIA has been transformed by dining diversity, including the world’s first Louis Vuitton restaurant and lounge earlier this year.
He reported a remarkable +100% increase in food & beverage revenues at the airport in the year-to-date, measured against 2019. This has been achieved with just a +11% uplift in passengers, he noted.
Content creator Anas Abouqamer – @triplefqatar – was one of five influencers brought to FAB by Thabet Musleh and the Qatar Duty Free team
“It’s a phenomenal growth and transformation,” said Musleh, noting that F&B partners SSP and HMSHost/Avolta had grown their HIA business sharply this year-to-date versus 2019.
He recalled that during the early days of COVID-19 “we went back to the drawing board and really questioned ourselves [on the F&B offering]. Now, you can see real commercial results driven by bold commercial decisions.”
But it’s not all about high-end spending. Part of the strategy, he explained, was to change the perception of HIA as an airport with a luxury-only offering.
Musleh, who brought five social media influencers to Bangkok to maximise coverage of the FAB Conference, continued: “From the budget traveller with simple sustenance requirements to the first-class passenger looking for an exclusive experience, we’re now catering for every need. No matter how much you spend, where you come from, how long you stand at the airport, we can guarantee you an experience.”
A full house and a front row filled with influencers for Thabet Musleh's presentation
HIA on top of the world
At the following night’s Airport Food & Beverage + Hospitality Awards 2023, Qatar Duty Free won 12 awards, including the highly coveted ‘Airport Food and Beverage Offer of the Year’ for Hamad International Airport (see our FAB Awards coverage in this edition).
Musleh spoke about the consistent level of excellence the company achieves. “I say this with immense pride and not with arrogance. But I don’t believe that there is an airport in the world that can challenge us on our F&B,” he said.
And the HIA F&B revolution will not stop there, with Musleh revealing that more openings are in the pipeline.
He invited the audience to get to know the HIA F&B offer: “I’d like to issue an open invitation today to brands to come up with any new concept, any new idea. No matter how crazy, we will listen.
“If it’s right for our passengers and meets our ambitions, we’re not afraid to take risks and take the lead.”
Wagamama was just one of the international F&B brands showcased as working with Qatar Duty Free at Hamad International
From fast food high street concepts like Burger King to high-end fine dining at the Fendi Caffé, QDF has multiple categories covered at Hamad International, and is keen to offer something for everyone.
Musleh expressed pride in the international, Middle Eastern and sub-continent brands that make up the F&B offering at Hamad International Airport
QDF has introduced F&B world exclusives to Hamad International including Ralph's Coffee and the only Gordon Ramsay Burger at an airport
FAB eZine
January 2024
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