The St. Regis Doha, The Finest Address in Qatar, received nine prestigious awards from industry leaders. The awards recognized St. Regis’ excellence in design, market leadership, dining experience, travel and luxury.

For a third year in a row, The World Travel Awards named The St. Regis Doha as ‘Qatar’s Best Leading Resort 2015’.  The hotel’s presidential suite also received this year’s award for ‘Leading Hotel Suite’. The World Travel Awards is ranked among the industry’s top awards that celebrate organizations that continue to push the boundaries of industry excellence. Travel and tourism industry professionals gathered in Dubai last month for the highly anticipated award ceremony.

The St. Regis Doha’s dining experience and offerings continue to get recognized for their fine taste and wide offerings. Qatar’s Fact Magazine named Opal by Gordon Ramsay as The Best contemporary European Restaurants”, while Vine received the award for Best Friday Brunch” and Hakkasan Doha won in the “Best Chinese Restaurant” category. In addition, Hakkasan Doha also won “Best Chinese Restaurant” for most authentic Far East offerings and was named “Best Restaurant of the Year” for 2015 by Time Out Doha Magazine. Sarab Louge was highly commended in the “Best Afternoon Tea” category, while Vine and Opal by Gordon Ramsay were highly commended in the “Best Friday Brunch” and the “The Best contemporary European Restaurants” categories respectively.

These accolades reflect the St. Regis Hotel’s standards of service and hotel management; in addition, to high guest satisfaction. These not to mention, their dedication to continue to build up on the St. Regis legacy for hotel management and hospitality excellence. Commenting on the latest awards, Mr. Tareq Derbas, General Manager of The St. Regis Doha said “We are very honoured with the line-up of awards that we have received. I want to thank our remarkable management team and staff who have contributed significantly to the hotel’s accomplishments. We are very proud of all of the success we have achieved and we will continue to deliver our promise of being ‘The Finest Address in Qatar.’ ”

With exceptional luxurious spaces and timeless sophistication, the St. Regis Doha continues to remain a benchmark in the hospitality sector. The St. Regis Doha is a renowned destination for luxury and travel in Qatar and around the world.

W Doha Hotel & Residences, Qatar’s leading luxury lifestyle hotel, is excited to announce the promotion of Chef Kim Hyung Gyu to Executive Chef.

Formerly the Executive Sous Chef of the renowned Starwood hotel, Chef Kim Hyung Gyu has now taken up the position of Executive Chef overlooking the entire culinary operations of the hotel, including restaurants, banquets, In Room Dining & Outside Catering. Chef Kim was born with a privileged palette and a thirst to innovate. After three certificates at the Le Cordon Bleu all of which completed with Credit, Kim earned his right to start his career with the most exciting opportunities. Between 2001 and 2007, Kim only worked for restaurants in the UK that either have one Michelin star or two to three Rosettes, accolades that are only given to the best of the best restaurant and hospitality venues around the world.

“We are very pleased to announce the promotion of Chef Kim Hyung Gyu to Executive Chef at W Doha Hotel & Residences. Chef Kim’s remarkable international experience, skills and passion for innovation will enhance the hotel’s food and beverage department’s development and success. We look forward to this change in the kitchen and take our guests through an exceptional dining experience”, says Safak Guvenc, General Manager/Area Manager, W Doha Hotel & Residences.

Guests inquisitive are welcome to join the exquisite culinary team headed by Chef Kim through a unique Sensory Dining Experience. One of the most exclusive events in Doha, feast on W Doha’s gastronomic multiple course dinner, but blind folded. Held on every last Saturday of the month, the dinner will be hosted by various Chefs at the hotel and also include unique food pairings with grape and other specialty drinks. A Sensory Dining Experience is priced at QAR 650 per person for a soft beverage package or QAR 990 per person for a grape pairing package. Bookings are obligatory for the Sensory Dining Experience, with minimum six participants to hold the event.

For more information, please visit http://www.whoteldoha.com/ or call +974 44535343.

Oryx Rotana, the five star luxury business hotel in Doha, has received the highest guest rating score from Hotels.com customers who have stayed at the hotel. 

“The recognition by Hotels.com customers, who gave Oryx Rotana a score of 4.4. out of 5, dubbing our property as ‘excellent’, makes us very proud indeed to receive such a tribute from our guests. To be recognised as a hotel that constantly delivers outstanding service and offers a memorable guest experience reflects our efforts to offer all our visitors the very best in comfort and luxury,” said Lana Jwainat, Director of Marketing and Communication at Oryx Rotana.

Oryx Rotana has received several prestigious local and international awards this year, reflecting the hotel’s excellence in service quality and its preeminent position. These include Best Business Hotel in Doha at the Business Traveller Middle East Awards 2015, TripAdvisor Excellence Award, the Hall of Fame and Certificate of Excellence Award to both The Cellar and Al Nafourah Gate, in addition to the Favourite International Restaurant in Doha and Favourite Spanish Restaurant in Doha for Choices and The Cellar respectively at the FACT Dining Awards Doha 2015.

“Our goal since we opened in Doha has been to set the highest standards in hospitality and to stand out by making a real difference in the service quality we provide to our guests,” concluded Jwainat.

EY has today announced its acquisition of Seren – an international digital consultancy based in the UK with a significant footprint in the MENA region. Seren is a leader in international digital design and innovation of customer service and experience, which works with leading firms across a number of sectors. In MENA, Seren have been working closely with governments, banks and media organizations to drive digital business transformation through a customer-centred approach to design.

Gerard Gallagher, MENA Advisory Leader, EY, says: “EY’s Advisory business has already built an impressive Customer Experience capability across MENA. As EY-Seren, we will be able to significantly augment the services we provide to our clients in terms of digital engagement strategy and customer experience design. Combining the digital design expertise of Seren with the broader transformational capabilities of EY will bring a fresh dimension to the services we deliver to our clients.

Ben Langdon, CEO of EY-Seren says: “There has been immense growth in demand for our services in the Middle East and our business in the region has quadrupled in growth over the last year. The union with EY, especially in MENA, is a natural extension of our growth plans. A number of our UK based team are relocating to the Middle East to give us dedicated EY-Seren presence in the market.”

Ross Maclean, Partner and MENA Head of Customer Advisory practice at EY says: “We have seen that customers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have higher levels of digital interaction with organizations than the global average. With the significant growth of digital and mobile services across the region, we continue to see huge investments by organizations in the region to provide better experiences across all channels. It’s interesting to note that in MENA, it’s the government sector that is very often leading the way with new and innovative approaches to delivering services. We are hugely excited by the capabilities that EY-Seren will bring to our clients.”

The acquisition of Seren will bring the total number of dedicated Customer Experience practitioners in MENA to over 50. EY made a commitment to grow its global strategy consulting practice to over 2,500 professionals by 2020, both organically and through continued acquisitions and has progressed this rapidly already with a particular focus on client’s digital transformation agenda. 

GCC Board Directors Institute (“BDI”) has appointed H+K Strategies (“H+K”) as content partner to the Institute for a period of three years. The other content partners are PwC, McKinsey & Co, Heidrick & Struggles and Allen & Overy, while supported by the Capital Market Authorities in Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, Qatar Financial Centre and the Central Bank of Bahrain. Launched in 2007, BDI is the pre-eminent organization for boards and directors in the Gulf helping boards become more effective so that organizations may perform better and grow.

In its capacity of content partner, H+K will contribute with knowledge on matters critical to board effectiveness in today’s multi-faceted and high-speed communications environment. Speaking of the new partnership, Nathalie Potvin, executive director at BDI, said: “We recognize H+K Strategies as a valued partner which has an excellent track record in delivering best-in-class corporate communications to the region and is a like-minded organization which shares our ambition to improve board effectiveness practices and enhance corporate governance standards in the region.”

Andrew Bone, regional director, H+K Strategies, said: “BDI is a not-for-profit organization which is doing fundamentally important work in developing world class corporate governance and the role of company boards. We look forward to helping the Institute communicate its story, as well as help promote best practice directorship among chairmen, board directors, regulators and industry stakeholders within the GCC markets.”

For further information please contact:

H+K Strategies: Andrew Bone +971 4 334 4930 Andrew.bone@hkstrategies.com

GCC Board Directors Institute: Mira Alrabi +971 4 554 7967; mira.alrabi@gccbdi.org

Mall of Qatar, the region’s largest leisure, entertainment and shopping complex, has signed up Hamleys, the world’s most famous toy shop, to open its first outlet in Qatar.

As a double height department store of 2,386 sqm in Mall of Qatar, Hamleys will offer Qatar residents and visitors exclusive Hamleys own range of toys not available in any other toy store. At the same time Hamleys will be echoing Mall of Qatar’s unique focus on live entertainment by offering ongoing toy events, character visits and theatrical elements for which the toy store is renowned, to the delight of shoppers and visitors.  Daily parades will also mesmerize all members of the family throughout the mall.

Rony Mourani, GM of Mall of Qatar, said, “We have always promised to bring the very best exclusive brands to Qatar and we are living up to our promise by bringing the world’s most iconic toy store to Doha for our visitors.  Hamleys is a fairy tale brand that is much more than a toy store, offering children a magical toy emporium where they can enjoy live and interactive demonstrations of their favourite toys.” Hamleys, dubbed the World’s finest toy retailer, captures the imagination of children with its mammoth range of more than 20,000 toys and exclusive Hamleys merchandise.  

An ultimate treat for the entire family, Hamleys much loved brands, traditional toys and quirky and unusual playthings have captivated children for generations.  Hamleys Own Brand range, known for its exceptional quality and play value, will also be exclusively available in the Mall of Qatar. The Hamleys experience comes complete with a unique brand of theatre and entertainment to enthral both children and adults alike. Toy demonstrators and magicians, unique demos and iconic fixtures, exciting events and activities together provide an unforgettable experience for families.

Hamleys is celebrating 255 years in the business having gained an international reputation for being the best loved toy store in the world, selling its special brand of magic to families and children around the world. 

In anticipation of Shangri-La Hotel, Doha’s grand opening, the hotel has partnered with Cathay Pacific Airways to arrange for Mr. Khalifa Saleh al Haroon to travel to Hong Kong, where he will experience first-hand the legendary Asian hospitality in the vibrant and cosmopolitan setting of Asia’s World City.

Once open, Shangri-La Hotel, Doha, will be the Asian luxury group’s fifth hotel in the region, joining sister properties in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Muscat. The five-star hotel is centrally located in the commercial district of West Bay, with a direct link to the city’s largest shopping complex, City Center Doha. It offers 272 beautifully appointed guestrooms, suites and 42 serviced apartments, exciting dining options and extensive leisure facilities that include a large outdoor pool on a deck surrounded by over 70 trees and CHI, The Spa.

Cathay Pacific Airways was named World’s Best Airline for the fourth time in the 2014 Skytrax World Airline Awards and serves 188 destinations worldwide. The Doha-Hong Kong route is serviced by an Airbus A330-300 aircraft with a two-class configuration that features the award-winning Business Class and long-haul Economy Class. Earlier this year, Cathay Pacific launched the “Life Well Travelled” campaign. This campaign successfully integrates a refreshed branding design with other important elements that make every trip more enjoyable, simple and relevant to what passengers aspire to today. It focuses on an overall customer experience that promotes an inspiring, uncomplicated enjoyment and well-being while travelling.

“As Hong Kong’s award-winning flagship airline, Cathay Pacific Airways’ on-board products and services are reflective of Hong Kong’s culture, traditions and way of life,” said Manikandan Nair, Sales & Marketing Manager of Cathay Pacific. “In addition, our six lounges located in our hub at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) extend our unique and warm hospitality by delivering the ultimate comfort with convenience to premium passengers. “Thus, through our collaboration with Shangri-La Hotel, Doha we are confident that distinguished popular bloggers like Khalifa Saleh al Haroon will see, hear and experience the best of everything that Hong Kong has to offer,” he added. “It will definitely be among his most enjoyable and unforgettable journeys.”

Mr. al Haroon cultivates a popular online persona named Mr. Q and hosts a show called QTips on YouTube, which educates viewers on local Arabic customs, as well as a segment on QF Radio’s The Morning Show. He is the CEO and founder of the Haroon United Group, an investment company whose portfolio includes the I Love Qatar online platform, one of the most recognised brands in the country. While in Hong Kong, Mr. al Haroon will stay at the Island Shangri-La in the Central district and at the Kowloon Shangri-La on the opposite side of the harbour.

Distinct highlights of the iconic Island Shangri-La include the spectacular 16-storey landscape silk painting named “Great Motherland of China” that hangs in its elegant atrium, as well as the 140-year-old banyan tree in the Lobby Lounge. Kowloon Shangri-La is located in the bustling shopping and entertainment district of Tsim Sha Tsui East, commanding magnificent views of the world-famous Victoria Harbour. The hotel is home to the Shang Palace restaurant which was awarded two Michelin stars for its Cantonese specialties. 

"I'm looking forward to a fantastic journey in Hong Kong and staying at the amazing Shangri-La properties. I stayed at the Shangri-La in Shanghai and had an incredible experience.  Visiting a dynamic city like Hong Kong, staying at one of my favourite hotels, and flying there on Cathay Pacific means I'll have the best trip ever!  I'll be covering my trip to Hong Kong and people will be able to follow my journey on Instagram, Twitter, and through a special 'Mr. Q Visits Hong Kong' Youtube episode,” said Mr. al Haroon.

"Cooperating with Cathay Pacific was a natural choice given the synergy between our two brands. Both have a strong Asian heritage and both are renowned for providing an incomparable level of care and service. We are eager to extend our signature heart-warming welcome to Mr. Q and look forward to seeing his adventures,” said Coen Masselink, General Manager at Shangri-La Hotel, Doha. 

Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl – Doha, Qatar’s premier destination, welcomes two new members to its senior management team; Christian Huschka (pictured left), Director of Sales & Marketing and Carlos Díaz (pictured right), Director of Human Resources.

Both Directors come from a strong heritage in the hospitality industry and bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the existing Management team at the new luxury resort on The Pearl, both reporting to Wissam Suleiman, General Manager.

Huschka has played an integral strategic and revenue increasing role for over a decade within a number of Kempinski properties, most recently at Hôtel des Mille Collines where he facilitated the successful takeover of ‘Hotel Rwanda.’With more than 18 years of commercial and operational experience for leading luxury hotel groups in the Sales & Marketing sector, he also brings international experience from Europe, the USA, Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Díaz has over ten years of hospitality and recruitment agency experience, and has led multi-market teams for global hospitality brands including Kempinski, Sheraton and Hilton, as well as independent properties. He has a strong track record of creating bespoke teams for new hotels along with activating all aspects of HR practices and programmes. Diaz will act as a key motivator in achieving business objectives and retaining key talent. He joins the team from Grand Hotel Djibloho Kempinski, where he was also leading the human resources department.

Wissam Suleiman, General Manager, Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl – Doha, comments: “I am thrilled to welcome these two talented Directors. Their appointments and expertise will help us to continue our emphasis on delivering excellence, innovation and results for our guests and stakeholders, ultimately helping to secure the continued success of Marsa Malaz Kempinski over the coming years.”

Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl – Doha opened in January 2015. The luxury resort offers 281 luxury rooms and suites, eleven F&B outlets, a 150 meter private beach and the only Spa by Clarins in the Middle East, along with Doha’s most luxurious conference and events facilities.

Jotun Paints, one of the region’s market leaders in the sector, has inaugurated its newest Inspiration Center, Valencia Décor, on Salwa Road. With this latest addition, the company has further cemented its commitment to elevating ‘customer experience’ with expert consultations and complete customer support.

The new 100 square foot centre, located along Qatar Decoration signal, is managed by Moaaz Abo El Khier and Mohammed Abo El Khier. It offers its customers all the signature elements that they have come to associate with these speciality showrooms - the Jotun Color Center Interior, Jotun Color Center Exterior, Lady Design Box and Design Gallery. Visitors to the centre will have the opportunity to take a closer look at the company’s myriad offerings, and work out customised solutions for their specific needs with in-house experts. 

The leadership at Jotun Paints has always been vocal about its goal to deliver to give customers exactly what they need. Doing so has demanded a closer engagement with them, which has certainly been accomplished through this innovative initiate. Wael Fahmy, Country Manager of Jotun Qatar said, “We are very pleased with the success of these Inspiration Centres. Jotun Paints has over 50% of the market share in this dynamic sector. We believe that by opening more retail outlets and such Inspiration centres, we can connect with our customers more closely, engage with them more personally, and serve them better.”

Its customers have definitely been widely receptive to these centres, which allow them to match their requirements with the right products from Jotun’s wide range of offerings. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg as the company continues to explore different solutions to expand and improve its reach in this competitive market. Jotun today, is one of the leading Paint companies in Qatar. Even so, the company plans to increase its accessibility with more retail outlets and unique Inspiration Centres in and around Qatar.

Adhering to its motto “Your Favourite Neighbourhood Retailer", Al Meera Consumer Goods (QSC) continues its expansion plans in the state of Qatar to serve diverse communities, and cover the needs of citizens and residents wherever they are at competitive prices while considering all the segments of the society.

Discussing the expansion strategy, Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Qahtani, Deputy CEO of Al Meera said: "Al Meera has always considered to reach highly populated areas especially the zones that lack of retail malls". He added: "Al Meera's expansion comes in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, as it aims to develop various areas in Qatar following the state's urban planning, serve all communities in the State and ensure profitability for all its shareholders".

Al Meera's expansion is not limited to the establishment of new stores. In fact, the company has completed during the past few years the acquisition of the "Giant Stores" retail chain including the purchase of Al Oumara Bakery Company, which added 5 new stores to its supermarket chain, in addition to signing a subcontractor lease agreement for the Dasman Hypermarket building, which is located on the main highway leading to the airport road. Al Meera has also launched a slew of modernly designed and architected commercial centers in Abu Nakhla, Nuaija and Legtaifiya, as well as supermarkets in each of the Barwa Mesaimeer and Beverly Hills residential complexes.

In addition to its expansion plan, Al Meera has worked in parallel on the renewal of the old branches, where it modernized the branches of Al Mansoura, Hazm Al Markhiya, Onaiza , Bin Omran, Khalifa South, Al Maamoura, Al Wakra and others. These measures have contributed to raising the number of branches from 23 branches about four years ago to 32 branches by the end of 2014 following the closure of the two branches Al Khor and Onaiza 1.

The development plans of Al Meera gained great momentum in the year 2014 as it succeeded in building nine new modern shopping centers in the regions of Muraikh, Al Azizia, Muaither, Jeryan Njeima, Thakhira, Al Wakra, Al Thumama, Al Wajba, and Rawdat Ekdeem. Dr. Al-Qahtani added: "The construction of the new branches of Al Meera follows the contemporary design of the modern shopping malls which includes a supermarket, shops, restaurants and other facilities. The construction works are in accordance with the international standards and the latest interior designs and lighting systems that guarantee a distinctive shopping experience".

Al Meera continues the implementation of its plan at a gradual pace. Since the beginning of the year 2015 to date, the company has successfully opened the branches of Muraikh, Al Azizia, Muaither, Branch at the new opened Gulf Mall, Jeryan Njeima, Al Thakhira and Al Wakra 2. In the coming weeks, Al Meera will be also opening new branches at Al Wajba, Rawdat Ekdeem, and Al Thumama, after obtaining the necessary permits and approvals from the competent authorities.

Dr. Al-Qahtani clarified that through these ten branches Al Meera can stand at the needs of Qatar's population in these regions and neighboring areas. For instance, the 2 branches of Rawdat Ekdeem and Al Wajba will be serving the area of Bani Hajer, while Jeryan Njeima branch will be catering for the needs of the Duhail area. Given the needs of the market, Al Meera offers a wide range of products that meet the daily needs of all customers, deals with the best local suppliers and build international business relationships through reciprocal visits to many of the leading manufacturers of food and non-food items.

Al Meera is currently importing high quality food at competitive prices from Turkey as well as from Thailand and Vietnam. The imported food from Turkey include many items such as beans, chocolate, biscuits, pastries and juices, tomato paste, honey, eggs, frozen chicken griller, olive oil, olives, fruits and vegetables, while the import of most canned fruits and vegetables is from Thailand, and seafood such as frozen fish and canned tuna, come from Vietnam.

In addition, other items are imported from France, the Netherlands, the United States and the United Kingdom, to provide more diverse options at Al Meera stores, besides other goods such as furnishings and home appliances that come from both Vietnam and China. As well, Al Meera recently began dealing with both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan for the import of new high quality products. This year, Al Meera has started the construction work on several new branches as part of its expansion strategy to construct 14 new shopping malls across Qatar, located in Sailiya North, Bu Sidra, Al Wakra 3, Umm Salal Ali, Rawdat Aba El-Herran, Azghawa, Al Khor, Um Qarn, Rawdat Al Hamama, Jeryan Junaihat, Al Sailiya, Ain Khaled, Leabaib 1 and Leabaib 2.

Dr. Al-Qahtani said that some of these branches will provide services to areas such as Al Kheesa through Rawdat Al Hamama and Jeryan Junaihat stores, while al Khuraitiyat area will benefit from Azghawa branch services. After the expansion plan is complete, Al Meera will boast 56 outlets spread from the south to north, and east to west of Qatar. It is noteworthy that Al Meera has signed a memorandum of understanding with Lusail Real Estate Development Company for the operation and management of two central shopping areas at ​​Jabal Thaileb North and the Villas residential area.

Dr. Al-Qahtani also noted that all new branches of the company will be built in the same international standards, as well as the nine new shopping centers. Al Meera plans to build two additional branches in the North area and Al Jumailiya where the stores will carry a unique special design. The Company will spare no effort in opening other branches when given the opportunity to do so. Its coordination with the Department of Urban Planning is constant, as Al Meera aims to study all suggestions and considers many requests with respect to the expansion in new locations such as Rawdat Al Hamam, Al Shehaniya North, Madkhal Al Khuraib, Rawdat Rashed, Umm EL Omod, Al Khuraitiyat and others.

Fifty One East, Qatar’s Favorite Department Store, and Sony Middle East and Africa, the leading consumer electronics brand, proudly announced the α7R II, Sony’s newest state-of-the-art full-frame mirrorless camera. The new α7R II from Sony is now available at all Fifty One East outlets located in Al Maha Center on Salwa Road and City Center Doha in addition to Virgin Megastore at Villaggio and Landmark malls.

The new camera delivers an innovative imaging experience with the world’s first back-illuminated 35mm full-frame sensor Exmor R™ CMOS sensor1, which realises high-resolution (approximately 42.4 effective megapixels), high-sensitivity (expandable up to ISO 102400) and high-speed AF response up to 40 per cent faster than the original α7R, thanks to 399 focal plane phase detection AF points. It includes a 5-axis image stabilisation system borrowed from the acclaimed α7 II model, and has the ability to shoot and record 4K videos in multiple formats including Super 35mm (without pixel binning) and full-frame format, a world’s first for digital cameras1.

Moreover, the interchangeable lens camera has a newly refined XGA OLED Tru-Finder™ with the world’s highest (0.78x) viewfinder magnification. α7R II is compatible with Sony’s growing line-up of α mount lenses, which now totals 63 different models including 12 native FE full frame lenses. By early 2016, Sony will add eight new lenses to its FE full frame lineup, bringing the FE total to 20 lenses and the overall α mount assortment to 70 different models.

The newly-developed 42.4-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor is the most advanced, versatile and highest-resolution full-frame image sensor that Sony has ever created, allowing the α7R II to reach new levels of quality, sensitivity and response speed. In the past, many photographers have been forced to choose between high-resolution and high-speed or high-resolution and high-sensitivity when selecting a camera. The new α7R II eliminates that sacrifice thanks to its innovative image sensor.   

The launch of the new cameras come off the back of a successful year for the number one image sensor manufacturer for digital cameras and video recorders – Sony finished FY2014 with over 50% market share continuing to be clear No.1 manufacturer. In addition, Sony cameras incorporate “the world’s most selected” image sensor. Add the following disclaimer if necessary - *Based on Sony research – April 2014 to March 2015 (over 50% market share).

A variety of exclusive stories and exciting new content shot with the new RX and α7R II cameras and other high-end Sony imaging products can be found at www.sony.com/alpha, Sony’s new community site built to educate, inspire and showcase all fans and customers of Sony imaging products. A full preview of videos and still images shot with the new models are also available at global sites www.youtube.com/c/imagingbySony  and www.sony.net/product/di_photo_gallery. 

For access to all of the latest Sony camera news on twitter, follow #SonyCamera.

Grand Regal Hotel, in coordination with the Blood Donation Center of the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), has recently held a blood donation campaign. The event was organized at the hotel’s premises with participation of its staff. Large number of hotel employees from various departments volunteered to donate their blood highlighting their commitment to the Qatari society. Mr. Mohamad Al-Nasr, the owner of the property has also joined this noble action in order to help those who are in need of blood transfusions.

“Blood donation campaign was aimed to raise further awareness of the importance of blood donation for saving lives. We are determined to hold this type of event regularly and encourage more people to participate”, said Tiro Ilievski, the General Manager of Grand Regal hotel. Hotel management also expressed deep appreciation for all donors and thanked medical team for helping to make this Blood Donation Drive a success.

Image: Representatives from Hamad Medical Corporation Blood Donation Center, Sabri Zeddini, Rooms Division & Operation Manager of Grand Regal Hotel and Sherelean Buhawe, Human Recourses Manager.

The Arab Administrative Development Organization (ARADO) affiliated with the League of Arab States and the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC) are organising a series of workshops on developing skills to deal with WTO agreements and regulations. The first workshop "Liberalisation of global trade and commodities and access to markets" will take place in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt from the 24th till the 29th of October 2015.

This workshop targets concerned parties from different Arab countries such as chambers of commerce and industry, ministries of commerce and industry, investors’ associations and unions, commercial representative offices, WTO units in Arab countries, academics and researchers in the area of global trade, journalists who specialise in commerce and economy and concerned businessmen involved in international trade (import and/or export). 

The workshop will provide a historical background on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the global trading system after World War II. It will introduce the World Trade Organization (WTO), its objectives, the problems countries face while trying to join it and the current status of Arab states joining the Organization. Furthermore, the workshop will explain the methodology behind the schedules of concessions on goods and how to implement agreements and rules combatting illegal practices that trouble domestic production like the anti-dumping, subsidies and safeguards agreements.

In addition to that, agreements organising the movement of imports, notably customs valuation, pre-shipment inspection and rule of origin will be explained. The training will also tackle the trade facilitation agreement in light of the 9th ministerial conference in Bali and Arab countries’ vision to implement the agreement. It will shed light on the facilitations offered to new members and discuss the future of global trade in commodities in light of the 10th ministerial conference that will be held in Nairobi in December 2015. 

The workshop is delivered by Dr. Mohsen Hilal, trade and WTO affairs consultant, Dr. Adel Abdul Aziz Al-Senn, international economics professor and advisor at ARADO and Dr. Maulai Hassan Abu Taher, expert in international trade and agreements from Morocco. In addition, WTO experts from the Organization’s units within Arab ministries will take part in this workshop. This will be the first of four workshops on developing skills to better deal with WTO agreements and rules. They all aim at promoting the skills of professionals interacting with WTO agreements and rules. 

The workshops will help them to understand the provisions of these agreements correctly, including the obligations and rights of Arab countries, and to maximise the benefit of Arab businessmen from these agreements. The workshops also seek to improve the capacity to counter illegal competition that harms domestic products and to study how to benefit from the facilitations that were sanctioned for new WTO members like KSA, Jordan, Oman and Yemen. Moreover, the workshops will train participants on how to prepare a negotiation position and strategies and tactics of negotiation for the representatives of Arab governments at the negotiations with the World Trade Organization.

The second workshop will be entitled "General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)", followed by "The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)" and then "Dispute Settlement and Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM)". 

Launch, a series of associated learning events for Qatari Nationals that focuses on developing the country’s future and existing leaders who are looking to enhance their career, further professional development and stay motivated, will host its second Conference on December 1-3, 2015 at the Marriott Renaissance Doha, Qatar.

The announcement for the second Launch conference follows the successful inaugural two day Launch conference held earlier this year on April 26-27, 2015 at the Hilton Hotel Doha. The inaugural conference saw more than 150 Qatari professionals from a range of leading Qatari-based companies, including Ooredoo, Commercial Bank, RasGas, Qatar University, Qatari Diar, Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQatar), beIN SPORTS and INJAZ Qatar, participate in this highly engaging event.

The second Conference will provide a unique and local platform for Qatari participants and includes a two day conference as well as a third day of optional workshops for advanced pass holders only, all centering around the theme, “Mind and Motivation”. Day One of Launch will focus on “Mind”, as participants will have the opportunity to listen to a range of carefully selected speakers, attend a range of relevant and interesting workshops and gain thought provoking blended learning experiences.

The leading international and local speakers that Launch participants will have the opportunity to listen to invited speakers, including: Bothaina Al Ansari, Ooredoo; Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, Qatar Development Bank; Sharoq Al Malki, Commercial Bank of Qatar (CBQ) Issa Al Mohannadi, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA); as well as an esteemed academic representative from HEC Paris. Day Two of Launch will focus on “Motivation”, as participants will attend game-changing workshops including “Power of Positivity”, “Building Leading Teams” and “Attitudes and Actions”. Launch will conclude with interactive workshops on Day Three that will be facilitated by highly experienced industry professionals.

Throughout the unique three day learning experience of Launch, participants will have access to a range of local and international speakers who are at the peak of their respective professions and can offer unparalleled professional advice. As well as a series of workshops that are designed to explore critical thinking practices and motivational techniques, along with invitations to attend ongoing networking events to exchange knowledge with peers, meet industry leaders and take part in dynamic learning activities.

Launch is the brainchild Elizabeth Fleming, Managing Director of Qatar Development and Consultancy Centre (QD&CC), who has over 20 years of international Human Resources and business solutions experience, and Isra Al Jefairi, Founder of Growth. Both founders were passionate about establishing an effective platform for professional growth of Qatari Nationals to network, explore and benefit from the expertise of industry leaders.     

Ms. Fleming, Founder of Launch, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the second Launch Conference later in the year, especially as all of our participants were so dedicated and enthusiastic during the inaugural event.Launch provides a local platform for Qatari participants to be challenged, grow and to continuously network. Furthermore, Launch is beneficial for Qatari Nationals who already have some business or career experience, who are looking to continue developing their career or professional practice.”

“We are passionate about actively engaging with all of our participants, supporting Qatarisation to businesses through Launch, and also organising dynamic learning activities that will contribute to the achievement of the Qatar National Vision,” Ms. Fleming added.   

Moreover, Launch believes that ongoing development and networking is required to support the professional growth of all Qatari participants. Apart from a series of annual conferences, Launch provides a highly interactive series of learning events post the conference including: workshops, coaching and mentoring services, interactive web and social media advice, as well as networking opportunities through Launch Knowledge, which provides forums for discussion on issues and opportunities related to career growth along with an introduction to industry leaders and experts.

To secure your attendance at the second Launch conference please register and book online at: http://www.qatarlaunch.com/registration.html, alternatively you can email: contact@qatarlaunch.com or call: +974 4451 6677, as seats are expected to fill quickly.

Oryx Rotana, the five star luxury business hotel in Doha, offers a unique experience on the first Saturday of each month, as Choices, Oryx Rotana’s flagship international cuisine restaurant, invites customers to its ‘White’ Brunch themed dining event where diners show up wearing white to reflect the purity of mind and soul.

Chef Sang Lee will take it from there with his superbly savoury dishes. “Oryx Rotana is pleased to launch the White Brunch at Choices as part of the hotel’s continued efforts to provide our guests and customers with an excellent new dining experience that comprises a rich menu prepared by our best chefs, in an inspired atmosphere combined with Rotana’s top-tier, exclusive service,” said Lana Jwainat, Director of Marketing and Communications at Oryx Rotana.

From 12:30 – 4:00pm, diners will get the opportunity to select from a menu of featured culinary choices starting with a wide variety of soups. Following on, the buffet presents an eclectic assortment of Mediterranean fishes like salmon, tuna, shrimps and caviar, in addition to the sea food options prepared in the most appetising international cooking styles. Sushi and Sashimi are presented live for guests who also have exquisite choices for starters and a delightful array of western and eastern sweets to follow.

Pizza lovers will satisfy their craving with the Pizza Station where meat, chicken or veggie pizzas are also prepared live for guests using the finest quality cheeses and fresh Mediterranean ingredients like tomatoes, pepper, onion and basil oil and a wide range of toppings. The main courses include duck legs with potatoes, steamed mussels with herbs and chicken breasts with green peas, along with steamed rice, steamed vegetables and several potato choices. Gourmet food enthusiasts can relish the dishes on offer like the chicken, meat or vegetable rolls, accompanied with a collection of fresh, seasoned sauces that add exceptional flavours.

International music DJ Alex will add his touch to the lively atmosphere by playing a number of worldwide hits.

In line with its commitment to strengthen presence across key markets in the Middle East region, Aiana Hotels & Resorts, a global hotel management company has announced the appointment of Murlidhar Rao as Senior Vice President, Operations. The new appointment demonstrates Aiana’s commitment to create a globally respected hospitality brand that embodies the best of Indian hospitality by innovating fresh service, design and operating concepts.

A seasoned hospitality professional with three decades of industry experience, Murli will be based at Aiana Hotel & Resorts’ regional headquarter in Qatar Financial Centre, Doha. In this new leadership role, Murli will be utilizing his extensive global expertise in strategic planning, luxury project development, design, management and operations for bringing to life Aiana’s unique ‘Hospitality 2.0’ promise that is aimed at offering innovative service in a smart, stimulating environment and delivering an intuitive hotel management model that resonates with the next generation of travelers.

Amruda Nair, Joint Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Aiana Hotels & Resorts said, “It is with great excitement that we welcome Murli to Aiana. Murli’s earnest passion for hospitality, keen eye for detail and extensive experience offers the ideal platform to build upon Aiana’s launch in the Middle East. As cross border investments continue to accelerate across the region investors will continue to seek qualified hotel operators to improve the performance of newly acquired assets. The Aiana brand promise seeks to fulfill a gap in the market for experience driven, non-traditional accommodation and service offerings that are locally relevant and flexible. I am confident that Murli is the right fit to lead the charge to help Aiana grow as an industry leader for innovation, guest satisfaction and performance.” 

Murli’s skills and expertise in the luxury spectrum complement the Aiana brand’s niche positioning, and offer a vision for quality that lends itself to creating a premium lifestyle experience. Murli’s experience includes pre-opening luxury resorts in the Maldives and Caribbean, leading operations across South East Asia, and setting brand standards for a repositioning from mid-market to the premier segment across leading luxury hotel brands including Four Seasons, Kempinski, Mandarin Oriental and Alila.

Prior to joining Aiana, Murli’s last project was The Sanchaya in Bintan, Indonesia where he was instrumental in positioning the property as one of the best new luxury resorts in the world, garnering a host of industry accolades. Murlidhar Rao , Senior Vice-President, Operations of Aiana Hotels & Resorts states, “It is a privilege to be a part of a brand with a strong sense of being, honesty and above all innovation. I look forward to working closely with the team to position Aiana as the brand of choice for the conscious traveller across all destinations.”

Murli holds a 1st class Honours diploma in Hotel Management from Bombay’s Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition and an Honours Certification for Intermediate Level of HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points). Aiana Hotels & Resorts’ flagship project will be based in Doha. The project, ‘Aiana Suites and Residences, Doha’, will be located in the prestigious central business district of West Bay in Doha. Currently under construction, the project will consist of 180 keys with sea-facing and city views, and will measure between 73 sq. m to 250 sq. m. 

Nothing says Italy quite like its food, and nothing says Italian food like pizza. Sharing its passion and expertise for the Italian specialty; Carluccio’s will host a month long celebration of all things pizza. Taking place during September, Festa Della Pizza, will showcase an array of limited edition sweet and savoury pizzas with perfectly charred pizza crust and an endless choice of toppings. In addition, Carluccio’s food shops will feature a special display of chilli oils and chilli based products, the perfect accompaniment for pizza’s, steaks or barbequed meats.

To celebrate all things pizza, and in addition to the special Festa Della Pizza menu offering; Carluccio's Doha will be offering buy one get one free on any pizza purchase for  two days only, 7^th -8th September 2015. This offer is applicable on the main menu and Festa Della Pizza menu items and is valid for dine in customers only.

Sweet or Savoury

Serving authentic Roman-style pizzas with perfectly charred crusts, pizza lovers will have the chance to discover a range of inspired flavour combinations throughout the festival alongside the usual à la carte menu. Must-tries include “Napolentana” -a flavorsome combination of tomato, mozzarella, olives, anchovies, capers, parsley and garlic oil. Next up is “Calzone Ortolana” – folded pizza will balsamic roasted vegetables, goats’ cheese, mozzarella and black olives. Salmon fans will appreciate the “Salmone E Asparagi”- Mascarpone cream, fresh asparagus, chives, smoked salmon and lemon oil while diners will enjoy the taste of “Porcini E Tartufo” – cream of porcini, mozzarella cheese, thyme, roasted porcini mushrooms, truffle oil and basil.

Sweet tooth? Then indulge in the classic Nutella e Banana dessert pizza with Italian Nutella and sliced banana. Served on a crispy golden base, this is the perfect way to finish a meal.

Hot Stuff

Those looking to add a little heat to their menu can head to Carluccio’s food shops, which will be showcasing a selection of chilli oils and chilli based products throughout the festival. Made from quality Italian olives and infused with chillies dried under the Calabrian sun, chilli oil is endlessly useful in the kitchen and perfectly complements pizza as well as pasta, salads and any other dishes that require a kick.

Carluccio’s is a restaurant, a caffè and a food shop and as such is a unique brand -open all day for a quick coffee or a full 3 course meal. Carluccio’s aims to offer customers the opportunity to eat simple, high quality Italian food in a casual Caffé environment, as well as being able to take the same foods home by choosing from a range of exclusive food products for the larder or as gifts. With a fine selection of traditional Italian specialties, Carluccio's brings a unique taste of Italy to Doha. 

Carluccio’s is conveniently located at La Croisette 18 at The Pearl Doha, and is open daily from 8:00am to midnight. For delivery please call: 66901771

Launch, a series of associated learning events for Qatari nationals that focuses on developing the country’s future and existing leaders who are looking to enhance their career, further professional development and stay motivated, will host its second Conference on December 1-3 at the Marriott Renaissance, said The Peninsula.

The announcement for the second Launch conference follows the successful inaugural two-day Launch conference held earlier this year on April 26-27, 2015 at the Hilton Hotel Doha. The inaugural conference saw more than 150 Qatari professionals from a range of leading Qatari-based companies, including Ooredoo, Commercial Bank, RasGas, Qatar University, Qatari Diar, Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQatar), beIN SPORTS and INJAZ Qatar, participate in this highly engaging event.

The second Conference will provide a unique and local platform for Qatari participants and includes a two-day conference as well as a third day of optional workshops for advanced pass holders only, all centering around the theme, “Mind and Motivation”. The leading international and local speakers that Launch participants will have the opportunity to listen to invited speakers, including: Bothaina Al Ansari, Ooredoo; Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, Qatar Development Bank; Sharoq Al Malki, Commercial Bank of Qatar (CBQ) Issa Al Mohannadi, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA); as well as an esteemed academic representative from HEC Paris.

Elizabeth Fleming, Founder of Launch, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the second Launch Conference later in the year, especially as all of our participants were so dedicated and enthusiastic during the inaugural event. Launch provides a local platform for Qatari participants to be challenged, grow and to continuously network. Furthermore, Launch is beneficial for Qatari Nationals who already have some business or career experience, who are looking to continue developing their career or professional practice.”

In an effort to establish a buzzing entrepreneurial hub, Qatar Business Incubation Center (QBIC), is for the first time, hosting the biggest networking event of the season, known as QBIC Open Day next week. QBIC is one of the largest specialized mixed-use business incubators in the MENA region. Its mission is to develop the next QAR 100 million value companies in Qatar. With its flagship programs, the LeanStartup, LeanScaleup and unparalleled facilities and support, QBIC is the ideal place to hatch your business idea, see it grow and succeed.

QBIC’s Open Day, taking place on September 7^th 2015 at 3:00 PM,brings together a diverse and dynamic group of people to explore a world of opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and existing startups and to explain and facilitate the registration process in one of our programs. It is a chance to visit the QBIC campus, and get a glimpse of the programs, facilities, dedicated team members, and support available to select entrepreneurs. Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Al Khalifa, Qatar Development Bank CEO and QBIC Chairman said: “We are happy to host Qatar’s budding and innovative minds at this one of a kind networking event, where we will introduce QBIC’s flagship programs and services to those seeking to be active in the growing and significant filed of entrepreneurship.”

He added: “We hope that Open Day will be the first of many interactive events, where we can turn QBIC into a lively and prosperous entrepreneurial hub in Qatar, and in the region.” With more than 104 LeanStartup graduates, 37 incubated companies including 11 industrial workshops, a total investment of QAR 1.03M,and close to 2.4M QAR sales generated, QBIC is leading the way towards creating a knowledge-based economy by developing a strong private sector, aligned with the Qatar National Vision 2030.

Aysha Al Mudahka, QBIC CEO, said: “We’re excited to be hosting an Open Day event at QBIC, as it’s a chance for the public to visit our campus, meet our team and incubatees to learn about QBIC incubation criteria, and to get a first-hand experience at what it takes to be recognized as a successful startup.” Visitors have the chance to learn from QBIC’s experts, and sign up for the next wave of their LeanStartup program, where if selected could turn their business idea into a reality within 10-weeks. In addition to the LeanStartup program for entrepreneurs looking to turn their business ideas into successful startups,QBIC also offers the LeanScaleup program for young established companies who have desire to grow.

To learn more about QBIC and its flagship programs, visit their website on www.qbic.qa

To register for the QBIC’s Open Day, visit the following link: https://qbicopenday.eventbrite.com 

Starting October 9, Fabric is launching 123 BPM nights to promote the underground scene in Doha.  A dark room with low ceilings and “fat” sound system, it promises to be a hot spot for extreme clubbers where sounds can range from minimal to house and techno, but the baselines are always funky and guest DJs are always innovative. “At times, the music scene in Doha can be a little bit frustrating. There are so many talented underground DJs, producers and musicians, playing their hearts out and not getting the exposure they deserve. 123 BPM is created to bring those individuals together, – said Rudolf Lobo, Entertainment Director of Fabric Lounge. “It’s not about the glitz and glamour, décor or dress-to-be-seen, it’s all about the music”, - he added.

123 BPM nights are for true clubbers, who think a little different, who dance a little different, for those who focused on the real music. So if you are tired from hanging out in soulless places, then it's time to wake up and listen to some great sounds. 123 BPM will always offer you quality beats, beautiful people and good times. Fabric Lounge is located on the Mezzanine floor of Grand Regal Hotel and open daily from 2.00pm till 2.00am. For more information and reservations: +974 4409 4600.