A true hallmark of unmatched hospitality, Banana Island Resort Doha is pleased and honored to have received various prestigious awards recently. Anantara SPA at Banana Island Resort won the “Qatar's Best Hotel Spa 2018” at the World Spa Awards, which was held on October 26, 2018 at luxurious St. Regis Maldives.

World Spa Awards recognize, acknowledge and celebrate excellence in spa and wellness tourism around the globe. In yet another victory, Anantara SPA also received the tags of ‘Favourite Resort Spa in Doha 2018’ and ‘Favourite Spa Design’ at OHLALA Spa & Wellness Awards Doha. 

Anantara SPA at Banana Island Resort by Anantara offers its guests a comprehensive range of health treatments that reflect the Arabic authentic roots of Qatar, such as the relaxing bathing and steam experiences, which includes exclusive massage rituals in the traditional Turkish bath. The SPA treatments reflect the life-enhancing benefits of Arab heritage, which work side by side in tandem with the wisdom rituals of Thai therapy that work in relaxing sequences. While the wellness quotient of the Resort has always been its prime highlight, its culinary and gastronomic experience also has many successes in its record. The recently held Haute Grandeur Global Restaurant Awards bestowed the title of the ‘Most Unique Experience’ on a Global Level on Al Nahham Restaurant, which further emphasizes its dedication towards offering the best services to its valued guests.

Al Nahham restaurant is famous for its Arab contemporary design overlooking the Doha horizon. Al Nahham is a unique restaurant where guests and visitors can explore the local culture by indulging into Middle Eastern spices and exotic ingredients, enjoy a soft breeze dining by the sea and under the stars as well as indulge in mouth-watering mezze from around the region, including seafood and mixed grilling. On top of the relishing cuisine, guests can sit back on a one-of-a-kind over water balcony, enjoy shisha and unbeatable hospitality.

On the big wins, Emad Nabulsi, Hotel Manager, said: “Anantara Spa at Banana Island Resort Doha has always been the most cherished spa & wellness centres in the country and we are indebted to our guests to show us much love towards the brand and the wellness treatment that we offer. It is because of their constant support that we have been able to sustain our leadership position in the leading spas globally.” He added: “We have always ensured to provide our guests a holistic experience in wellness, luxury stay as well as a truly gourmet experience and the recent Al Nahham’s Haute Grandeur Global Restaurant Awards reflects our vision to offer the best of culinary experience. Receiving such prestigious awards strengthen our conviction towards offering the best of global wellness treatments and culinary delights to our guests and make them feel special.”

It’s an exciting time, with regional manufacturers gearing up for growth, investing in equipment, new manufacturing modalities such as 3D printing, and software to support digital transformation and new collaborative, connected factory floor competencies.

Expect cloud, the Internet of Things (IoT) and analytics to be key areas of technology investment for manufacturers in Qatar. While these have been topics of conversation and exploration for a while, manufacturers are now moving past the design and concept stage to full-on production execution and deployment of these technologies.

Cloud – from strategy to action

Now is the time for Qatari manufacturers to put a cloud readiness plan into action. The cloud is quickly levelling the playing field, enabling even smaller manufacturers to leapfrog older, more established manufacturing players. Aside from bringing about improvements in responsiveness, agility and costs, the cloud is helping businesses transform. As manufacturers shift away from traditional on premises systems to cloud-based ERP they are taking advantage of new capabilities to transform their business and optimize processes. What’s more, it’s enabling the surfacing of information from even the most far-flung and darkest recesses of the organization and transforming this data into insights necessary to run and drive their business.

The IoT Imperative – Start Small, Start Today

The application of Big Data and the IoT continues to offer growth opportunities as insights gleaned from various internet-connected devices enable even more targeted customer engagement and business revenue channels as well as the ability to support operational efficiencies. The McKinsey Global Institute says that despite the immense potential factories have for value creation in the IoT era, an estimated 70 percent of data captured in manufacturing goes unused.

While most local manufacturers recognize the promise of the IoT, many—especially small and midmarket manufacturers—have taken a “wait and see” approach because IoT initiatives can seem daunting. They don’t have to be. You don’t need to boil the ocean; there are likely processes that can be IoT and/or cloud enabled that represent low-hanging fruit in your manufacturing organization. Start there (and start now!). According to PriceWaterhouseCoopers, 55% of businesses will see ROI from the IoT in two years or less. This means manufacturers who have begun to put the IoT to work may already be starting to gain traction with these initiatives. To this end, it’s important to get moving with understanding how and where the IoT can aid your business.

Retool Your Business for the Next-Gen Workforce

Much has been written about the so-called “Great Shift Change,” as Baby Boomers head toward retirement and Millennials continue to enter the workforce in droves. Today more than 1 in 3 workers are Millennials and they now comprise the largest faction of the workforce.

Qatari manufacturers must re-think their relationship with these digitally-literate workers and retool their organizations to leverage technology to motivate and empower this next-generation workforce. Sitting at the intersection of workers and systems to unite information and execution, technology plays a vital role in reducing complexity, improving the quality of work life, and enhancing productivity. Business systems that are intuitive and accessible can assist Millennials wanting to have an immediate impact in the workplace.

Stepping Up to “Servitization”

In the past few years, we’ve seen the emergence of new disruptive business models, and this trend is only set to continue. For example, the emergence of the “distribu-facturer” where distributors—under pressure to provide more customer value—are now adding services such as light manufacturing or kitting, and manufacturers are doing the same to extend their value by offering field service and maintenance options.

As organizations align their offerings to meet a wider array of needs and requirements throughout the customer journey, this creates opportunities to capture greater revenues and competitive differentiation. But as they branch out to serve a broader range of customer needs, and get closer to the end consumer, customer experience becomes more critical.

Embracing analytics for better decision making

With globalization and disintermediation, supply chains have gotten more complex and business more competitive. Supply chain visibility and responsiveness is key to know when there are deviations to plan and move quickly to ensure customer obligations can be met. Over the years manufacturers have leaned out manufacturing processes and cut costs as much as possible. The supply chain is fast becoming “the new frontier” for opportunities to lower costs, improve responsiveness and reduce risk. The customer experience imperative mandates widespread collaboration and visibility across the entire manufacturing value chain―shop floor operations and top floor operations must be connected. Siloed systems that stand in the way of a clear “line of sight” from the manufacturing floor to the finance office will impede organizations.

Manufacturers must be able to make sense of business data quickly to understand the greatest business opportunities and threats that must be addressed to support growth and profitability—and be able to answer key questions about their business such as:

• How are we doing sales-wise, up/down, month-over-month and by territory?
• What are the inventory levels, how much is in stock versus demand?
• What is the status of our outstanding accounts payable (AP), accounts receivable (AR) and cash flow?
• How are we tracking regarding on time shipment performance, supplier/procurement scorecard, waste/cost on the manufacturing floor, etc.?

This enables course corrections and fine tuning of go-to-market strategies, customer management, planning and inventory management, and financial health.

Seizing the Day with Strategic Technology Investments

This time of year is an important one for manufacturers in Qatar; it’s time for smart strategic moves. Focused investments in the cloud, the IoT and analytics will enable manufacturers to seize opportunities today, and also be prepared to embrace change and whatever lies ahead in 2019 and beyond.

On the 90^th anniversary of the “True Original Mickey Mouse”, Pandora, the global brand famous for genuine hand-finished jewellery, celebrates the internationally famous cartoon character with an exclusive collectors’ piece. The charms will be available for a limited time only at Pandora in Lagoona Mall, Landmark Mall, Villaggio Mall, Doha Festival City and Moderna-The Centre.

This season, two style icons come together for a very special collaboration: PANDORA, world-famous for its timeless charm bracelet, and Mickey Mouse, a global icon known for his cheerful attitude, undeniable charisma and impact he’s made in history, celebrating his 90th anniversary on 18 November, 2018.

To pay tribute to Mickey Mouse, one of Disney’s most beloved characters of all time, the PANDORA designers joined forces with Disney’s own character artists to create a truly exclusive, limited-edition anniversary charm of Mickey Mouse. Depicting Mickey Mouse striking a playful pose in his famous outfit, the charm is meticulously crafted from PANDORA’s signature metal sterling silver. The charm’s luxurious 14k gold numbers represent Mickey Mouse’s milestone anniversary number “90”, making the design as timeless as the pop culture icon himself.

Mark 90 years of Mickey Mouse with your own limited-edition Mickey dangle charm. Double the fun by wearing it on bracelets and necklaces to celebrate Mickey Mouse and to show your personal style and character.

Founded in 1982 in Copenhagen, Denmark, Pandora aims at providing women across the world with a universe of modern, genuine and hand-finished feminine high-quality jewellery. The global brand has achieved an overwhelming presence in the jewellery industry. Since its inception, Pandora has created feminine and timeless jewellery that has been embraced by consumers worldwide for its unique quality to capture life’s unforgettable moment at the most reasonable price. 

With a view to continuously hone the skillsets of its staff, Qatar Finance & Business Academy (QFBA) is pleased to announce it has signed a memorandum, of understanding (MoU) with Qatar Association of Certified Public Accountants (QCPA).

The MoU was signed by QFBA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Khalid Al Horr and QCPA’s Chairman  Mr. Hashem Al Sayed at QFBA premises on November 15, 2018. With this tie-up, QCPA and QFBA intend to collaborate on the development of the academic and professional performance of their staff and QFC firms to go hand in hand with the social and economic development state-wide.

This MoU entails both the parties to implement joint and specialized training programs in the fields of accounting, auditing and related fields. Both QFBA and QCPA will support and encourage joint research and academic studies in the field of accounting, as agreed by those in charge of such research and studies. They will jointly host seminars and specialized academic conferences and workshops on topics of mutual interest as well as co-operate in the field of writing and translating academic books in the field of accounting and auditing.

On the occasion, Dr. Khalid Al Horr, CEO, QFBA, said: “We are proud to be allied with Qatar Association of Certified Public Accountants (QCPA) to take our journey further and enhance the knowledge paradigms of Qatari professionals by enhancing their skillsets. As we are in the academic and professional development field, we need to be updated with the trends shaping up in the financial diaspora.This MoU will fructify our slated goal to upskill our staff by capitalizing on both the institutes’ expertise and competencies. Through this tie-up, we will be providing additional training programs, which are slated to shape their future growth trajectory. Besides, we would also be hosting various workshops and conferences to make our professional future leaders in tune with the global financial updates.”

On his part, Hashem Al Sayed, Chairman, QCPA, said: “QFBA is a renowned financial institution and through this partnership we are destined to script a success story in the financial landscape of Qatar. Both the institutes bring with themselves their inherent merits and together we are well placed to offer sustainable paradigms to new age financial professionals of Qatar. This tie-up will help our staff learn best practices from the best in the industry as QFBA has a significant stronghold when it comes to bringing globally leading professional courses and curate them as per the needs of Qatari financial sector requirements. By virtue of collaboration, we will be in a better position to offer our students and participants a global landscape and provide hands-on training for them to take the right decision and help their prospective organizations towards growth uptick. We are sure that this association is just the beginning of financial resurgence of Qatar.”

True to its commitment of strengthening bilateral ties and celebrating longstanding bilateral relations, Al Meera Consumer Goods Company, will be hosting Indian festival from November 21 to December 04, 2018.

The festival was launched at Al Mansoura Branch on November 21, 2018 in the presence of His Excellency Mr. P. Kumaran, Ambassador of India to the State of Qatar, Mr. Surinder Bhagat, First Secretary of the Indian Embassy in Qatar, Mr. Didier Castaing, Al Meera CEO and Eng. Salah Al-Hammadi, Al Meera Deputy CEO along with the Executive Directors. The entire festivities will revolve around Indian heritage and culture. Customers will get an opportunity to experience Indian extravaganza. All the Al Meera branches will also bear a touch of Indian heritage with special Indian flavors on display.

Commenting the occasion, Eng. Salah Al-Hammadi, Deputy CEO of Al Meera Consumer Goods Company, said: “With an aim to offer unique experiences to our valued customers, we have been taking various measures and what better way can there be to showcase the global heritage and their unique cuisines in the form of cultural fests. Buoyed by the tremendous response we received from our previous Turkish festival, this time we have brought the highly patronized Indian cultural heritage for the people of Qatar. India & Qatar trade ties go a long way and we have a greater number of Indian families residing in Qatar for a long time.”

He added, “This festival will once again connect them to their roots and will reflect a strong cultural lineage that it possesses. Such endeavors also help us in understanding peculiarities of various regions, their tastes and help us in bringing to the fore their unique culinary flavors, as all our branches in Qatar would display the rich Indian heritage by way of vibrant colors and their treasured art forms.”  

Al Meera plans to have similar other festivals in the coming months.

Hakkasan Doha will be celebrating the festive season with two exclusive signature menus from 26th November to 31st December.

The Dongzhi Festival or Winter Solstice Festival is a festival celebrated in China and East Asia during the winter months. Dongzhi, literally translated to mean ‘the extreme of winter’, is a festival designed to celebrate the return of longer daylight hours and ultimately an increase of positive energy. Hakkasan Doha has a selection of exclusive signature menus, especially designed to be shared with friends and family available throughout December.

Starting with a three-course festive menu that includes a welcome drink, Hakkasan Doha will also be serving a festive dim sum platter, Grilled tiger prawn with five spice butter cream, and Wok-fried prime rib eye beef with sanpei sauce. The experience is finally topped off with a delectable Yuzu and sesame Vacherin dessert. The menu is priced at QR 398 per person and will be available from 26th November to 30th December. Hakkasan Doha will also be ushering in the New Year with a signature New Year’s Eve menu featuring an exclusive dim sum platter, Jasmine tea smoked Wagyu beef ribs, Grilled silver cod Sha cha and truffle, along with Wok-fry lobster with chili and black bean sauce, and Hokkien fried rice. The New Year’s Eve menu is available on 31st December and is also priced at QR 398 per person for food with the option of an additional beverage package.

Hakkasan is recognized as one of the most influential Chinese restaurants in the world. The fine-dining phenomenon has a Michelin star for both of its London restaurants, including its flagship locations in Hanway Place and Mayfair. Situated at The St. Regis Doha, Hakkasan offers exclusive dining areas, with indoor seating and an outdoor terrace as well as a private dining rooms and secluded bar. All perfectly placed to celebrate two grand occasions in Doha.

Hakkasan Doha +974 4446 0170; reservation.hakkasan@stregis.com; www.hakkasan.com

Doha Festival City will celebrate the sale season with a Friday Super Sale starting from 21 November -24 November which will feature top retailers participating in this global trend worldwide. The event offers massive discounts on electronics, fashion and beauty products as well as household items.

Hosted for the second time, Friday Super Sale is Doha Festival City’s take on the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, the fourth Thursday of November, which has been regarded as the beginning of the country's festive shopping season since 1952. Top retailers participating in Friday Super Sale are Ted Baker, Scotch and Soda, Diesel, Mango, OLD NAVY, Sacoor, Bebe and the Alshaya Group. Various stores will offer its discounts from 22 November to 24 November 2018 with some offering discounts up until 5 December 2018.

Shoppers are encouraged to arrive early, to make use of the valet service and to make use of the Customer Service Desk which offers a range of services such as strollers, wristbands for children, maps, and portable chargers to enhance their shopping experience. Says May Marzooq, Senior Marketing Manager of Doha Festival City, “We are excited about the Friday Super Sale taking place at Doha Festival City. With discounts up to 70% by various retailers in the mall, this a great time for shoppers to find bargains on gifts and other items ahead of the travel and festive seasons during December and January. We look forward to welcoming shoppers to Festival City.”

For more information on Friday Super Sale and participating retailers, please visit www.dohafestivalcity.com for more information.

Manko Doha located at the InterContinental Doha, is  a sophisticated bar lounge, bringing Parisian flair to Qatar, with a chic and contemporary interior, a rooftop terrace with gorgeous views of the Arabian gulf, along with hip, energetic vibes for Doha socialites to enjoy all night long. Manko Doha offers a dynamic cocktail menu and unique Nikkei cuisine, a combination of Peruvian and Japanese influenced dishes – for an one-of-a-kind nightlife experience.

Manko Doha is the place to socialise, from sunset to late night as it turns into an ultra-lounge at midnight and boasts vibrant vibes with its distinctive DJ line-up directly from Paris. Whether guests are looking for a mid-week jaunt to ease their stresses or a weekend celebration with friends, Manko Doha is quickly becoming the venue of choice in Doha. Offering a specially curated Nikkei oriented menu, guests can enjoy this unique cuisine - a Peruvian favourite featuring ingredients from the Incas in Peru, incorporated with Japanese finesse. Manko’s Cebiche offering will also include authentic Peruvian classics such as the Clásico, a wide selection of Nigiris, and grilled items. 

The chic venue also boasts modern contemporary décor and a rooftop terrace with unobstructed views of the Arabian Gulf. “I am excited about the opening of Manko Doha as a completely new concept in Qatar and I look forward to welcoming Doha’s top socialites to come and dine and relax in a unique setting, that has never been seen before”, says General Manager and Beverage Director, Tomislav Lokvicic. Socialites in Doha can enjoy Manko’s signature cocktails all night long, including the world famous Pisco sour, specially curated by Manko’s innovative mixologists. With international DJs being flown in from Paris and an uplifting ultra-lounge concept Manko will become the venue for socialites to gather in style.

Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA), in its quest to bring newer paradigms for the Qatari executive leadership, is pleased to announce its latest exclusive product, “Powerful Leaders”, an executive coaching proposal for the thought leaders of the nation, aimed at optimizing business management capabilities.

This initiative is driven by QFBA in partnership with “executive training solutions”, entwined with the principle that every business leader has an independent vision and with little guidance, excellence can be achieved for ideal business results and growth. Drawing from its pool of learning professionals and expert practitioners from around the region and the world, custom programs are delivered using advanced methodologies. 

With such initiatives, QFBA further reiterates its commitment in taking the Qatari financial sector to the highest standards by empowering the local human capital with world-class education, thereby contributing towards the realization of an important pillar in 2030 vision, The Human Development pillar.

On this occasion, Dr. Khalid Al Horr, Chief Executive Officer, QFBA, said:

“The latest product comes within the framework of QFBA’s relentless pursuit to keep up with the latest professional development practices, to cater for senior Qatari leaders in all sectors of the economy.“

““We at QFBA ensure complete discretion and confidentiality. These are exciting times for Qatari leaders and this product will prepare them to meet the challenges of the ever-changing global economic situations. We at QFBA are armed with experience and expertise to prepare the participants in the program in taking the right direction, lead through examples and chart a growth story in tune with Qatar National Vision 2030. Together, we have the capabilities to take the Qatar economy to the next level of growth.”

This training solution comprises of seven modules, spread over the course of 3 months; it can also be tailored depending on the requirements of the participant. With the 4-step approach, the QFBA’s Powerful leader program sets goals, tailors sessions, delivers modules and sees it to the end with a comprehensive evaluation. The modules include Protocol and Etiquette of Leadership; Executive Presence; Board Meeting Management; Public Speaking; Managing Difficult Decisions; Creating Value in Organizations; and Work-Life Balance.

All modules are available in English and Arabic to cater to participants’ needs and have been carefully constructed alongside international consultants.

Heavenly Spa® at The Westin Doha  has recently been awarded with a prestigious award during the Ohlala Spa & Wellness Ceremony, which is held annually to select the best in luxury spas in Qatar through public voting, based on categories and services such as best facial, hammam, couples treatment; best spa brand, design, products, beauty and hair salons.

Among the categories this year, it has been awarded the Favorite Hotel Spa in Doha, which indicates the importance of service excellence at The Westin. Thrilled by this accomplishment, Gianrico Esposito, General Manager of  The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa, said: “It is an honor to receive such a significant award which recognizes our exceptional services. We would like to thank Ohlala Magazine for showcasing the great effort and service that our team provides.” He added: “Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank our associates who put their very best and our guests who appreciate the value we provide and we strive for more success in the future.”

As a build up to the country's preparations to mark the Qatar National Day and to share joy on this happy occasion with members of the community, Banana Island Resort Doha has launched “I Love Qatar” Friday brunch at its renowned “Azraq” restaurant. The brunch will be available on 23^rd, 30^th November and 7^th, 14^th, 18^th December 2018 from 1pm to 4pm. In addition, guests and visitors will experience a unique and exclusive cooking experience.

Through the “I Love Qatar” Friday brunch, diners will be treated to fresh produce from local farms and relish traditional Qatari cuisine and dishes that will take visitors on a sensational dining trip. This initiative by the resort is to support local Qatari farmers. Furthermore, to live the unparalleled gastro experience, guests can enjoy the vibrant live cooking stations, a selection of seafood delicacies, marinated meats with herb infused vegetables, which reflect the authentic Qatari taste and the local hospitality, alongside a wide range of appetizers, freshly baked breads and garden greens, hot and cold Mezzeh and finally indulge in a long, sweet ending Qatari dessert.

On this occasion, Andreas Haugg, Executive Assistant Manager Food & Beverage, said:” We are delighted to share with members of the community, both local and expats their preparations to celebrate the National Day.  The “I Love Qatar” Friday brunch at “Azraq” restaurant, will offer a unique experience reflecting the hospitality of Qatar to all our guests and visitors”. “The best way to celebrate the Qatar National Day and its accompanying preparations, is to recognize and to contribute in support of Qatari farmers, who play a pivotal role in this generous society, and are vital in securing the requirements of the Qatari market from vegetables to fruits, thereby contributing effectively to the local economic cycle,” Mr. Haugg added.

Fifty One East, Qatar’s favorite department store and Bose, the audio  international brand, announced the availability of the new revolutionary noise-masking sleepbuds in Qatar. The new Bose® sleepbuds can be found exclusively at Bose store located in Lagoona Mall.

Tiny and truly wireless, the new Bose earbuds combine an ultra-comfortable design with soothing sounds to block, cover, and replace the most common noises that interfere with sleep.  Bose® sleepbuds are the smallest Bose product ever made and are packed with proprietary technology.  They come with 10 pre-loaded “sleeptracks” that mirror the frequencies of snoring, neighbors, dogs, traffic, and more — hiding them beneath a layer of relaxing audio.  They feature new patented ear tips for a snug, soft, barely-felt fit, and can run for up to 16 hours.  And they solve a problem for millions of people that’s vexed a multi-billion dollar industry.

Bose sleepbuds are the first Bose product to use Bose noise-masking technology.  They aren’t active noise cancelling headphones, they’re not in-ear headphones with an added feature, and they don’t stream music — because every last detail was optimized for one thing — better sleep, all night, every night.

Bose® sleepbuds™ are a sophisticated engineering feat.  Each bud weighs just 1.4 grams, and measures just over 1 centimeter wide and high.  On their exterior is a laser-etched antenna for reliable connectivity to a phone or tablet.  Inside, there’s a rechargeable silver-zinc battery, a miniscule transducer, and a micro-circuit board with flash memory to store the pre-loaded noise-masking sound files.  Both attach to a new noise-isolating StayHear+ Sleep tip — another line of defense that creates a physical barrier to unwanted sound.  StayHear+ Sleep tips are included in three sizes.  They’re soft, pliable, and virtually weightless.  And their materials, shape and form were optimized specifically for rest, so they feel great and stay in all night, regardless of sleep position. 

Bose sleepbuds use low-energy Bluetooth®, are iOS and Android compatible, and come with the Bose Sleep app that makes it easy to update, control, and select preferences.  Users can set an alarm for the morning, choose the sleeptrack and volume that works best for their environment — and instantly hear gentle waves instead of a noisy partner, rustling leaves instead of the party next-door, smooth-turning wind turbines instead of busy city streets, and more.

Bose sleepbuds come in a brushed aluminum charging case that provides up to 16 hours of battery life unplugged — perfect for travel and overnight stays.

City Centre Rotana Doha, one of leading hospitality properties in town, is pleased to announce the appointment of Housni Al Yaman as the hotel’s new Director of Business Development. In his new role, he will be responsible of recognizing and identifying potential opportunities and partnerships that will benefit the hotel and lead to further development of business.

Al Yaman is a graduate from the Technical Institute of Hospitality at the Lebanese University. He has more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality sector during which he was responsible for sales, marketing and events. He started his professional career at the Monroe Hotels in the Lebanese capital, where he was the Cluster Assistant Director of Sales and Marketing. Al Yaman joined La Cigale Hotel Qatar, where he worked for 9 years from the pre-opening phase of the hotel in 2006 till 2015 as Director of Sales and Marketing.

Al Yaman’s long experience in Qatar has enabled him garner comprehensive knowledge about   the local market. His competence in the virtues of the local culture and traditions has been a key in understanding relationships among the various elements of the market and create new customers. Later, Al Yaman returned to Lebanon to lead the Sales, Marketing and Banqueting team at the Le Bristol Hotel for 2 years. His experience also includes Head of Business Development at Standards Consultants the leading organization in the fields of Human Resources & Business Management Consultancy, Training & Development.

Welcoming Al Yaman, Martin Kendall, General Manager of City Centre Rotana Doha said, “We are delighted to welcome a skilled and experienced hospitality expert to join the family of City Centre Rotana Doha. The vast knowledge of Housni Al Yaman in this sector is a great addition to our management team”. “In his new role, Al Yaman will be working on developing and supporting the continued growth of the hotel in Qatar with his extensive knowledge and experience in the industry and its distinguished relations in the local market and its industries’ leaders and decision-makers” he added.

Commenting on his appointment, Housni Al Yaman said, “I am delighted to join the family of City Centre Rotana Doha and look forward to working together with its distinguished team, who have accomplished and achieved multiple successes in a short period. We will all work together to continue the path of success and attain more achievements to serve the hotel and expand the network of customers and be at the good thought of every single individual visiting us”.

Oryx Rotana, the five-star luxury business hotel in Doha has launched exceptional offers till the end of the year for its guests and visitors to enjoy a unique experience in an atmosphere full of indulgence and upscale services in all of the hotel’s outlets.

To take advantage of the good weather and enjoy alfresco dining, the “Al Nafourah Garden” offers a special and viable deal all throughout the month. Known for its rich fusion menu including a wide selection of cold and hot mezzah, salads and grills in addition to wide choices of main courses and desserts, diners can enjoy a sumptuous meal from 12 pm till 2 am and revel in watching live sports matches on multiple screens. On Wednesdays, Al Nafourah Garden’s diners and guests can relish on the “Mechoui” night from 7 pm till 11 pm and spoil themselves with charcoal grilled meats and seafood, fresh Saj bread (flatbread) along with the live performance of Arabic songs and music.

Of course, family has the highest share at Oryx Rotana, Choices restaurant is inviting everybody to come and explore the last series of the Carnival Brunch. Choices will continue its fun-filled Friday with an early festive brunch on the 21st of December wherein the restaurant will be offering a wide array of international dishes, cold and hot appetizers, oriental and western desert flavors, in addition to the diverse live cooking stations and live entertainment. For music lovers, the Jazz club at Oryx Rotana is proud to introduce its new resident band “Bright Night”. The band will perform every night from 9 pm onwards except Saturdays, playing their amazing mix of pop, disco, Nova, blues, jazz, and rock beats to provide a unique experience for hotel guests and visitors.

On this occasion, Mr. Ghassan Dalal, General Manager of Oryx Rotana said: “We always strive to satisfy the taste of our guests and visitors and please them with exceptional offers and promotions. The main objective of these offers is to emphasize the hotel's status and highlight its facilities as a favorite haven for all people seeking to stay away from work stress and enjoy a special time with their families or friends.” “To make the offers more exciting and irresistible, all visitors will be entitled to a complimentary one-night stay for 2 when spending QAR 500 at any of the hotels F&B outlets” he added.

Following the success of the Taste Tour, Mall of Qatar continues to entertain the nation with the brand new Urban Experience show at its iconic Ooredoo stage. The high-energy show is live every day at 6:30pm and 8:30pm until the 8^th of December.

The Urban Experience is a Ukraine-based dance crew that has achieved extraordinary successes across the globe and collaborated with renowned artists such as Rita Ora. They are performing in Qatar for the first time with a unique 360 degree show combining styles and genres including a bike extreme act, modern street dances, break dance, and circus arts. “All the shows performed at Mall of Qatar are hand-picked to make sure our visitors enjoy a shopping experience like no other. Urban Experience is an amazing troupe of international artists which we know will inject some fantastic energy into everyone’s visit to Mall of Qatar. ” said Stuart Elder, Mall of Qatar CEO.

With an aim to bring together Qatar book lovers’ community, City Centre Rotana Doha hosted the third edition of Book Swap in association with Qatar’s prominent blog – Lemon & Mint. Hosted at the luxury hotel’s Sama Lounge on December 1, it was all about discussing the prevalent happenings in the country as well as expressing their creative pursuits. 

As always, beyond just being a great networking platform, it also propagated its corporate social responsibility (CSR) movement by dedicating this event to support Cat Assistance Team Qatar. Cat Assistance Team (CAT) is a volunteer-based cat rescue group that raises fund to support cat rescue in Qatar. During the event, the attendees donated a small fee for every book they took home and theproceeds went to Cat Assistance Team Qatar.

The entire afternoon was lit with bubbling ideas from these young minds who gathered together to discuss their like-minded interests. One of the attendees, Jennifer Rahmani said, “We had heard a lot about City Centre Rotana’s Book Swap events from our friends. Being a part of this initiative for the first time has filled me with tremendous knowledge and offered me a great learning platform. Giving this a CSR angle is yet another marvel idea by CCRD team as we believe together we have the power to change the society and such small instances can only result in a big bang transformation. In future, we would definitely be a part of the Club where we get empowered and enhance our knowledge base along with doing our bit by associating for a cause.”

On this occasion, Sena Catak - Director of Marketing & Communications, City Centre Rotana Doha, said: “Our association with Lemon & Mint blog has been extremely successful since the start. They bring tremendous insights and connect book lovers to discuss mutual interests and exchange their favorite books. The 3^rd edition was once again a huge hit among attendees as it brought them together under one platform and offered them an opportunity to be a part of the noble cause to support Cat Assistance Team in any possible way they can. We, at City Centre Rotana,

believe that such events have the power to achieve a significant breakthrough by working in cohesion for a cause. Going ahead, we will keep on taking such initiatives that compel youths to drive societal change.”

Qatar-based professional services firm KPMG held a seminar on Tuesday 4 December 2018 to shed light on the ever-evolving tax and regulatory framework in the country and beyond.

At the event, titled ‘Navigating the future’, KPMG’s Head of Tax and Corporate Services Barbara Henzen explained to over 150 tax and finance leaders that the most important part about changes to tax regimes is to be prepared, stating: “taxation is an important part of sustaining a country’s economy and an inevitable part of running a business. Whilst in Qatar, we are lucky to have low taxes; it is likely that this will change gradually in coming years as the country continues to establish itself as a global power. Businesses need to ensure that they are fully aware of, and prepared for, new and evolving taxes to avoid penalties for non-compliance and ensure that they are managing their tax obligations in the most efficient way possible.”

Salah Gueydi, Director of Tax at Qatar Financial Centre was the keynote speaker at the event and briefed guests on the developments and key changes that are occurring to Qatar’s tax landscape, discussing not only domestic but also international factors that have shaped Qatar’s tax policy so far. He also discussed the ways in which Qatar is trying to modernize its tax system and meet international standards. He stated that: “While the ever changing international tax landscape poses a challenge to tax policy makers and tax administrations, it also offers an opportunity to reassess the policies and adapt the tax regime to be fair, efficient and transparent in light of international standards. Qatar has committed to all relevant international initiatives and has implemented, or is in the process of implementing, them. We, at the QFC, are very proud to work closely with Qatar’s Competent Authority in this respect”.

Henzen and KPMG in Qatar’s Tax Director David Snowden, talked on a number of subjects including the upcoming implementation of value-added tax (VAT) and lessons learned from other countries. Henzen explained that many countries showed a lack of VAT awareness prior to implementation, resulting in many commercial disputes leading to cash flow issues due to delays or non-payment of invoices. She also noted that some businesses experienced significant challenges with offsetting the VAT they pay against the VAT they charge. Storing and submitting incorrect documentation and record keeping were also highlighted as causing issues for businesses who had not prepared effectively.

The seminar also covered Common Reporting Standards (CRS), a global anti-tax avoidance and evasion scheme issued by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which has recently been implemented in Qatar. On this Snowden noted: “With over 100 countries signing up to CRS, by implementing the principles locally, Qatar has demonstrated its commitment to ethical and transparent economic activity. There are a number of important steps that business should make to ensure that the information that they hold about their transactions and activity is accurate, safe and ethically used”. 

The seminar also covered a number of international tax developments, which could impact businesses with overseas operations including the OECD’s Action Plan to address base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) and combat aggressive tax planning, and country-by-country reporting and transfer pricing, which help to identify tax evaders and assets unethically held off-shore.  For Qatari parented groups these are very important as they have the potential to impact after-tax cash flow.

KPMG has one of the largest tax teams in Qatar, employing over 25 specialist staff, well equipped to deal with clients’ in-country and overseas tax needs.

To Celebrate the festive season, Banana Island Resort Doha has launched a variety of offers in all of its outlets and facilities. The offers are available at all its restaurants, Balance Wellness Centre and at the Anantara SPA. In addition, a selection of activities will offer guests and visitors the opportunity to witness a unique island experience filled with luxury and upscale services during this festive season of the year.

During this period, Azraq, the perfect destination for the gathering of family members and friends, is offering a variety of international dishes, seafood and live cooking stations in a private setting during the festive dinner buffet on the 24 December and the festive brunch on Monday 25 December. Furthermore, to celebrate the Qatar National Day and share joy on this happy occasion with members of the community, the ‘I Love Qatar Brunch’ at Azraq will be available on the 7th, 14th and 18th December. For the New Year’s Eve, Q Lounge will present to its guests and visitors a lavish buffet by the waterfront with delectable dishes from around the globe, including European cuisines, delights from across Asia, Indian curries and grills from the tandoor, plus mouth-watering Arabic selections.

Adding to the festivity, will be live cooking stations, fresh seafood selection, and the eastern and western sweets corner. Moreover, guests will enjoy the latest oriental and western beats played by the resident DJ. Zest Café is joining the festivity as well and six chefs have prepared a ginormous gingerbread house, which is the biggest ever made by any of the local hotels. The massive gingerbread house took 200 hours to complete, consumed 650kg of flour, 42kg of brown sugar, 25kg of ginger powder, 1200 eggs and 30 liters of milk, and will welcome kids during the entire month of December and January. Zest Café is also offering a special menu of winter foods and festive drinks during the period.

Italian food lovers are in a special appointment with Riva Restaurant, which will take them into a special culinary trip to the northern part of Italy, where they will enjoy a diverse selection of Risotto dishes and the traditional Lombardy dish served with an array of creamy recipes crafted with the finest imported ingredients. Guests can dine indoors or enjoy an amazing al fresco experience with a splendid view overlooking the Gulf. For people searching for sense of adventure, Banana Island Resort Doha is offering up to 40% discount on diving experience. The offer includes a quick theory lesson by the poolside, allowing participants to gain confidence with a practice session in a dedicated dive pool, then experience an amazing dive in the warm blue waters of the Gulf. 

To ease the stress of daily routine life, guests can head to Balance Wellness Centre and the Anantara SPA to immerse themselves in the Arab hospitality, tranquility and beauty. During December guests and visitors alike can pamper themselves with a 60-minute massage or hammam treatment and benefit from complimentary 30 minutes access to the floatation pod or infrared sauna. Moreover, Banana Island Resort Doha has initiated the ‘Festive SPA Indulgences’ program, allowing its guests to select from a range of seasonal spa packages created specifically for the festive season and available only via gift card.

On this occasion Mr. Thomas Fehlbier, Area General Manager - Qatar of Minor Hotels - owners of Anantara brand  operating the Banana Island Resort Doha, said “As the year comes to a fruitful end our humble effort is to give families and friends the opportunity to enjoy the most beautiful times during December with our best services in all the resort’s facilities, in a special ambiance and to live an unforgettable experience.”

With an aim to expand its reach, Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) Northumbria University, participated in the University Expo, which was held under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Abdul Wahed Al Hammadi, Minister of Education and Higher Education Qatar on November 28 – 29, 2018 at Qatar National Convention Centre, Doha, Qatar. This Expo offered a poised platform for QFBA Northumbria to create an awareness about its bachelor degrees to a wider audience.

University Expo Qatar is a comprehensive two-day exhibition attended by students aged 16+ who are considering their higher education options, as well as their parents and teachers. Hosting 50+ regional and international universities, colleges and vocational training centers, two live seminar rooms and a lively social area, institutes, participating at the fair, had a greater access to meet and engage with their prospective intake of students from Qatar and the wider Middle East.

On their participation, Dr. Khalid Al Horr, CEO, QFBA, said: “We are elated to have participated in University Expo Qatar as it offered a greater avenue to reach out to our prospective students across the Middle East and Qatar. Basis our discussion with these young minds, we got an understanding about their requirements, which help us in further targeting our business degrees portfolio as per their needs and buoyant market conditions. We would like to thank the organizers for taking this incredible initiative of connecting high school students with leading education providers from around the world and this platform has served us in creating an awareness about our latest offerings and our future plans in place.” “Furthermore, we plan to undergo several road shows in high schools of the country starting January next year to showcase the bachelor degrees being offered by QFBA Northumbria University. “He added.

QFBA’s partnership with Northumbria University opens a new gateway to a career in Accounting, Finance, and International Banking for the people in Qatar. In September, QFBA Northumbria University commenced its first academic year 2018-19.  Around 53 students from 12 different countries have been enrolled for the first academic year.

It's always welcome news when leading beauty brands that we've discovered abroad or online land on our fair shores. Korff Milano, the premier European make-up brand launched in Qatar recently. The brand marked its launch with an exclusive gala dinner at Marriot Hotel in Doha which witnessed the presence of a large group of dignitaries, high-profile beauty influencers and media representatives.

The Italian company, which is known for its upmarket beauty solutions in the pharmaceutical industry, will be available exclusively at Green Apple Pharmacy Doha Festival City in Qatar. Combining make-up with pleasure and scientific technology with glamour, Korff Milano aims to be the first choice for women with high standards for skin health and well-being. “Dermatological know-how applied to make-up, trusted active ingredients and extremely close attention to purity of raw materials form the basis of every single product we make. We are optimistic that the brand will be an instant hit with women looking for beauty combined with safety and efficacy,” added Alessia Mulè Consumer Marketing Manager of Korff Milano.

The initial product offerings from Korff Milano will include, make-up which will come in high-tech, highly concentrated formulas. The premium brand is hoping to use its experience and expertise in dermatological innovation and cosmetic pleasure to provide targeted solutions to women in Qatar. “We are very excited to introduce the Korff Milano collection across our stores in Qatar. Korff Milano is an internationally recognised brand and the on-going scientific research, new technology and safety and efficiency that the brand offers is in line with our core values. With its holistic approach to strengthen, empower and regenerate skin, the brand is certain to make a statement in Qatar,” said Mr. Hossam Al Kawamelh, General Manager of Green Apple Group.

“We are excited to launch in Qatar, a place known for its up-market beauty trends and high quality products. Our innovative revolutionary formulas are ahead of time which offer the perfect make-up solutions, making it an unmissable addition to the growing beauty market in the region,” said Eng. Akram Hussein, General Manager, AlTafa'ol Trading Est., the distributor of the brand in Qatar.

Featuring evoking ingredients, gentle textures and research oriented products, Korff Milano offers rare and active ingredients that not only delight the senses, but turn a beauty routine in a moment of pure pampering. Korff Milano has grown to become one of the biggest brands for make up in retail pharmacy channels, and is distributed in more than 15 countries globally.