Gulf STAR Group launches BQ Plus Internationally

BQ Plus, the new monthly lifestyle magazine from Gulf STAR Publishing – part of the Gulf STAR Group – which was launched in April this year, also had international launches in New York, Dubai and Bologna in April and May at various events Gulf STAR Group participated and was awarded in.

Mr. NaveedAbdulla, Business Director of Gulf STAR Group, launched BQ Plus at the 30^th International Quality Summit Convention New York 2016. The ceremony, at Times Square New York Marriott Marquis Hotel Convention Center, was attended by companies from 72 countries, together with leaders from different business fields, professionals from the worlds of economics, the arts and corporate image, quality experts, as well as academic personalities and representatives from the diplomatic corps.

The launch issue cover of BQ Plus featured MutazBarshim, one of Qatar’s most successful-ever athletes and the winner of the Olympic bronze medal at London 2012, who is now preparing for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. BQ Plus, Qatar’s new Lifestyle magazine, celebrates the flavour and flair of life in Qatar, and takes readers on a journey through the nation’s sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. Each issue serves as a popular resource for can't-miss events, local shopping tips, health and beauty, restaurant hot spots, recreation resources and profiles of people who live and work in Qatar’s communities.

At the launch is New York Mr. Abdulla said: “It’s an honor to be present among business delegates and world leaders from across the globe while presenting the International copy of our latest publishing title the BQ Plus to Mr. Jose E Prieto, President of BID Group during the 25^th year celebrations of Gulf STAR Group. I take this opportunity to thank the Emir of Qatar, and all the government officials for supporting the Business Initiatives and for the vision 2030 masterplan for Qatar. And finally all thanks to our team at Gulf STAR who have always exceeded expectations year on year and my heartfelt appreciation to Mr. P.K Abdulla, Managing Director, Gulf STAR Group, a true visionary and motivation to our generation. And applaud the team work initiated by Mr. Nishad Abdulla, Operations Director, Gulf STRA Group”.

Qatar’s new lifestyle magazine was also launched at two very prestigious events in Dubai in May by Mr Abdulla. BQ Plus had an unveiling at the Middle East Hotel Awards in the presence of more than 400 hoteliers from the Middle East who attended the awards ceremony held on 24 May, 2016 at the Palazzo Versace Dubai. Mr. Abdulla was called upon to present the Middle East copy of BQ Plus to Mr. Gary Williams, Director of the Hotel Awards at the grand ceremony graced by the presence of all the key officials from the Middle East Hotel Industry.   

Following this launch, BQ Plus was also introduced at the Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2016 Middle East & Africa that were held on 26 May at The Conrad Hotel in Dubai. The Awards ceremony saw the participation of over 825 companies from 49 countries in the region and had 201 winners. Mr. Abdulla was called upon to present awards to the winner for Africa, Lebanon and for Qatar at the ceremony.

In April, BQ Plus was unveiled by Mr. Abdulla at the 100^th birth anniversary celebrations of Ferruccio Lamborghini in Bologna, Italy during the three day centenary celebrations hosted by Tonino Lamborghini, dedicated to the International Lamborghini Clubs and the closer friends of the family, to remember not only what his father did, but also what he represented to the Italian industry. Gulf STAR Group’s STAR Hospitality division is the exclusive distributor for Tonino Lamborghini Luxury Beverage products in Oman, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

BQ Plus will also be launched in Hong Kong, Mumbai, London and Cannes in the next few months. This is the second title from Gulf STAR Publishing, who are based in Qatar and also publish a business magazine – BQ, Business in Qatar and Beyond – that will celebrate its third anniversary in July this year. BQ magazine is the recipient of the MENAA 2015 Customer Delight Award at the event held at Burj Al Arab, Dubai.

Published monthly, BQ magazine is a bilingual (English and Arabic), industry specific business-to-business magazine with a Qatar and GCC focus that covers 22 sectors in every issue. Launched in July 2013, the magazine’s readers – besides thought leaders and decision makers in the GCC region – include think tanks, academics and experts in the Middle East, Europe and the Americas who also regularly contribute to BQ.

BQ’s articles regularly attract huge traffic to the website (bq-magazine.com) and at times have crossed two million people on Facebook and tens of thousands of people on other social media platforms; media attention abroad such as appearing on TV in India, Hungary and Egypt and various major international news outlets (Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, among others), who retweetBQ’s articles, thus resulting in global promotion of the BQ brand name on a frequent basis. BQ’s articles have also attracted interest from academia and researchers, who often cite them are resources for the GCC region.

BQ magazine partners with over 50 leading local, regional and global conferences and exhibitions thereby introducing businesses featured in the magazine to these industry-specific audiences – investors, partners, business opportunities. These include conferences like the recent Milan Expo, MIPIM in Cannes and Euromoney London, IBTM among the global ones with more partnerships being established with WTM London, among others. Regional ones include Cityscape; ADIPEC; AIM; ATM, Big 5, World Refining and Petrochemical Technology Summit, Euromoney among others. Almost all of the leading ones in Qatar like Project Qatar, Hospitality Qatar; Qatar Transport Infrastructure, Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition, among several others. BQ magazine also works closely with Ministries and other governmental institutions in Qatar to help promote events they host regionally as well as globally.

Gulf STAR Publishing has plans to launch several new titles in the near future considering the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be hosted in Qatar.