State of Qatar awarded in 12th annual World Travel Awards

"This award is a great honour for Qatar and Qatar Tourism Authority," says H.E. Mr. Akbar Al Baker Chairman of Qatar Tourism Authority. "The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) market has been proven to be a positive growth sector for Qatar. With Qatar's excellent meeting facilities, hospitality, infrastructure and security, the country is well-positioned to high quality events.

The Doha Convention Bureau (DCB), an initiative of Qatar Tourism Authority's, acts as a first point of contact, a booking facilitator and plans and monitors the dates of all events and supports the development of MICE infrastructure. Qatar has already successfully hosted many world class events, including the 9th Islamic Summit 2000, Qatar Gas Conference, the World Trade Conference Meeting 2001, QSI Conference, the Institute of Travel and Tourism' Annual Conference 2004 and the WTTC Global Travel and Tourism Summit in May 2004 and more recently the G77 Summit and Qatar International Medical Congress in 2005.

In addition to the many five-star hotels offering conference facilities, major events are hosted in the Qatar International Exhibition Centre which has been operational since 1991. It occupies a site of 82,000 square metre, with an indoor exhibition hall of 10,000 square metre, 8,000 square metre outdoor exhibition area and ample parking. Plans to further develop this sector have already commenced with the construction of Qatar Foundations' 7000 seat convention centre located in Education City.

"The prominence of Qatar as a quality destination, for leisure, business, education, sports and the MICE market is becoming ever more apparent. With rapid development of Qatar Airways both in route expansion and its place as a 5-star airline will enhance Qatar's profile and connectivity worldwide.

The next few years will see Qatar evolve into a significant tourist hub and MICE destination in the Middle East."

concluded Mr. Al Baker.