Latest posts by Martin Moodie (see all)
Prepare, as they say, to be amazed.
On reclaimed land in Doha, the capital of Qatar, where a few years ago (see picture above) there was open sea, a truly great international airport is fast taking shape.
Yesterday I had the privilege of walking around New Doha International Airport (NDIA), a state of the art facility that will become fully operational in 2013, and which promises to bring a new dimension to the whole passenger experience.
Such days represent the great moments of this job, ones that make all the jet lag and late hours worthwhile a million times over. There is nothing like being with the team responsible for a new airport, or new retail development (in this case both), to get a real understanding of the vision, the passion and the skill that drives our business.
My day began with a rare opportunity to catch up with Qatar Airways’ super-charged CEO Akbar Al Baker, the human dynamo who is powering NDIA to completion. That interview will appear in our Cannes print edition but here’s a flavour of what’s to come (in the interview and at the airport): “We want a world-class facility. We will not compromise on quality. I think when you put everything together, there will be no airport of that high standard.” As the remarkable Al Baker’s track record testifies, he doesn’t make promises he can’t keep. Watch this space.
Before heading to NDIA with Qatar Duty Free Senior Vice President Keith Hunter and his team, I took a brief tour of the Oryx Galleria – a lovely new boutique designed exclusively for Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club members to redeem their Qmiles.
The store offers over 600 branded products, spread over two floors and located within Qatar Airways’ expanded corporate offices close to the existing Doha International Airport. It’s an excellent innovation that grows revenues and gives passengers an alternative redemption option aside from flights with Qatar Airways and partner airlines.
[Have Ducati, will travel: Martin Moodie with Qatar Duty Free Senior Vice President Keith Hunter (right) , Marketing Manager Devesh Kuwadekar (left) and Senior Consultant Alan Edwards (second left)]
[Qatar Duty Free Senior Vice President Keith Hunter (right) and Marketing Manager Devesh Kuwadekar chat through the Qmiles retail proposition]
Then it was a short 5km drive to NDIA, on with the hard hats (below) and a fascinating walk around a vast facility that will include squash courts, swimming pools, a full-fledged spa, magnificent cultural attractions “a museum-come-airport” as Mr Al Baker described it) and, of course, a profoundly ambitious retail and food & beverage offer.
[With Keith Hunter and Kevin Farrow of Qatar Duty Free outside NDIA]
[Kevin Farrow points out how NDIA is taking shape]
Keith and his team must have done this tour countless times but you wouldn’t know it, such is their immense enthusiasm for the project. They have gone to extraordinary lengths to find new and compelling concepts for an airport that will eventually have 40,000sq m of retail and food & beverage space, including I promise you some of the most innovative ideas yet seen in our industry.
I’m not going to spoil the surprise now. We’ll be providing more details as we track this story in coming months. These are exciting days in Doha and it’s been fantastic to be caught up in it all.
Martin this is looking really exciting I cant wait to read the Cannes edition and see the full detail