Preparations are underway for the eighth Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) to be held at the Hotel Park from March 29 to April 8, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has announced.
This year’s Festival will stretch beyond the usual week-long period to offer residents and visitors a flavourful spring break, where culinary delights of every kind can be enjoyed, from gourmet to authentic local dishes.
Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development Officer at QTA, said QIFF is timed to fall within school holidays in the region to help attract visitors from neighbouring countries.
“In addition to bringing Qatar’s five-star food and beverage options together in one location, QIFF provides a great opportunity for residents and visitors to revel in Qatar’s wonderful spring weather, enticing cultural activities and outdoor entertainment,” said Al Ibrahim.
This is the first time the festival will be held at the stunning Hotel Park located in front of Sheraton Doha and overlooking the Corniche.
“The success of the inaugural edition of Shop Qatar has given us a strong start to 2017, and we look forward to leveraging the growing popularity of tourism festivals to drive footfall to some of the newly opened spaces in Qatar.”
In 2017, residents and visitors will be able to enjoy QIFF throughout the country with the introduction of the new QIFF Menu. Participating restaurants and cafes will be offering a special QIFF Menu from March 23 until April 8, featuring flavourful dishes at discounted prices.
The new QIFF Menu will encourage visitors and residents to enjoy the festival experience at their favourite restaurants and to discover the exciting new culinary delights, which have entered the Qatari food scene since the last edition of the festival. With four set prices of QR59, QR99, QR139, QR179 and multiple cuisines represented, the QIFF Menu will offer something special for all taste buds.
In another first for the Festival, a series of Chef’s Table events will also be held at select five-star hotel restaurants, giving residents and visitors an opportunity to enjoy special live cooking and dining experiences with internationally-acclaimed chefs.
The events will offer diners exclusive access to their favourite renowned chef, giving them rare glimpse into their cooking rituals and a seat on the dish’s journey from raw ingredients to decorated plates.
QIFF also returns this year with a new brand, with a square design alluding to the inviting table around which different people gather to nourish the body and spirit.
This edition of QIFF will be organised and delivered by QTA with the support of numerous partners representing various sectors in the country. QIFF 2017’s Strategic Partner is Katara Hospitality, a Qatar-based global hotel owner, developer and operator.
Hamad Abdulla Al-Mulla, Katara Hospitality Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are honoured to be part of eighth edition of Qatar International Food Festival and relish the opportunity to showcase Qatar’s diverse food and beverage offerings, which form an integral driver of tourism to the country. This partnership is part of our commitment to further shaping Qatar’s hospitality industry as well as an opportunity to share our passion for creating unforgettable guest experiences.”
Over the years, QIFF has grown to become one of Qatar’s most popular festivals, receiving a record-breaking 200,000 visitors last year.
In March 2016 – the month during which QIFF was held – Qatar welcomed 305,014 visitors, the highest number of visitor arrivals to be recorded in a single month.
