The Grand Opening of Qatar Travel Mart 2021 took off

The Grand Opening of Qatar Travel Mart 2021 took off exactly how we envisioned, with the inauguration by Minister of Commerce and Industry, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Qassim Al-Abdullah Al-Thani, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive – His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, Co-founder & General Manager of NeXTfairs – Mr. Rawad Sleem, Vice Chairman of Al Hattab Holding – Mr. Abdulaziz Saad Al Kaabi, and Acting Chief Executive Officer of Katara Hospitality – Mr. Andrew Humphries. H.E. Akbar Al Baker also graced stage and presented a keynote speech with topic of “The Importance of Tourism for the Qatar National Vision 2030 and The Developments and Remarks in Qatar” to inaugurate QTM Conference. Following him, we had Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Museums - Mr. Ahmad Musa Al Namla, who presented a keynote speech as well. 

The business program of the fair is very intensive, including keynote and panel discussions of the leaders sharing their insights on travel and tourism:  

• Dr. Cristina Ortega Nuere, Chief Scientific and Operating Officer, World Leisure Organization (WLO)  
• Rick Enders, Cluster General Manager, JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha  
• H.E. Ridwan Hassan, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the State of Qatar  
• Nigel Fell, President, World Tourism Association for Culture & Heritage (WTACH)  
• Philippe Francois, President, World Association for Hospitality and Tourism Education and Training (AMFORHT)  
• Ariella Kageruka, Head of Tourism and Conservation, Rwanda Development Board  
• Florian Sengstschmid, CEO, Azerbaijan Tourism Board  
• Mr. Khurshid Ahmed, Manager - Retail & Non-Motor of Qatar Insurance Company 

Visitors were also invited at our Global Village in the evening to enjoy the cultural performance from Indonesia, Thailand & Russia from 5pm till late.