Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Qatar was recently voted as the “Best Airport in the Middle East” at the 15th Annual Global Traveler’s GT Tested Reader Survey Awards in Los Angeles.

The award recognises outstanding performance and customer service displayed by airports across the world.
 
HIA’s vice president of commercial and marketing, Abdulaziz Al Mass, accepted the award during the gala reception at The Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills on December 12. Recognizing HIA’s success in delivering the highest standard of service to its travellers, the Global Traveler’s awards are highly sought after and respected as an unbiased reflection of the best in travel through an open-ended reader survey.
 
Commenting on the award, Engineer Badr Mohammed Al Meer, chief operating officer at HIA, stated: “It is truly an honour to be awarded the “Best Airport in the Middle East” title by Global Traveler for the second consecutive year. Since our opening, we have displayed an unwavering commitment to providing the best passenger experience and customer service excellence, which is increasingly being recognised by the international community. We thank Global Traveler for this outstanding recognition and our passengers for their continued support and confidence in HIA.”
 
HIA continues to redefine the passenger experience through comfort, convenience and leisure, with state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities all housed within its expansive terminal. HIA recently started offering on-the-go spa services for departing or transferring passengers at the airport with ‘Be Relax’, an international well-being and beauty service provider specialised in airports. Located in the North Node of the airport terminal, near concourses D and E, ‘Be Relax’ provides passengers with massage services, manicures, pedicures, and shower facilities in a calm and serene environment away from the airport hustle. The airport also has the Vitality wellness spa with a range of spa treatments and facilities, a swimming pool and for travellers that enjoy staying active during their journey.
 
The airport will also be launching an upgraded version of the HIA Qatar mobile app soon, a state-of-the-art iBeacon enabled app that enables HIA customers to access everything airport-related at the tips of their fingers. The app, already featuring an interactive map, navigation, real-time flight information, airport services and facilities information, and retail outlet information and promotions, transforms the way travellers engage with airport services. By simply searching “coffee” or “handbag”, the app offers a list of all outlets offering the products of interest along with a turn-by-turn navigation to reach the destination. The app also alerts travellers of ongoing sales and promotions with wayfinding, ensuring the traveller makes the best out of their shopping experience at HIA.
 
The airport also continues to curate memorable luxury and retail experiences for its travellers. Last month, Hamad International Airport, Qatar Duty Free (QDF), the airport’s award-winning retail partner and Parfums Christian Dior launched a Dior Maison de Parfums Podium at the airport. The podium offers HIA customers an immersive and multisensorial experience with a 360 -degree screen, encompassing them with beautiful aromas and transporting them to the south of France, introducing them to Dior places of inspiration, creation and expertise.
 
Since 2004, Global Traveler is a well-known luxury publication in the US, recognised globally with a high readership of frequent luxury business and leisure travellers, informing passengers about five-star airports, airlines and hotels. Global Traveler’s yearly surveys are well acknowledged in the industry and include the First- and Business-Class Survey and Leisure Lifestyle Awards amongst others. - TradeArabia News Service