Destination Doha
Announcing The Trinity Forum 2019
Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways, and Qatar Duty Free will host the world’s leading airport commercial revenues conference on 30-31 October next year in Doha, Qatar.
“We look forward to extending Qatar’s warm hospitality and culture to all guests at next year’s Trinity Forum.”
Those were the words of Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive His Excellency Akbar Al Baker as he looked ahead to the 2019 edition of the world’s leading airport commercial revenues conference, which will take place in Doha, Qatar, on 30-31 October.
At a recent meeting in Doha, Al Baker and The Moodie Davitt Report Founder and Chairman Martin Moodie signed a partnership agreement for the event (pictured below), which will see Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways, and Qatar Duty Free host the Forum.
Hamad International Airport Chief Operating Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer and Qatar Duty Free Vice President Operations Thabet Musleh were also present at the signing ceremony to commemorate a landmark moment. It is the first time the event has been hosted in Qatar and also the first time an airline has featured in the hosting line-up.
The Trinity Forum, which was first held in 2003, is a joint venture between The Moodie Davitt Report, Airports Council International (ACI) and ACI Asia-Pacific. It seeks to improve dialogue and mutual understanding between airports, concessionaires and brands to the benefit of that critical fourth party – the travelling consumer.
“We are delighted to be bringing The Trinity Forum to Qatar for the very first time,” said Al Baker. “This important event will bring the industry’s key leaders, retailers and brands from around the world to Doha, to not only improve and build on the dialogue between airports, concessionaires and brands to benefit passengers, but also to showcase our world-class airline, airport and duty free offering to conference delegates.”
Badr Mohammed Al Meer commented: “We are proud to collaborate with The Moodie Davitt Report, ACI World and ACI Asia-Pacific in hosting The Trinity Forum in Qatar for the first time. As we gear up for what is set to be an exciting future for the industry in the region, we look forward to sharing our expertise and working with all those involved to usher in a new era of opportunities that redefine the airport and travel experience.
Spirit of partnership: From left to right, Hamad International Airport Chief Operating Officer Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer; Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker; The Moodie Davitt Report founder and Chairman Martin Moodie; and Qatar Duty Free Vice President Operations Thabet Musleh.
Musleh added: “Hosting The Trinity Forum in Qatar for the first time reflects our ongoing commitment to retail innovation and excellence. At Qatar Duty Free, we work hard to enhance the passenger experience in everything that we do, and work closely with all our brands and partners to continuously innovate to create lasting and memorable experiences.
“Hosting an event of this calibre in Doha aligns perfectly with our vision at Qatar Duty Free, and we are delighted to be partnering with The Moodie Davitt Report, ACI World and ACI Asia-Pacific to bring the industry’s leaders to Doha for this world-class Forum.”
Moodie called Hamad International one of the world’s great airports and said Qatar Airways was an “extraordinary success story of modern aviation”.
“We are delighted to bring The Trinity Forum, the world’s most influential airport commercial revenues conference, to the Middle East region and in particular to Qatar, a shining example of the pursuit of airport retail and commercial excellence,” he said.
“We are proud to partner with such outstanding organisations and with Qatar Duty Free, which so epitomises our industry’s drive for retail and consumer service excellence.
“Since its launch in 2003, The Trinity Forum has grown from strength to strength with each edition. The most recent event held in Shanghai, which saw record attendance, was testimony to the importance all sectors of the industry place on the need for a Forum which champions collaboration, innovation and excellence, debates key issues and questions industry shortcomings.”
Moodie said there were exciting plans to grow the event in 2019, including an extended focus on food & beverage, as well as the changing face of airport retail and other consumer services.
“Our hosts for next year’s Trinity Forum, Hamad International Airport, Qatar Airways and Qatar Duty Free, have constantly pushed the boundaries of retail excellence, innovation and customer service,” he added. “We look forward to working closely with our hosts and co-organisers, ACI World and ACI Asia-Pacific, on The Trinity Forum 2019, which will once again bring together industry leaders, positive disruptors and thought leaders from across the globe.”
ACI World Director General Angela Gittens commented: “The consistent growth of this Forum is testament to the appetite from our members, retailers and suppliers for more collaboration and innovation in the commercial space. We are grateful to The Moodie Davitt Report team and world business partners for all their collaboration and support over the years we have worked together on this event.”
ACI Asia-Pacific Regional Director Patti Chau said the unique blend of ancient culture and progressive modernity would make Doha “the perfect place” for the annual meeting.
“The Trinity Forum brings together the crucial triumvirate of airports, concessionaires and brands,” said Chau. “It has also been a couple of years since ACI Asia-Pacific’s regional assembly was held there and we have missed the Qatari hospitality. Our host, Hamad International Airport, together with Qatar Duty Free and Qatar Airways are stalwart innovators in our industry, and we look forward to working with them to bring the Trinity Forum to Doha next October.”
The Moodie Davitt e-Zine | Issue 253 | 3 December 2018