– Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and Qatar Airways (QR), co-organisers of the Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) 2015, held a joint press conference today to announce the activities of the sixth edition of this much-anticipated festival, which is set to take place at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Park from 24 to 28 March 2015.

During the press conference, organisers announced the details of the festival’s promotional campaign, including a 30-second TV commercial highlighting the activities and events to be held during QIFF 2015 for pan-Arab broadcast.

"We worked hard over the past year to develop the activities of the sixth edition of QIFF 2015 so that it will be a milestone in the agenda of tourism activities in Qatar and the region," said, Rashed Al Qurese, Chief Marketing and Promotions Officer, QTA. "We expect a lot of tourists from the region to visit this edition of the festival particularly as the event will host a larger number of restaurants and exhibitors and will feature a number of unique entertainment shows."

Al Qurese added: "QIFF will bring together the world's culinary cultures in a unique event that reflects Qatar's diversity and rich culture. The festival will allow QTA to promote Qatar in the region and the world as a world-class hub with deep cultural roots."

Salam Al Shawa, Qatar Airways Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications, said: "Qatar Airways is thrilled to be part of the team bringing the sixth edition of QIFF 2015 to our friends, family and visitors here in Doha. QIFF has gained such popularity over the six years, and it is very rewarding to see so many visitors, not just from Doha, but from the entire region, enjoy this world-class food festival. We have no doubt that visitors to QIFF will appreciate all the new and exciting dishes, events and entertainment. And this year Qatar Airways is proud to host one of the most popular attractions, Dinner in the Sky, and we look forward to offering our guests the same five-star service and cuisine that they have come to expect from us during this fun event.”

The sixth edition of QIFF 2015 will group a number of zones including a Welcome Zone, reception office and a "Stage Zone," where the public, especially families, can enjoy the great range of entertainment activities. The Food Zone will host high profile restaurants offering premium food from all over the world. Delicious international dishes will be prepared at the International Zone, courtesy of Qatar’s five-star hotels. And in the Turkey-Qatar Zone, traditional Turkish and Qatari food will be made in a magnificent traditional Qatari tent.

The unique Dinner in the Sky Zone, one of the essential signature activities, will be coming back to this year's edition of the festival. This year, Qatar Airways will be the official sponsor of the Dinner in the Sky, offering ‘A Taste of Business Class’, giving guests the opportunity to experience the airlines’ five-star Business Class service. Guests can relax in the ‘Business Class lounge’ area where they will be served palate pleasers created by the airlines’ celebrity chefs including mushroom and rice fritters with mild chili and garlic sauce, from by Chef Vineet Bhatia, and black cod with miso, from Chef Nobu. Once on board, the 22 guests will be served their main course by Qatar Airways award-winning cabin crew, before finishing off their sky-high culinary experience with a delicious Ladurée dessert and Valrhona Chocolates.

The Live Cooking Zone, which includes a seating area for 100 guests, LED screens, and live feed area, will host celebrity chefs from around the world.

The High Tea-Lounge Zone includes a double-deck tent with shaded terrace: the ground floor will host food stalls, while the first floor will offer premium English, Chinese and Arabic tea at any time during operating hours.

The Instagram Market will be filled with stalls from top Qatari female chefs who are active on Instagram for live preparation of local dishes as the organisers are supporting local culinary talents and intend to promote the festival on social media channels by allowing Instagram users to exchange ideas and thoughts about QIFF 2015.

The Water Zone, sponsored by the Diplomatic Club, will include festival attendee favourites, Barbeque Donuts and Dinner on a Dhow. The Dinner on a Dhow is a perfect mixture of fine dining and a touch of local and regional culture. A traditional Dhow will be fitted out with tables, seating and buffet sections as well as barbeque and cooking facilities. Also there will be the Health Truck, an initiative launched by Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, as well as a zone to display internationally certified organic vegetables, provided by domestic Al Safwa Farm.

Singers as well as regional and international music bands will take part in the festival's entertainment shows, providing popular tunes as well as dancing and traditional shows.

The pan-Arab Fatafeat television channel will participate in QIFF 2015, with Chef Daad Abu Jaber and Chef Salma Soliman cooking delicious dishes during the event.

Qatar Museums Authority (QMA), and Qatar Events Diary (OnQatar) are sponsoring this year's edition of the festival as strategic partners for the event. Signature partners of the festival include Kempinski Marsa Malaz Hotel, the Diplomatic Club, Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels, and Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. Qatar Television, BBC Good Food, qatarliving.com, Check-Inn TV, and Fatafeat have also been appointed as media partners of the event.

The event’s cultural partners include the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, the Qatar-Turkey Year of Culture, the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), and the Doha Film Institute (DFI). QIFF also named Qatar Culinary Professionals, Grand Hyatt and Philips as Festivity Partners of the event, while The Look Company is the supporting partner of the event.

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QNE

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