Hamad International Airport (HIA) was ranked second in the Top 10 International Airports in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2017 readers' survey. The magazine’s World’s Best awards recognise the greatest airports, islands, cities, hotels, and cruise lines as voted by its 4.8 million readers and has been on-going annually for 22 years. HIA comes a close second to winner, Singapore’s Changi Airport.
With the runner-up position, HIA takes the lead in the global race of best international airports, along with South Korea’s Incheon International, Hong Kong International, Zurich Airport Switzerland and Haneda, Tokyo International Airport.
Competing airports were ranked according to their ease of access, security, variety of food and beverages options, shopping experience and design. HIA ranked very high on all criteria and scooped the 2nd place based on its unique Vitality Wellbeing and Fitness Center as well as its world-class sculptural art curated in partnership with Qatar Museums.
Commenting on the ranking, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al Meer, Chief Operating Officer of Hamad International Airport, stated: “HIA is a young and ambitious airport. We are extremely proud of what we have achieved in a short period of time with a dedicated team and supportive partners. We value our passengers’ trust and recognition of our continuous effort to provide them with the best travel experience and our endeavour to remain among the leading airports in the world. The votes we received from the Travel+Leisure magazine’s readers are a testament to HIA’s commitment to providing five-star services.”
HIA is investing in new technologies in order to deliver on its Smart Airport vision. Looking ahead, HIA will be soon starting trials to evaluate the effectiveness of robots for passenger facilitation; block-chain technology for rapid and secure sharing of data across stakeholders; and the potential use of augmented and virtual reality for operational concepts.
Arts & Culture is a high priority for the airport and is one of the most appreciated feature by passengers, as demonstrated by the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2017 readers' survey. The airport houses work by international artists such as Dia Azzawi, Ahmed al-Bahrani, Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Tom Otterness, Anselm Reyle and Bill Viola. HIA, in partnership with Qatar Museums, is planning to unveil additional art pieces in the coming months.
HIA is thriving to offer passengers a seamless, hassle-free travel journey with five-star services. With cutting-edge technology, a strong cultural programme combined with the best hospitality and retail offering, HIA is turning into an innovative and immersive visual and sensorial experience, positioning the airport as a ‘destination on its own’.
HIA has been recently classified as a five-star airport by Skytrax, making it one among only five other airports in the world to achieve this prestigious status. Earlier this year, it was ranked Sixth Best Airport in the World by the 2017 Skytrax World Airport Awards, moving up four places from 2016. HIA has also won the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ title for three years in a row and ‘Best Staff Service in the Middle East’ for two years in a row.
Source Travel and Leisure
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