Thousands throng Hotel Park on first weekend of QIFF

Thousands of food enthusiasts thronged the Hotel Park to savour a wide variety of delectable cuisines at the eighth Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) on its first weekend yesterday.
Apart from enjoying the food, many of those who visited the festival were happy and satisfied with the new venue saying it is a breath of fresh air after having the festival at the MIA Park for several years.
“It is is actually my first time to visit the Hotel Park. I didn’t know about it until now and I’m quite impressed of how the surrounding areas look from here. The view is beautiful,” said Marty, a frequent festival visitor.
Boasting a four-storey underground parking that can accommodate 2,500 cars, amazing water features and play areas and a breathtaking vista of the West Bay high-rise towers and the Doha Corniche, the Hotel Park, which Katara Hospitality opened last year, has the potential to be another most visited attraction in the city.
“Located in the heart of Doha, just fronting the iconic Sheraton Doha Park and adjacent to the Corniche which is always busy with people walking around, I think the Hotel Park is a perfect spot to visit during weekends. I will be coming back here often,” he added.
There is a wide array of food and beverages on offer at food stalls and carts of around 130 participating outlets which visitors enjoyed at affordable prices ranging from QR5 to QR35.
“We were not able to go out last weekend because of the rain and today is a fine day ideal for family outing and we chose to come to the festival because it has food and entertainment which the whole family enjoys,” said Mohan, who came to the festival with his entire family.
“This festival is something that I look forward to because it only happens once a year and I’m happy that it is longer this year so people have more time to enjoy the outdoors while the weather is still okay,” said Bernard, a frequent festival-goer.
In addition to the food stalls, there are a number dining options which foodies enjoyed at the festival such as garden picnics brought to the festival for the first time by Fraser Suites, the high tea and fine dining lounge by Sheraton Doha and Dinner in the Sky by Four Seasons Doha.
Film screenings, cultural performances, pyrotechnic displays, live cooking demonstrations and workshops add vibrancy to this year’s edition of the festival expected to attract 240,000 visitors including tourists from neighbouring countries. QIFF has become one of the most popular festivals on Qatar’s calendar receiving a record-breaking 200,000 visitors last year.
In March last year – the month during which QIFF was held – Qatar welcomed 305,014 visitors, the highest number of visitor arrivals to be recorded in a single month.