Qatar Airways celebrates CBR launch

QATAR Airways stamped its mark on Canberra last night at a gala held at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra for some 400 VIP guests, including Travel Daily, to herald the introduction of its new Doha-Sydney-Canberra route.

Emceed by TV personalities Matt Doran (from Seven Network) and Natarsha Belling (from Network Ten), the event gave travel trade partners the chance to mingle with QR executives including ceo Akbar Al Baker, celebrities, govt and CBR Airport officials, politicians, Qatar embassy officials, key corporate accounts and media.

Continuing Qatar Airways’ track record of bringing out the big-guns of the entertainment industry to celebrate new routes in Australia (eg, Kylie Minogue for its Sydney flights), the gala’s headline act was ARIA award winner and Australia’s 2018 Eurovision entrant Jessica Mauboy.

Local agents have embraced Qatar Airways’ entry into the nation’s capital, especially because of its commitment to offer an appealing daily service from the outset, albeit through Sydney.

Deb Long from Weston Cruise & Travel welcomed QR’s entry into Canberra, telling Travel Daily the route would provide better connectivity for her clients, not only onto Qatar Airways’ extensive network, but also enabling Canberrans to tap into the destination portfolio offered through the oneworld global alliance, of which Qatar Airways is a member.

FLANKED by Qatar Airways cabin crew are Sue Graham, Helloworld Travel; Dennis Alysandratos, Consolidated Travel; Adam Radwanski, Qatar Airways senior manager Australasia; Stacey Seeto, Flight Centre and Tom Manwaring, Express Travel Group.

ORIENT Travel Centre’s Bassam Elsadik and Mustafa Elsadik, Qatar Airways’ with Dianne Biviano and Justin Kestel, and cabin crew.

JIM & Jenny Cooper of Quenbeyan City Travel with Lida Alevizos, senior sales exec, Qatar Airways.

AARON Glaskin, Corporate Traveller; Chris Wilks, Flight Centre Travel Group; Lida Alevizos, Qatar Airways; Demi Kavaratzis, Expedia and Rob Dell, HRG Australia.

DEB Long, Weston Cruise & Travel with Qatar Airways’ commercial manager Justin Kestel and marketing manager Australasia Dianne Biviano.

AMONG the celebrities attending the gala were Kerri Anne Kennerley (right) and Anna Heinrich & Tim Robards.

NO, THERE was no duet - Qatar Airways ceo Akbar Al Baker welcomed guests.

JESSICA Mauboy lit up the stage.