Qatar Tourism reveals judges for the third edition of the Qatar Tourism Awards

Qatar Tourism has revealed a distinguished ten-member jury panel of local and international experts for its third edition of the Qatar Tourism Awards. These eagerly awaited awards honour organisations and individuals known for consistently delivering exceptional tourism experiences in Qatar.

The Qatar Tourism Awards is an initiative by Qatar Tourism, developed in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), aimed at recognising individuals and businesses across the tourism and hospitality sector in Qatar for their remarkable contributions to service excellence.

The panel is tasked with carefully evaluating tourism businesses that demonstrate excellence across seven primary categories: Service Excellence, Gastronomic Experiences, Iconic Attractions and Activities, World-Class Events, Digital Footprint, Smart and Sustainable Tourism, and Community Leadership. These categories, along with 37 sub-categories, reflect key dimensions of both the visitor and resident experience.

The jury includes the following distinguished members: HE Hamad Al Mulla, Vice-Chairman of the Education, Culture, Sport and Information Committee of the Shura Council & the Chairman of the External Affairs, Political and National Security Committee of the Arab Parliament; Mr. Andrew Stokes, OBE – Visit England Director; Aurélie Bouti, Travel Content Creator; Dr. Hamad Salem Mejegheer, Executive Director SME Development at Qatar Development Bank; Gregor Rankin,  Food and Travel Magazine, Publisher & CEO; Samer Al-Kharashi, Director- Regional Office for the Middle East UN Tourism; Marcel Leijzer, Deputy Director, Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Department - UN Tourism; Dr. Abdulla Al-Mehshadi Ph.D. Eng., CEO of Al Wa’ab City; Ramzan Al Naimi, Innovation Expert and Prof. Rana Al Sobh, Dean of the College of Business and Economics at Qatar University.

Meet the Judges: Qatar Tourism Awards Panel Biographies

H.E. Hamad Al Mulla is a seasoned tourism and hospitality executive with a distinguished career spanning leadership roles at Marriott, Doha Club, and Katara Hospitality. He currently serves in senior parliamentary positions, including Vice-Chairman of the Shura Council’s Education, Culture, Sport and Information Committee, and Chairman of the Arab Parliament’s External Affairs Committee.

Samer Al-Kharashi, appointed UN Tourism Regional Director for the Middle East in 2024, brings over two decades of diplomatic experience to the role. A seasoned Saudi diplomat, he now leads efforts to advance sustainable tourism and regional competitiveness across the Middle East.

Marcel Leijzer joined UN Tourism in 2006, where he is Deputy Director, Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Department - UN Tourism. His main task is to coordinate the formulation and implementation of tourism projects related to strategy development, marketing, poverty reduction, biodiversity conservation, and capacity building. 

Dr. Hamad Salem Mejegheer serves as Executive Director of SME Development at Qatar Development Bank, leading national strategies that empower local businesses in line with Qatar National Vision 2030. With advanced degrees from SBS and HEC Paris, he also contributes to multiple boards, championing sustainable economic growth.

Dr. Abdulla Hassa Al-Mehshadi Ph.D., Eng is the CEO of Al Wa'ab City and has held several other leadership positions. He previously served as CEO of Msheireb Properties, Maintenance Manager of Qatar Fertilizer Company (QAFCO), Consultant to the Minster of Environment, Managing Director of Private Engineering Office. 

Andrew Stokes, OBE, is the Director of Visit England and architect of the £40m Discover England Fund, driving tourism innovation and SME market access through platforms like TXGB. He has led national initiatives including DMO accreditation and business recovery programmes, earning an OBE in 2023 for services to tourism.

Ramzan Rashid Al Naimi, Innovation Expert and Entrepreneur.  A certified practitioner (Level 1) in Innovation Management. With more than 23 years of experience in the media, marketing and branding industry, he founded two companies specialized in the field of design, media production, and innovation.

Prof. Rana Sobh is a Professor of Marketing and Dean of The College of Business and Economics at Qatar University. Throughout her career, she has contributed to several national and international projects and served on many local and international organizations’ advisory boards. 

Aurélie Bouti is a globally recognised French travel content creator, known for her immersive storytelling and creative campaigns with top tourism boards. With over 5 million followers, she has been ranked France’s number one travel influencer since 2023 and the world’s best in 2025.

Gregor Rankin is the award-winning Publisher and CEO of Food and Travel magazine, globally recognised as the leading title in gastronomic travel. With a track record of successful media launches, he co-founded the magazine and its international editions, events, and acclaimed Reader Awards.

The carefully selected panel of judges will evaluate submissions expected to surpass last year’s total of over 800 entries from across the sector. Winners will receive extensive promotion locally, regionally, and internationally to enhance their visibility. The winners of the third edition of the Qatar Tourism Awards will be revealed during a formal ceremony taking place in November 2025.

The Qatar Tourism Awards is open to all businesses and individuals in the tourism sector. The Awards is a benchmark for excellence, highlighting the nation’s top tourism offerings, services and innovations and outstanding achievers. It is a chance to help set the standard for the tourism industry and recognise those who elevate Qatar’s tourism reputation on the global stage. Winning the prestigious Qatar Tourism Awards is a demonstration of excellence that strengthens brand equity, shapes businesses or careers and to gain nationally and internationally recognition.  

Submissions are a simple process where the applicants need to answer 5 unique questions and attach supporting documents. The application portal launched on May 19, and the deadline for applications submission is August 7^th, 2025.

For application guidelines and more information, please visit https://www.qatartourism.com/en/service-excellence/qatar-tourism-awards or email QTAwards@visitqatar.qa