IDEAS: Qatar Airways Goes Organic with New Onboard Menu

​​Qatar Duty Free has debuted Souq Al Matar – a new experiential mixed retail and dining concept – at Hamad International Airport in Doha.

The Cali Pass just got a major upgrade in time for ski and snowboard season.

Qatar Duty Free (QDF), owner and operator of all retail and catering outlets at Hamad International Airport in Doha, today unveiled Souq Al Matar – an experiential mixed retail and dining concept – at a grand opening event attended by QDF’s leadership, VIPs, international and local media, and KOLs.

State-owned Qatar Airways has partnered with barefoot luxury brand Habitas to open one of the most costly resorts in the country. The Habitas Ras Abrouq is slated to open next month with room rates starting at around $700 per night to stay in one of its 42 villas.

Qatar Airways has launched twice-weekly flights to Neom, the $500 billion anchor of Saudi Arabia’s tourism push. The first of Neom’s destinations – Sindalalah – is expected to open partially next year. For now, these two flights are intended to connect Neom staff with their families outside of Saudi Arabia.

Disclosure: TPG accepted a comped round-trip ticket from United for the SFO-CHC flight to get access to the events and executives on board. TPG paid $574.67 for a positioning flight to SFO and for other associated costs, such as hotel and ground transportation.

For most New Yorkers, Times Square is a place to be avoided at all times—especially and unequivocally on New Year’s Eve. The Ball Drop looks fun and exciting when watched from the warmth and privacy of your couch but in real life, it looks like a million people packed between police barricades and squished up against each other in the cold for way too many hours, waiting for a 10-second countdown. And there are no public restrooms.

While recently planning a trip to Aspen, which is going through its biggest winter expansion in half a century (read more here), I was chatting with a local tourism representative and told her I was going to look into flights. Her response? “You want to fly United.” When I checked, United was indeed the easiest and most affordable way for me to fly to Aspen.

Turkish Airlines flies to 345 destinations in more different nations than any other carrier in the world, with one of the newest and most acclaimed airports as its hub. It also consistently ranks among the very best airlines and just won–again–Best Airline in Europe in the 2023 Skytrax World Airline Awards, the industry’s most influential, beating out the likes of Air France, Swiss, Lufthansa, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. It also took home four other Number Ones in the awards, including Best Economy Class Seat in Europe and Best Business Class Cuisine worldwide. (I recently wrote in detail here at Forbes about another award-winning carrier, Qatar Airways, which has won World’s Best Airline and World’s Best Business Class among other titles).

Visiting downtown Chicago during the holidays has always been a cherished family tradition for many. The iconic ice skating rinks, the bustling Christkindlmarket, and the timeless charm of the Windy City create a magical atmosphere. However, this year, a wave of innovation is sweeping through Chicago's holiday festivities, introducing novel experiences that promise to redefine the city's festive spirit. As we dive into the heart of the "experience economy," these immersive activities are taking over former retail spaces on some of the city's most iconic streets. Here are several new and exciting experiences that are set to make this holiday season and beyond truly memorable.

Margaritaville at Sea’s newest flagship vessel will offer longer, 4- and 5-night cruises with stops to Key West, Cozumel, and Progreso beginning in June 2024.

A low-cost airline developed for travel within the United States now wants to go overseas.