A who’s who of the country’s hospitality sector joined Fact Qatar at Pullman Doha West Bay to celebrate the cream of Qatar’s culinary profession at the Fact Dining Awards Qatar 2024.
Guests dressed to the nines in keeping with the jazz theme and were treated to great performances from a saxophone player and other musicians to dancers and the World Freestyle Football Champion Sean Garnier before the part of the evening everyone was waiting for – the winners’ announcements.
For 2024, the awards had, once again, grown with a total of 55 categories (with more than 800 nominations) including the brand-new and hotly contested Chef of the Year Category – fully chosen by public vote, which helped the overall voting number jump from 68,000 in 2023 to almost 83,000 this year.
As always, each category had two winners. The ‘BEST’ award, determined based on an anonymous panel of industry experts, mystery shoppers and the FACT editorial team, and the ‘FAVOURITE’ chosen solely by online public votes.
And, of course, the coveted Best and Favourite overall – which were taken by Kai’s Songbird, at Corinithia Yacht Club, and LPM Restaurant & Bar – Al Maha Island, respectively.
We saved the best till the end with the new Chef of the Year category, which attracted huge excitement, being announced last. The honour for this one was taken by a delighted Frank Ponce of La Mar Doha at InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa.
Of course, the Fact Dining Awards are made possible through a great deal of hard work from our team as well as the support of our amazingly generous partners. Pullman Doha West Bay, Alfardan Sports Motors, Candela Entertainment, IEC, Gulf Crafts and Timeplan Events, Firma Events, OAO Media, Hospitality Qatar, Candeel and Home Boutique.
We owe all of them a huge vote of thanks and we are, of course, grateful to all our nominees and winners for taking part and making Qatar’s dining scene the ever evolving and vibrant mix that we all love.
Fact Qatar Publishing Director Chirine Halabi, said: “It was an honour to host so many of our colleagues and friends and I think everyone had a great night. We look forward to our annual awards as much as the industry does and, from the reaction we receive from all those in attendance, the Fact Dining Awards is going from strength to strength. I’d like to thank all our wonderful partners for their great support and, of course, all those who took part, both winners and nominees. I look forward to seeing everyone again next year.”
