ST REGIS DOHA, QATAR – The first day of World Luxury Expo, Doha and the fourth edition of the World Luxury Expo series, opened today at the magnificent St Regis.
The event was officially opened by Mrs Ebtihaj Al Ahmdani, board member of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and chairperson of the medical and educational committees, the first Qatari woman to hold this position. She received the Forbes award as the Arab world’s most powerful woman in 2006 and again in 2008 and she was ranked as 19th on the list of the most influential women in the world by Forbes Middle East. Mrs Al Ahmdani was recognised as the most influential women in the field of family businesses in Qatar in 2013.
Mrs Ebtihaj was very impressed by the standard of the exhibits and embraced the event with great enthusiasm.
World Luxury Expo showcases a selection of the world’s leading luxury brands in one spectacular venue from 14-16 November 2013.
Tareq Derbas, General Manager at The St. Regis, Doha, says “We are looking forward to hosting World Luxury Expo, Doha, which we believe will become an annual signature event for Qatar. Our unrivalled personalized service and philosophy to provide a truly bespoke experience is a signature of The St. Regis Doha and we look forward to extending this to exhibitors and invited guests.”
Comments Vincent Corver, Manager of Steinway Piano Gallery, CDC – Qatar, “CDC’s Lifestyle Select concept in Qatar is presenting Steinway Lyngdorf at the Pearl Qatar. A Hi-Fi product of a visionary ambition and uncompromising quality commitment – a shared dream which brings Steinway & Sons, makers of the world’s finest pianos for 160 years, and Peter Lyngdorf, one of the most forward-thinking audio innovators of our time, together. We embrace music and our desire is to bring its pinnacle of enjoyment into the homes of our discerning clientele.”
The World Luxury Expo series has steadily gained momentum and status in the region, having recently concluded three successful events, the first at Burj Al Arab, Dubai in January, the second in February at the palatial Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh and the third edition took place at EmiratesPalace, Abu Dhabi in September 2013.
‘Out of this world’ luxury travel is being showcased by Space Expedition Corporation (SXC) who are presenting a 1:6 scale model of the SXC Lynx Mark 1 spaceship. Something for the luxury traveller who aspires to an “out of this world” experience by crossing the ultimate boundary into space.
From 2014 on, Space Expedition Corporation (SXC) will perform daily commercial flights into space. SXC offers participants a life-changing experience in viewing our planet Earth from 100 kilometers high. Plus, having been at that altitude, they can rightly be called astronauts. XCOR Aerospace in Mojave, California, USA, designed and built the Lynx spacecraft, which will perform the space flights.
Comments Michiel Mol, Founder and CEO of Space Expedition Corporation, “SXC is proud to be the launching customer of the Lynx, which comfortably takes off and lands like a normal airplane, from regular airports. The flexibility of the Lynx spacecraft enables operation from almost any commercial airport. Most likely, the Curacao airport in the Caribbean will be the first location – and Spaceport – outside the USA. XCOR and SXC have sold over 250 tickets so far.”
Kashperia will be launching the world’s finest and most expensive Guthrah Shawl at World Luxury Expo, Doha. This is a limited edition collection of only 10 pieces made from 100% pure Vicuna wool which is hand-spun, hand-woven and handmade with intricate motifs from the Babylonian era. Vicuna wool is sourced from the higher reaches of Peru (above 14,000 feet) and the animal sheds its wool only once every three years. It takes the wool from three animals to make one Guthrah Shawl. The diameter of this wool used by Kashperia is 11 microns (the human hair is only 15-100 microns).
The Official Formula 1 Opus BERNIE Edition was revealed to Qatar at World Luxury Expo, Doha. This iconic collector’s piece is valued at US $1,000,000 and will be presented by Opus Media Group, the luxury publisher that produces premium, limited edition publications, in official partnership with leading names in the world of sport, entertainment & fashion.
The BERNIE Edition is 1/1, a bespoke Champions Edition Opus, but it will entitle the holder to unique access into the world of Formula One for the 2014 race season. The holder will receive, for each day, of each race in the 2014; four passes for the Paddock Club, the ultimate in hospitality; two Paddock passes, which are exclusively for the teams or invite only; the chance to have ‘Tea with Mr. E’; and invitations to the exclusive evening events, such as concerts and Black tie parties. This is money can’t buy access into the world of Formula One. As the holder of the BERNIE Edition the owner is also able to transfer individual passes if they themselves choose not to attend.
A selection of rare lithographs and etchings of the biggest names in 20th century art is on display at World Luxury Expo in Doha, presented by Peyronnet Art.
Highlights include etchings of the prestigious Vollard Suite executed by Pablo Picasso, the “Crying Girl” by Roy Lichtenstein (recently showcased in the Lichtenstein exhibition in Museum George Pompidou in Paris) as well as original Chagall, Miro and Fernando Botero lithographs.
This is a wonderful opportunity to engage with some genuinely special pieces of modern art history.
A grand Bentley Mulsanne will be one of the magnificent luxury vehicles presented by Al Wajba Motors at World Luxury Expo, Doha. “The Mulsanne is a thoroughly modern flagship that captures the essence of the Bentley marque. It is elegant yet distinctly sporting in character, delivering effortless performance while within its sumptuous cabin, advanced technology sits discreetly with handcrafted luxury.” Comments Bentley Motors Regional Director, Chris Buxton.
The World Luxury Expo series has steadily gained momentum and status in the region, having recently concluded three successful events, the first at Burj Al Arab, Dubai in January, the second in February at the palatial Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh and the third edition took place at EmiratesPalace, Abu Dhabi in September 2013.
A selection of other luxury goods and services that invited guests can look forward to viewing at World Luxury Expo, Doha include the world’s most expensive soap by Khan Al-Saboun Bader Hassoun and Sons, the Official Formula 1 Opus BERNIE collectors piece, specialist marine charter service company, Ship & Crew, European luxury homeware, Devine Design, Steinway Piano Gallery, specialist custom-made motorbikes by Custom Shop, award-winning 4K home cinema projector and 4K BRAVIA television by Sony, luxury travel services by La Conciergerie du Qatar, rare 22-carat gold tea by Qirat Tea, Hamilton Grand luxury golf residences at the world famous St. Andrews golf course, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Mercedes-Benz, to name but a few.
Following the Doha edition, World Luxury Expo will return to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi in 2014, creating an annual signature series of events in the GCC region.