rki.news
By Haroon Rashid Qureshi
Editor in Chief, Rahbar Kisan International
DOHA: During a visit to Msheireb Foodhall, I met Daniel Morgan, Partner at TGP International, and interviewed him about the concept, vision and future of this new dining destination.
Bringing together nine culinary experiences under one roof, Msheireb Foodhall aims to offer a welcoming dining and social environment for families, friends and visitors from different backgrounds.
A 360-Degree Hospitality Agency
“My name is Daniel Morgan, and I am a Partner at TGP International. We are celebrating our 25th year this year. TGP International is a 360-degree hospitality agency specialising in creating and developing hospitality spaces.
“One of our strengths is our ability to build brands for others. We work across four main areas: strategy, design, franchising and licensing, marketing and operations.
“Our strategy work includes food and beverage master planning, developing strategies and conducting feasibility studies for major projects. We work with developers, master planners and landowners across the GCC, Europe and Asia.
“Design is another important area of our work. This includes interior design, graphic design and branding. Everything you see here at Msheireb Foodhall has been designed in-house by our team.
“Our third area covers franchising and licensing. We also have brands, including El Ta’koy and Cubano, that are related to TGP and have been developed by us.
“The fourth area is marketing and operations. We can develop the strategy, design and concept and then operate the project on behalf of the owner.”
Qatar’s First Internationally Operated Food Hall
“This is the first internationally operated food hall in Qatar. There are nine culinary experiences here, of which involve local partners or local brands, such as Flippin, Grab It, Bianco, and Tannour Beirut . We also work with international operators, El Ta’koy, Anara and Cubano
“El Ta’koy, for example, operates in New York, Portugal, London and Riyadh, and it is now here in Qatar. Kejia is another brand that we have brought to the market.”
Creating an Accessible Social Dining Experience
“When developing this concept with Msheireb Properties, we looked at the gap in the market. We identified a need for quality dining at a price point accessible to most people.
“We wanted to provide quality food in a beautiful and comfortable environment where people could spend time with family and friends. The Foodhall is open from breakfast through to late night, and each food offering complements the overall experience.
“We believe we have found a niche in social dining, where people can have fun, enjoy good food and spend quality time together.”
Welcoming Visitors from Every Background
“We want this concept to be open to everybody. It is not about exclusivity. Qatar has many wonderful dining options, but some can be aimed at specific markets. Here, we want to invite everyone. Everyone is welcome.
“During our soft opening last week, we did not promote the venue through the media, yet we welcomed between 300 and 600 people a day. Hopefully, we will build on that response and eventually welcome a couple of thousand visitors daily, or even 3,000.
“We want people to enjoy their experience and discover incredible food they may not have tried before. We hope they will keep coming back and exploring.
“You can see locals, families, children, people of different ages and visitors of different nationalities here. That is exactly what we want to encourage: people spending time together and enjoying the culinary experiences we offer.”
A Strong Partnership with Msheireb Properties
“Our experience with Msheireb Properties has been incredible. The leadership has been excellent. Engineer Ali has been an important supporter of this project through difficult times. Hassan, the Chief Commercial Officer, has also been incredibly supportive.
“I can only say positive things about Msheireb Properties. It is a wonderful company with a great vision and strong support.
“If I had to rate Msheireb Properties as a partner, I would give it ten out of ten. They are wonderful partners, and we are very proud to be part of the Msheireb development and to have worked with Msheireb Properties.”
A Foodhall Designed to Keep Evolving
“I hope you can come back and interview me in 20 years and ask me about the success we have achieved here.
“Food halls can have a longer lifespan than a typical restaurant because the brands can change, the space can evolve, and there can be art activations, different events and activities for families and young adults.
“New brands will be introduced, some local and international, menus evolve. In a year’s time, visitors may come in and find different food being served. There will always be something new to experience. This is not a static place. It will constantly change.”
