Qatar Airways Opens New Louis Vuitton Lounge at Doha Hamad
The carrier has partnered with the luxury fashion brand to unveil the Louis Vuitton Lounge by Yannick Alléno within the newly-opened Al Mourjan Lounge
by Lauren Smith
June 1, 2023
Qatar Airways continues to redefine luxury travel experiences with its latest unveiling at Doha’s Hamad Airport. Adding an extra touch of opulence to its already lavish Al Mourjan Lounge, the airline has partnered with renowned fashion brand Louis Vuitton to create an exclusive lounge within a lounge.
This collaboration promises an unmatched level of sophistication and indulgence for discerning travelers. In addition, to enhance the culinary delights, acclaimed chef Yannick Alléno has curated an exceptional dining experience.
Defining a new level of luxury with @qatardutyfree at the opening of the world’s first Louis Vuitton Lounge at @HIAQatar 🌍✨ #QatarAirways #HamadInternationalAirport #Doha pic.twitter.com/uv55fJP19i
— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) May 23, 2023
The newly opened section, The Garden, is a testament to Qatar Airways’ commitment to providing unparalleled comfort and luxury. Spanning an impressive 7,000 square meters, The Garden offers an array of amenities, including a day spa, 24-hour quiet rooms, a gym, and more, ensuring that travelers’ every need is catered to in style.
Hamad International Airport’s second Al Mourjan Business Class lounge opened in April, with its day spa, 24-hour quiet rooms, gym, and other amenities spread across 7,000 square meters.
There’s plenty for well-heeled guests to do in the lounge, boasting a game room, meeting rooms, and multiple dining venues. But if they want to engage in a favorite airport pastime – shopping – they don’t have to venture into the terminal: Qatar Airways and Louis Vuitton have brought a luxury storefront into the lounge.
The concept is officially known as the Louis Vuitton Lounge by Yannick Alléno, and it’s accessed through a special elevator at the rear of the Louis Vuitton duty-free store and from within the Al Mourjan lounge.
The glass-enclosed lounge has been furnished with gold-hued, cafe-style seating, including designer furniture pieces such as Costela armchairs by Martin Eisler and India Mahdavi low tables. Guests can recline and sip premium beverages from the bar, including top-shelf spirits, Veuve Champagne, and cocktails.
Special Michelin Star-Rated Menu
The menu has been curated by French chef Yannick Alléno, who’s been awarded 16 Michelin stars across his portfolio of restaurants and delivers meals on par with his flagship, three-star Parisian eatery Alléno Paris.
He told the Moodie Davitt Report, “When you are in the airport, I think you need something else than just a simple café or bistro. You have to be sure that wherever you come from in the world, you have what you need. And, you know, Qatar has become the hub of the world.”
“We have good food, sustainable food, so we work with local fish, and we have some very nice products. And the touch of Arabic food is very important for me because I know it well. I worked for the King of Morocco for 15 years.”
The exact dishes haven’t been formally announced, but the press was given a taster during the opening event this week. They reported sandwiches, poke bowls with caviar, and sushi and sashimi.
Louis Vuitton doesn’t miss an opportunity to make its mark anywhere in the lounge: its monogram is grilled onto the sandwiches and even carved into the carrots.
Unlike in the broader lounge, you’ll have to pay for the food and drinks at the Louis Vuitton Lounge. Prices haven’t been disclosed but are unlikely to discourage the wealthy clientele of Louis Vuitton or Al Mourjan lounge guests.
The Louis Vuitton Lounge is open to Louis Vuitton VIPs—frequent high-spenders—as well as guests of the Al Mourjan Lounge. That includes Qatar Airways passengers with First and most Business Class tickets (those on Business Class Lite fares won’t pass muster).
Qatar Duty-Free Senior Vice President Thabet Musleh told The Moodie Davitt Report that the collaboration was a testament to Hamad International Airport’s strength and unique profile.
“This is extra special,” he said. “To have a 16-star Michelin chef like Yannick Alléno and the world’s number one luxury brand like Louis Vuitton to trust you and to do something of this magnitude just speaks volumes of the team here and what they do and how they operate.”
Although Louis Vuitton operates stores at dozens of airports worldwide, including two at Hamad Airport, this is its first-ever airport lounge. However, like many luxury fashion houses, the French company has been diversifying into hospitality over recent years.
The airport lounge is its ninth culinary project since 2020, including its first permanent restaurant, Sugalabo V in Osaka; pop-ups at other stores; and a chocolate shop in Tokyo. Louis Vuitton is also in the process of converting its corporate headquarters in Paris into an extravagant hotel.
The Louis Vuitton Lounge and wider Al Mourjan Garden Lounge are located within the Orchard, a verdant shopping area in Concourse C, open since November 2022.