Oman's artists and designers are being invited to create a brand-new first class and business class amenity kits for Oman Air. The winning designs will offer Oman Air's premium customers an ideal collection of amenities — including toiletries and grooming products — within a bag or box which expresses the very best of Omani culture, creativity and innovation. Invitations were issued to Omani craftsmen registered with the Public Authority of Handicrafts, members of Sidab Women's Group and Omani members of the Omani Society for Fine Arts, which is affiliated with the Diwan of Royal Court. The design competition was formally launched at a press conference, held at Grand Hyatt Muscat. The event was attended by Oman Air's Executive Vice President — Products and Brand Development, Abdulaziz Al Raisi and Executive Vice President — Corporate Services & Business Development, Abdulrazaq Al Raisi, besides a number of other senior officials. They described the nature of the challenge, the timescale for the competition and the important part that Oman Air's amenity kits play in the premium passenger experience. They also invited designers to view an accompanying exhibition of previous and current amenity kits, and to gain an insight into the anticipated specifications of the new designs. The competition will be judged by an expert panel drawn from a range Oman Air's departments. Abdulaziz Al Raisi commented: "Oman Air is delighted and honored to invite the cream of Omani artists and designers to create our new First and Business Class amenity kits. "The kits will not only enrich Oman Air's inflight hospitality, but will also showcase Omani craftsmanship and creative innovation upon the world stage. "As the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, Oman Air is committed to working with local Omani businesses, supporting our national heritage and investing in Omani creative talent. The competition we are launching today initiative underlines that commitment, as well as illustrating the importance we place on every detail of our passenger experience. "The winners will receive appropriate recognition and see their designs go into production before they become an integral part of our First & Business Class service. We look forward to receiving a large number of submissions." Oman Air's amenity kits have an illustrious history. Both First Class and Business Class kits have won numerous awards, including Gold and Silver accolades at the prestigious TravelPlus Airline Amenity Bag Awards in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. For many years, a key element of the kits has been their range of Amouage toiletries. Amouage is an Omani perfumier which has attracted an international reputation for its exclusive luxury products. As Oman's national airline, Oman Air's partnership with Amouage has been a natural fit, and this design competition continues the carrier's commitment to celebrating Omani achievements. Furthermore, the development of new amenity kits complements the Oman Air's current ambitious program of fleet and network expansion. This will see the airline operate 70 aircraft by 2020, of which 25 are anticipated to be long haul, wide-body jets. The new amenity kits will be offered to Business Class passengers on these aircraft, alongside newly-designed, spacious and comfortable seating, sumptuous cabins, state-of-the-art inflight entertainment and onboard connectivity, and award-winning standards of service. Al Raisi continued: "Since Oman Air launched its expansion program late in 2014, we have invested significantly in every aspect of the passenger experience. Not only have we updated our internationally-acclaimed aircraft interiors and onboard technology, but we have also paid close attention to every detail of our customers' journeys, from booking their tickets to arriving at their destinations. "Amenity kits are an important part of that experience. They allow premium customers to leave their own washbags and vanity cases in their hold luggage, whilst remaining confident that they will touch down looking and feeling great. But we also want our amenity kits to help customers to understand more about the culture of the Sultanate of Oman and the boundless talents of its people. That way, Oman Air's amenity kits will become more than a valued travel souvenir. They will also become an invitation to find out more about Oman, to spend some time in the country and to enjoy its remarkable beauty."
