< PreviousHOTELIER MIDDLE EA ST | November 2019 | Volume 18 Issue 11 40 Highly Commended Nominee Reema Ali AlShehry, Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel & Convention Centre Shortlist: Ahmed Amin, Time Nozha Beach Aqua Park Hotel & Resort, Egypt Jiji Varghese, Hyatt Place Dubai Hotels Navin Shah, Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel Youssef Michael Rizkalla, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai The Finance Person of the Year at the 15th Hotelier Middle East Awards went to Mohamed Farouk Ali, InterContinental Riyadh. Ali is known amongst colleagues for his tech savvy and innovative thinking and he impressed the judging panel with the new cost management tool he created. The system is now used by 40 IHG hotels spread over four countries. Ali also initiated a new recruitment/payroll system which automates payroll management, headcounts. The system proved so successful that it was implemented in six hotels in KSA central, leading to significant savings for the cluster. “The key to my story is if you are passionate, and you work hard, you can get anything that you dream of,” he said following his win. The award was presented by ITP Media Group’s head of revenue, Gavin Dickenson at the ceremony which was held at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai. FINANCE PERSON OF THE YEAR INTERCONTINENTAL RIYADH MOHAMED FAROUK ALI HOTELIER MIDDLE EA ST | November 2019 | Volume 18 Issue 11 41 Highly Commended Nominee Habibur Rahman, TIME OAK Hotel & Suites, Dubai Shortlist: Cleatus George, Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai Karam Almordaa, InterContinental Abu Dhabi Hotel, Abu Dhabi Mary Silantoi Masikonte, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai Nora Ahmed Al Ali, Al Ahsa InterContinental Hotel, Al Ahsa Roderick Asahan, InterContinental Regency Bahrain Sitora Rasulova, W Dubai - The Palm, Dubai Tanaka Mungwashu, Crowne Plaza Duqmm Yasser Mohammed Alamri, Millennium Al Aqeeq Hotel, Madinah Mohammad Al Khsabah from Mövenpick Resort Petra won the Co n c i e r g e/G u est Services Person of the Year title at the 15th Hotelier Middle East Awards. Khsabah impressed the judges because he designed, implemented and monitored a bespoke behaviour pattern at the Front Desk that increased not only the guest satisfaction but also boosted the hotel upselling programme. Unfortunately he couldn’t attend the award’s event, so his team collected the award on his behalf. Speaking about why Khsabah was the right choice, his team said: “Mohammed is a real legend and I don’t think there is anyone else who deserves this award as much as he does. He has been working in the front office for more than 20 years now. He recently became the front office manager at the property. He is a very patient person, a trait that is very important for a concierge.” Cedric Scherer, general manager for City Sightseeing Dubai presented the award at the ceremony which was held at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai. CONCIERGE/GUEST SERVICES PERSON OF THE YEAR CATEGORY SPONSOR MÖVENPICK RESORT PETRA MOHAMMAD AL KHSABAHHOTELIER MIDDLE EA ST | November 2019 | Volume 18 Issue 11 42 Highly Commended Nominee Anu Mohan, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh Shortlist: Awad Nasib Jamaan Adit, Crowne Plaza Resort Salalah Fadi Al-Chami, Crowne Plaza Sohar Nathida Klangmontri, Sofi tel Dubai The Palm, Dubai Nikesh Naik, Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, Dubai Tareq Bdaiwi, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Al Thuraya City The Fitness/ Spa Person of the Year at the 15th Hotelier Middle East Awards went to Daryn Berriman from InterContinental Fujairah Resort. Berriman was recognised by the judges for constantly learning about the company and making sure that both he and his team become ambassadors of their property. This nominee is always full of solutions and new ideas, engaging guests by catering activities to their various needs. Commenting on why he has excelled in his field, he said: “Like any hotelier, it’s about being a people person and taking care of the team as much as you can.” Berriman also took the opportunity to underline his holistic approach to fitness saying: “Around the world, wellness is expanding so quickly. There’s a lot that properties are doing to address this and some hotels are doing it better than others. Exercise is always there but a healthy approach to nutrition is key.” The award was presented by Cedric Scherer, general manager for City Sightseeing Dubai at the ceremony which was held at JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai. FITNESS/ SPA PERSON OF THE YEAR CATEGORY SPONSOR INTERCONTINENTAL FUJAIRAH RESORT DARYN BERRIMAN HOTELIER MIDDLE EA ST | November 2019 | Volume 18 Issue 11 43 Highly Commended Nominee Haidar Dabaeen, InterContinental Muscat Shortlist: Amjad Mohammad, Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City Azel Castillo Casianan, Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai Mahmoud Saad, Bab Al Qasr Hotel and Residence, Abu Dhabi Mohammed Qaraqish, Media One, Dubai Mohammed Sharaf, Accor Makkah Salim Abdullah AlShukairi, Crowne Plaza Sohar Swatti Khanna Das, Crowne Plaza Bahrain Tofayel Ahmed, InterContinental Jeddah The Sales Person of the Year at the 15th Hotelier Middle East Awards went to Rabia Shaheen from Taj Dubai. The judges were won over by Shaheen’s ability to nurture client relationships through innovative ideas and delivering results above clients’ expectations. They described her initiatives as “out of the box,” noting that she doesn’t quit until she delivers the required results, and she achieved impressive revenue growth last year. Shaheen won because she is not simply an asset to overall sales, but is also helpful in other areas of the company, such as leading training modules and promoting green initiatives within the hotel. Shaheen commented on her win saying: “Taj Dubai has really transformed me to the person I am today and I think to be recognised for this award is great…. What I have achieved has been through the support of my team, it all goes to the team.” The award was presented by Seyar Shunnar, business development manager of GM (Chevrolet). SALES PERSON OF THE YEAR CATEGORY SPONSOR TAJ DUBAI RABIA SHAHEENHOTELIER MIDDLE EA ST | November 2019 | Volume 18 Issue 11 44 Highly Commended Nominee Katie King, The Queen Elizabeth 2 Shortlist: Ali Jani, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort Eunice C. Fernando, InterContinental Muscat Sayad Ibrahimli, Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, Hilton Al Hamra Resort, Al Hamra Residence & Village Shereen Almonoufy, Holiday Inn Kuwait Shrutti Vellody, Millennium Hotels & Resorts Mid- dle East & Africa Talah AlSecait, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh Cristiano Moulin from The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah won the Marketing & PR Person of the Year at the 15th Hotelier Middle East Awards. While the competition was tough, the judges unanimously decided on Moulin as the winner. Not only does he mix creativity with strategic thinking, but also leads by example and has developed the business to drive ROI, built up the resorts’ reputation and has delivered excellent content. Moulin has gone above and beyond and even enrolled in a course to learn Mandarin in order to help him interact and engage w ith Chinese inf luencers and the media. “I was shaking after receiving the award. It truly is an honour, to win especially when the rest of the nominees are so talented!” said Moulin. “The team plays an important role in mak ing a good marketing personnel. It isn’t a one-man show and this w in is a team effort,” he added. Seyar Shunnar, business development manager of GM (Chevrolet) presented the award. MARKETING & PR PERSON OF THE YEAR CATEGORY SPONSOR THE RITZ-CARLTON RAS AL KHAIMAH CRISTIANO MOULIN HOTELIER MIDDLE EA ST | November 2019 | Volume 18 Issue 11 45 Highly Commended Nominee Cedric Darthial, Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai Shortlist: Daniel Hillier, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai Dominic Petzold, Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, Dubai Gilles Arzur, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, Dubai, UAE Mohamed Husain Samara, InterContinental Regency Bahrain Steven Smalley,Hilton Dubai Jumeirah and Hilton Dubai The Walk Sudqi Naddaf, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Thony Renard, Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC Winfried Helmetag, Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai The award for Executive Chef of the Year at the 15th Hotelier Middle East Awards went to James Knight-Pacheco, Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman. Knight-Pacheco impressed the judges with his outstanding food philosophy and using his innovative style to create a culinary experience. He is a role model to his team, teaching them to think of food as a human experience and carving a professional chef out of all his team members. He is committed to balancing the brand service standards and financial goals and is a leader in the food and beverage industry. Unfortunately Knight-Pacheco could not be there to accept his award in person but Six Senses Zighy Bay general manager Aaron McGrath accepted it on his behalf. Commenting on why Knight- Pacheco was deserving of the accolade, McGrath said: “A great executive chef is someone who is more than just a great cook. It’s someone who is a fantastic leader of people. The award tonight really goes home to the Six Senses Zighy Bay team who stood behind the chef and who made this happen.” The award was presented by Sam Tucker, head of man power services at Transguard Hospitality Services. EXECUTIVE CHEF OF THE YEAR CATEGORY SPONSOR SIX SENSES ZIGHY BAY, OMAN JAMES KNIGHT- PACHECOHOTELIER MIDDLE EA ST | November 2019 | Volume 18 Issue 11 46 Highly Commended Nominee Grant Budde, Queen Elizabeth 2, Dubai Shortlist: Baris Molvali, Jumeirah Mina A’Salam, Dubai Gorjan Kandikj, Media One, Dubai Hemant Shekhawat, Taj Dubai Khalid Al Bulushi, Crowne Plaza Duqm, Oman Simon Slim, Holiday Inn Kuwait Sreejith Purushan, Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek Daniel Follett took home the top food and beverage prize at the Hotelier Middle East Awards 2019, claiming the awards for F&B Manager of the Year. Based at Atlantis The Palm in Dubai, Follet has overseen yet another successful year for the hotel which has launched a number of brands over the past 12 months. These included the partnership with Solutions Leisure to launch the entertainment concept Wavehouse, and the relaunch of the famous Cantonese restaurant Hakkasan. Following the closure of Yuan at the hotel, Follett facilitated the relocation and reopening of Hakkasan within two months, resulting in an increased average spend of 38%. Follett spoke to Hotelier Middle East following his win at the rock star-themed awards held at JW Marriott Marquis on October 23, and said: “We’ve had a busy year, we’ve done a lot. We’ve forged some great relationships with a lot of brand partners, opened up some amazing restaurants, and really paved the way to have some new and exciting food and beverage at Atlantis, The Palm.” Follett received his coveted award from Sealand Pacific’s Marina Buznikova. F&B MANAGER OF THE YEAR CATEGORY SPONSOR ATLANTIS, THE PALM, DUBAI DANIEL FOLLETT HOTELIER MIDDLE EA ST | November 2019 | Volume 18 Issue 11 47 Highly Commended Nominee Grecia Kreis, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai Shortlist: Akshay Bajaj, FIVE Palm Jumeriah, Dubai Anita Strother, Zabeel House Al Seef, Zabeel House MINI & Al Seef Heritage Hotel Haitham Heyasat, InterContinental Abu Dhabi Hassan Shah, Crystal Plaza Hotel, Sharjah Kilian Bucher, Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, Riyadh Marko Milojevic, Taj Dubai Mira Yamout, Millennium Hotels & Resorts Middle East Shrey Grover, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, Dubai The prize for Young Hotelier of the Year at the 15th Hotelier Middle East Awards went to Moritz Frings of Grand Hyatt Dubai. Frings won because he achieved record-breaking years leading the leisure team in his hotel, always prioritising growth within the team, by providing both guidance and expertise in a field where he excelled. The judges noted his creativity and out of the box thinking as key factors contributing to his win, and were impressed with his attempts to challenge, motivate and empower his team. Frings commented on his win on the side lines of the awards: “Being a young hotelier means to be empowered. I’ve always been empowered, throughout my career. That’s why I believe I’m here today. “The key is always to continue learning and to continue to better myself. And that does not only mean to learn from my leaders, but also to learn from my team, which is what I do on a daily basis. I listen to what they have to say, and I try to empower them to become young leaders.” The award was presented by Charizma Osite, brand manager of San Pelegrino and Aqua Panna at Bid Food. YOUNG HOTELIER OF THE YEAR CATEGORY SPONSOR GRAND HYATT DUBAI MORITZ FRINGSHOTELIER MIDDLE EA ST | November 2019 | Volume 18 Issue 11 48 Highly Commended Nominee Mohammed Salim from InterContinental Regency Bahrain Shortlist: Arshad Sooppy, Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, Muscat Derick Busingye, Sofi tel Dubai The Palm, Dubai Hassan Al Jarat, Movenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea Ikram Hunzai, Crowne Plaza Duqm Mustafa Abdellah, Movenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate, Dubai Nishant Tyagi, InterContinental Muscat Peter Warwick, Queen Elizabeth 2, Dubai Monirul Islam, the gardener at Al Bustan Palace, Oman received the Unsung Hero of the Year at the 15th Hotelier Middle East Awards. This category received 47 entries, all of extremely high calibre, making it very tough to get the shortlist down to 10. But what impressed the judges was that Islam was someone who devoted more than 20 years of his life elevating gardens and providing grounds maintenance in various four and five-star hotels in Oman. Islam, couldn’t make it to the awards so Mukhtar Al Maskari from the hotel receive it on his behalf. Speaking about why Islam deserved this award, Maskari said: “Islam is very hardworking. He has made the gardens of Al Bustan what it is today. As part of our property we also grow in-house vegetables and he is the one who is responsible for all of that. We are very happy and grateful that he makes such a big difference to our hotel.” Maskari added: “It is very important to celebrate people behind the scenes. Most of the times these unsung heroes are doing such good work and we don’t notice them, so it is great that this award category exists.” UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR CATEGORY SPONSOR AL BUSTAN PALACE, OMAN MONIRUL ISLAM HOTELIER MIDDLE EA ST | November 2019 | Volume 18 Issue 11 49 Highly Commended Nominee Anne Scott, W Dubai - The Palm, Dubai Shortlist: Aaron McGrath, Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman Antoine Flouty, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn Al Thuraya City, Kuwait Azar Saliba, Jumeirah Mina A’Salam, Dubai Cornelia Erhardt, M Hotel Downtown by Millennium, Dubai Fathi Khogaly, Grand Hyatt Dubai and Hyatt Place Dubai hotels Jan Hanak, Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek Klaus Assmann, Sofi tel Dubai Downtown, Dubai Ranjit Phillipose, Taj Dubai The award for General Manager of the Year at the 15th Hotelier Middle East Awards went to Al Bustan Palace, Oman’s Katrin Herz. Aside from earning the title of Oman’s first female general manager of a hotel, Herz has been a driving force in the popularity of her property. Her vision means more and more international tourists are coming to Oman and she has been pivotal in ensuring the development of the next generation of hospitality leaders. Not only is Herz an exemplary hotel manager but a role model for aspiring hoteliers. Herz hopes that her win will inspire others, saying: “I think it’s a big honour especially at Al Bustan Palace, such an iconic property for Oman. I appreciate the trust that the owners and Ritz-Carlton put in me. ” Speaking about what defines a great GM, she added: “No day is like the other but if you love what you do and you can bring the energy and positivity and the team spirit into your property, it makes a big difference for the guests as well as the ladies and gentlemen who work with me every day.” Shaerif Fahmy, country director for the UAE from Diversey was on hand to present the award. GM OF THE YEAR CATEGORY SPONSOR AL BUSTAN PALACE, OMAN KATRIN HERZNext >