AHIC award winners revealed
AHIC 2011 has revealed the recipients for the major leadership categories, as chosen by the AHIC Advisory Board, made up of fifty hotel stakeholders, key investors and governmental representatives from across the Middle East and Africa.
HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum will receive the ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’, Gerald Lawless, executive chairman of Jumeirah Group, has been chosen for the ‘Leadership Award’, and Nasser Al Nowais, chairman of Rotana Hotel Management Corporation (Rotana), will be presented with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’.
The AHIC Advisory Board has chosen HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman, Dubai Airports, president of Dubai Department for Civil Aviation and chairman & CEO, Emirates, as the winner of their newly-created ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’, in recognition of the role he has played in supporting the tourism industry in Dubai and across the region during the global economic downturn.
Under his guidance, Emirates Airline and Group has grown from being a regional airline with just two leased aircraft and three destinations, to an acclaimed international airline with a fleet of more than 100 aircraft and as many destinations across six continents. Emirates is today the world’s fastest growing intercontinental carrier. Sheikh Ahmed’s vision and planning has also helped Dubai maintain its role as one of the most important tourist hotspots in the region, with continuing visitor growth in 2009 despite the global economic downturn and further accelerated increases in 2010.
Sheikh Ahmed said: “I am very pleased to receive the Award, which is a reflection of the hard work and commitment shown by everyone involved in Dubai’s hospitality industry as we emerge from the global economic downturn. The continuing growth seen by the emirate, and the increased global profile for the region as a whole, means the outlook is extremely positive going forward.
Jonathan Worsley, chairman of Bench Events which co-organises AHIC, commented: "The ‘Outstanding Achievement’ Award was created by the Advisory Board in order to express their appreciation and acknowledgement of Sheikh Ahmed’s support and vital role during the economic downturn.
“I would also like to thank HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum for his continuous and invaluable support over the years in his role as Patron of AHIC, which has helped it become the number one business platform for the region’s hotel investment market.”
Gerard Lawless, executive chairman of Jumeirah Group, was chosen as the recipient of the AHIC 2011 ‘Leadership Award’ for his success in driving the Group forward in its ambition to become one of the most distinctive and innovative hospitality groups in the world. Since joining in 1997 Mr. Lawless has played an integral role as it has built a world-class portfolio of hotels and resorts including Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah and Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai, Jumeirah Essex House in New York and Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London. In 2011 Jumeirah Group expects to open more than six new hotels, in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, the Maldives, Germany, Shanghai, Azerbaijan and Kuwait.
The AHIC 2011 ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ will be presented to Nasser Al Nowais, chairman of Rotana Hotel Management Corporation. Al Nowais founded Rotana in 1992, in partnership with Selim El Zyr, and has helped build it the leading regional hotel management company within the Middle East and Africa. It has rapidly expanded from just two properties in 1993 to an expected total of 70 properties by 2012.
The winners will be receiving their awards during The 7th Annual Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), which will be held from 30 April – 2 May 2011 at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.
The Nomination process for the other AHIC 2011 Award will be opened online during February 2011.