The winners celebrate their achievements The winners celebrate their achievements

The stars of the Middle East’s hospitality industry were recognised for their dedication and achievements at the Hotelier Middle East Awards 2011 last night.

Five hundred hotel professionals gathered at the Al Johara Ballroom at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai for the seventh edition of the Hotelier Middle East Awards, held in association with Ronai.

Hoteliers from some of the world’s best hotel chains were named among the winners, including Jumeirah, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt, Marriott and Movenpick.

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Taking two of the most coveted titles were Robert Kunkler of Madinat Jumeirah, who was awarded General Manager of the Year, and Abdulkareem Muradi, security officer, Crowne Plaza Bahrain, who was named Hotelier’s Unsung Hero of the Year 2011.

Kunkler was recognised by the independent panel of judges for his unfailing commitment to his colleagues, extensive hotel experience and sustained year –on-year improvements in both customer feedback and financial gains.


Ultimately, the judges said the win came down to his people-oriented approach — this year alone he has promoted more than 600 colleagues.


On winning the award, Kunkler said: "I’m extremely happy. The hotel industry has made Dubai known throughout the world and within Dubai we have some of the finest hotels, restaurants and resorts worldwide.

"What makes this resort and others so successful is the Arabian hospitality we’re able to offer – that is why Dubai is one of the prime destinations people come to on business or leisure and a huge driver of its success. Tonight has been a good example of that great Arabian Hospitality."

Muradi was declared the Unsung Hero 2011 for a series of achievements against the odds, overcoming his physical disabilities to score several promotions and recognition from the Ministry of Labour in Bahrain for his outstanding work.

He received a standing ovation as he took to the stage to claim his well-deserved award.

Muradi said: “I have been at Crowne Plaza Bahrain for four years. I don’t know what to say but I am too happy to speak. This is the first time I have won an award like this. I would like to thank His Majesty the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the Hotel Crowne Plaza.”

Another highlight of the evening was the announcement of the second ever Hotelier Middle East Team of the Year Award.

The winner was Jumeirah Beach Hotel, which beat runner-ups Rosewood Corniche Hotel, Jeddah and Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, Dubai to first place.

Collecting the award on behalf of the hotel, general manager Margaret Paul said her team stood out above the rest for being "dedicated and committed" and for the way the team "pulled together across all departments."

Paul added: “Jumeirah Beach is a very, very special place — it’s the flagship hotel in our portfolio and it's renowned for its hospitality, its friendliness and for the colleagues who have served with us over the 14 years at the hotel so we have a very special team of people at the hotel”.

 Hotelier Middle East, part of Dubai-based ITP Business Publishing, received more than 700 nominations for the awards.

The top nominations in each category were then whittled down to a shortlist of five and a team of judges, each with their own areas of expertise, was tasked with picking the winner and highly-commended nominees from each category.

Commenting on the success of the 2011 awards, ITP business group editor hospitality and Hotelier Middle East editor Louise Oakley said: “The calibre of the winners celebrated at last night’s Hotelier Middle East Awards was the highest to date. Each winner was not only a consummate hotel professional, but an ambassador for their hotel and role model for their peers.

“I would like to offer my personal congratulations to all the winners and to every highly commended nominee.”

To see a full list of winners, please click through to the next pages...