Second win in a row for Jumeirah Hospitality team

Jumeirah Hospitality picked up the gong for Events Catering Team of the Year at the Caterer Awards 2013 held last night at the Ritz-Carlton DIFC.

In the 2012 Awards, Andy Cuthbert, general manager C&I, Jumeirah Hospitality at Madinat Jumeirah won Events Caterer of the Year, but this year it was time to recognise the entire team with the new Events Catering Team of the Year Award, sponsored by Du.

The team of 460 chefs plus 24 additional team members was recognised for its efforts in being able to handle large-scale, prestigious events which in the last year have included the Dubai International Film Festival, the Khalifa Port Opening and the Race to Dubai event, each ranging from 2000 people to 10,000 people.

“It's a massive win for the team, there's so much that goes into it from every single department and this award just proved how much of a team everybody is because it's not one single person or one single department, it's a team effort," said Jumeirah Hospitality’s assistant events director Emily Shaw, who received the Award from Rangarajan Kalyanasundaram,director loyalty & retention (large enterprise marketing), commercial at Du.

Among the team is a diverse range of no less than 60 nationalities meaning cultural expertise can be offered in a range of events. In addition Jumeirah Hospitality has implemented the necessary tools to be able to quickly and effectively manage the warehouse operation with a vast selection of equipment suitable for each of its events.

MMI bar trainining and development manager Rebecca Sturt, one of the judges of the Caterer Awards 2013, said: “When you’re talking prestige, you think Jumeirah.”

She was supported by director of culinary arts, Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, Michael Kitts, who added: “Jumeirah is as good as it gets with outside catering. The scale of what they do is phenomenal.”

Coming in at a close second was The Ritz-Carlton DIFC’s events team which was commended for its swift approach at capitalising on the volume of events taking place in the DIFC area. Judges particularly liked the hotel's innovative approach in appointing a ‘CCS Concierge’ for each event as a ‘central communicator between CCS, Banquets, Culinary and Client,’ to ensure smooth communications and the highest levels of service. It was also commended for its attention to detail at each event.

“I quite like the idea of the lipstick gazpacho – I think I may need a few of those at my next party,” commented Caterer editor, Hannah Abdullah.

The Dubai World Trade Centre, The Hilton Doha Conference and Events Team and the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek also shortlisted in this category.