With just one month to go until the Hotelier Middle East Awards are held at the world’s tallest hotel, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai on October 30, it is time to unveil the shortlist.
In total, 90 hoteliers across 18 individual awards categories have been shortlisted, along with five hotel teams for the coveted Team of the Year Award.
Here we unveil the finalists for the Concierge of the Year Award, one of the most competitive categories historically, which was last year won by Gerardo Gabat from Kempinski Mall of Emirates.
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Joseph Verschuren, assistant manager concierge, Grand Hyatt Dubai
ABOUT JOSEPH
Joseph Verschuren previously worked for a tour operator in Amsterdam before joining Hyatt Regency Dubai & Galleria as guest service officer in 2010. He has since progressed up the ranks, promoted to assistant manager concierge at Grand Hyatt Dubai in 2012, responsible for managing, training, developing and scheduling the concierge department including bellmen, doormen, valet and concierge.
WHY WAS HE NOMINATED?
Due to associate movements within the hotel, Joseph was appointed to lead the entire concierge team as assistant manager, overlooking a team of over 50 employees, for the last seven months. Joseph has taken the initiative on a range of projects, including introducing measures to control guess newspaper requests to achieve multiple goals of saving the environment plus reducing cost of newspapers. He improved employee engagement from 8 out of 10 to 9 out of 10 and achieved target guest satisfaction scores.
WHAT DID HIS TEAM SAY?
“ I am so happy that Joseph is my manager, because is friendly and always smiling. He takes good care of our team and asks about our family and life in Dubai. I have learnt many useful things from him such as how to talk to guests from different cultures and how to present myself better.” Selva Kumar, Bell Attendant
WHAT DID HIS GUESTS SAY?
“Many thanks to Joseph Verschuren for everything. Joseph took the time to listen to our concerns and most importantly took action were needed. It must be a great pleasure for the hotel management to have an employee like Joseph. I travelled to Dubai with my family of 25 relatives and he made sure we were all comfortable.” Abdullah Ibrahim
Please click through to next page to find out who else is shortlisted…
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Oct 22, 2013 , United Arab Emirates
It?s with great pleasure and joy to hear the news from one of my favorites that I ever met in my work life. It says he has been short listed to be one of nominees of Best concierge of the gulf region. A name of a humble and very talented person called Mekonnen Getachew(Mike). I don?t know where I...
Oct 21, 2013 , United Arab Emirates
Mike is really a great person with alot of skills.since i start working with him i loved concierge .He is very optimistic person and he always gives the people around him the energy to work and to be Hospitable.He has a wide knowledge and still he is searching and studying about concierge because...