Women lead the way at Hotelier Awards 2013

Ronai managing director Gavin Dodd presented the Young Hotelier of the Year Award to Jennifer Lombard Knight.

Female hoteliers triumphed at the 2013 Hotelier Middle East Awards, held last night at the world’s tallest hotel, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, with 10 of the 18 individual titles being awarded to women in the industry.

This was the first time in the Awards’ nine-year history that women hoteliers scored more trophies than their male counterparts.

Three of the new Award categories, CSR Champion of the Year, Sales Person of the Year and Young Hotelier of the Year, were won by ladies.

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Marietou Seck, regional quality and sustainable development executive at Accor Middle East was named CSR champion; Ashmita Sequiera, director of sales, Media One Dubai picked up the sales gong; and Jennifer Lombard Knight, asst. front office manager,

InterContinental Regency Hotel Bahrain was named the first ever Young Hotelier of the Year.

Commenting on the record number of wins for female hoteliers Lombard Knight said: “It is amazing in the Middle East especially. If we were in Europe it would be different. But in the Middle East that we stand out, that we make a difference, and our opinions are noticed [is amazing].

“Everyone is level but if you have a higher boundary than others, if you are willing to go beyond the boundaries, if you are willing to make a difference it doesn’t matter if you are female or male,” she added.

Lombard Knight was also recently been promoted to front office manager at InterContinental Doha The City, a fantastic achievement for a hotelier aged just 26 years old.

Among the F&B awards —traditionally the stronghold of male chefs and directors — Monika Muschkiet, director, special events, Atlantis, The Palm was named F&B Manager of the Year.

Muschkiet is the driving force behind the multi-million dirham Sandance music festival and has since launched other successful events to maximise the festival set up, including Desi Beats and Live@Atlantis.

The judges were blown away by the scale of her work and the revenues involved; and said Muschkiet is one of the most accomplished nightlife experts in the region today.