Pamini Hemaprabha scoops Housekeeping award

Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates' executive housekeeper Pamini Hemaprabha was named the Housekeeper of the Year at the Hotelier Middle East Awards.

Hemaprabha is in charge of housekeeping duties for the hotel's 393 rooms, five F&B outlets, as well as the in-house laundry. 

Celebrating her win, Hemaprabha told Hotelier Middle East: "I feel on top of the world. This one goes to my team as well. Me going up there to receive this award is like taking the entire team of 160 with me, standing there, having their hard work acknowledged. I’m really speechless and humbled to receive this. It means a lot. It’s pumping in so much motivation. The 12 years I’ve spent in this industry... I think this award has certainly pumped in 15 years more."

The judges picked Hemaprabha for her leadership skills - at the hotel, Hemaphrabha has promoted 150 team members to date, including 12 people in the last 14 months. She also launched the Take Kempinski Home programme on YouTube to boost staff morale. Through the YouTube channel, she shaes housekeeping tips for both staff and guests. 

Commenting on her approach to staff motivation and empowerment, Hemaprabha said: "Leadership is changing every year. People are very comfortable in being led in a very friendly way and motivated. I think recognition plays a vital role, no matter how much you do, if there’s no pat on the back or no thank at the end of the day, people are not committed anymore. I think YouTube videos, recognition, promotions, internal transfers and with my master trainer designation, it makes me feel that people across the world are just hungry for appreciation and recognition. Once they get the message that their leader is going to be there for them and appreciate their worth, I think you get the best out of them."

Pamini Hemaprabha received her award from Restonic sales director Middle East & Africa Sameer Ahmed. 

The judges also highly commended Crowne Plaza Kuwait director of housekeeping Akshi Singh. Other nominees in the shortlist included: Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas housekeeping manager Sangeetha Bharat; InterContinental Doha The City executive housekeeper Prabhat Shukla; and Rihab Rotana & Rimal Rotana executive housekeeper Marjona Aslitdinova.

The Hotelier Middle East Awards were held at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City. The event was supported by Du, A. Ronai, Restonic, MLA, Diversey, Arecont Vision, Canon, MMI, TCL, Horeca, Patchi, Pulsar Foodstuff Trading, Amir, and Julius Meinl.