Following the launch of Marriott International’s Project Canvas initiative earlier this year, the group has picked two entrepreneurs, who will each receive US $50,000 to execute their business plans.
The campaign aims to encourage food and beverage entrepreneurs to create home-grown brands in the region.
The winners of the grant are Tomas Vindasius, who was previously with Story Rooftop Lounge, and Sunset Group, before launching his own consultancy in 2015; and Darren Velvick, who was most recently patron chef at Table 9.
The two winners will create and launch new concepts that focus on distinctive food and beverage experiences order to Gen Y travellers to Marriott International properties.
The first venue to be part of Project Canvas opened within Nawwara Lifestyle Choices, a home-grown concept at the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, earlier in June. The nightclub, called Square, was the first of three new concepts to be located within the premises under the direction of Tomas Vindasius.
Square draws inspiration from Berlin club culture, and aims to offer the best of both the local and international scene with its underground musical direction.
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Darren Velvick’s concept, The Croft, – inspired by his upbringing in the rural country English village of Hampstead Norreys – is currently under development at Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites.
The menu will include traditional British food in a casual dining environment, and Velvick will work with local suppliers and home grown brands when choosing the ingredients for his menu.
The restaurant is scheduled to soft-open in August, with an official launch in September.
Marriott International Middle East and Africa senior director operations Markus Roeder said: “We are incredibly pleased with the results that we have seen so far along the journey of Project Canvas.
“The creative contribution and the project management abilities that we have seen from both Tomas and Darren show just how much talent and inspiration there is in our region. We truly hope that Project Canvas will encourage other businesses and individuals to explore their own ability to bring exciting new home-grown concepts to the market.”
Project Canvas was launched at the JW Marriott Shenzhen in China, and Renaissance Phoenix Downtown in the US.
Following presentations, two winners were chosen and given US $50,000 to implement their business plans at hotels in Dubai. The winners were responsible for the creation and launch of new concepts for individual outlets.
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