Doha Marriott Hotel director of food and beverage Dietmar Platz scooped the F&B Manager of the Year award, sponsored by S. Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, at the Hotelier Middle East Awards 2015.
Platz beat off tough competition from Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, Hilton Dubai Creek, Jumeirah Mina A'Salam at Madinat Jumeirah, The Palace Downtown Dubai, and Kempinski Hotel Ajman and to win the trophy.
Partha Basak, director of finance, Doha Marriott Hotel, collected the award on Platz’s behalf from Stefano Bolognese, international BU zone manager for SanPellegrino/Acqua Panna.
Speaking about why Platz deserved to win, Basak said: “Doha Marriott was one of the pioneers of hotels [in Doha] and Dietmar took it from being an old hotel to compete with its very contemporary competition. We think this is an exemplary achievement for him to do that – a lot of new competition is coming in and Doha Marriott is still an iconic hotel in the city, with all of its original splendour.”
The 11-strong judging panel were impressed with the winner’s achievements in refurbishing the hotel’s JW Steakhouse with new décor and a revamped menu, as well as his vision in launching Doha Marriott’s new outside venue The View Poolside Restaurant last year, which increased outdoor dining figures at the hotel by 110%.
“The View Poolside Restaurant has been phenomenal with locals and it has been the most popular venue [at the hotel]. Our poolside is iconic itself, so this has just enhanced the experience,” Basak commented.
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Katie Roberts, director of PR & marketing communications, Doha Marriott Hotel, added that The View is currently being “enhanced even more under Dietmar’s leadership” with improvements to the look and layout of the venue, as well as a new menu, to be revealed in two weeks’ time.
Platz, who is responsible for the Doha Marriott’s nine F&B outlets, has been highly commended in the same category for a previous year.
This year, Jeremie Laurent, director of food and beverage at Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah, was highly commended in this category.
Now in its eleventh year, the Hotelier Middle East Awards are the only independent accolades designed to recognise the people working to make the Middle East hospitality sector so successful.
The James Bond themed awards ceremony was held at InterContinental Dubai Festival City on Wednesday, October 28.
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