IHG scoops four titles at Hotelier Awards 2016

The Hotelier Middle East Awards 2016 took place on October 26, 2016, at The Ritz-Carlton DIFC, with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) the most successful on the night, winning four titles.

IHG took Housekeeper of the Year (Akshi Singh from Crowne Plaza & Holiday Inn Al Thuraya City, Kuwait), Procurement Person of the Year (Stelios Damianelis from InterContinental Dubai Festival City), Finance Person of the Year (Mohamed Farag from Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park), and Unsung Hero of the Year (Lama Fernando, Crowne Plaza Bahrain).

Marriott International took home the titles of Fitness/Spa Person of the Year (Paris Kounoudis from The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal), Marketing & PR Person of the Year (Deveeka Nijhawan from Starwood's Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre), and Executive Chef of the Year (Stephen Wright from Marriott Marquis City Center Doha).

Meanwhile, Kempinski Hotel Ajman won two trophies for Concierge/Guest Services Person of the Year (Luca Valdevit) and Hotel Engineer of the Year (Basant Kumar Kushwaha), and Media One Hotel walked away with HR & Training Person of the Year (Lynne McGarvey), as well as the highly coveted Hotel Team of the Year.

GM of the Year went to Maria Tullberg of Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, and Young Hotelier of the Year was awarded to Gregoire Berger, chef de cuisine, of Atlantis, The Palm.

Meanwhile, Movenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers’ director of IT – UAE Roger Tabbal Director IT - UAE was crowned IT Person of the Year, and Safety & Security Person of the Year was awarded to Mohammed Al-Shishani, the director of security, safety & loss prevention at the Four Seasons Hotel Amman.

AccorHotels took one title, Sales Person of the Year, which went to Dorsai Khaghani from Sofitel the Palm Dubai. Finally, home-grown brand Jumeirah Group scooped the F&B Manager of the Year category with Patrick Fernandez from Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

The Hotelier Middle East Awards 2016 took place on October 26 at The Ritz-Carlton DIFC with an Old Hollywood Glamour theme.

This year’s Hotelier Middle East Awards is supported by category sponsors Sealed Air - Diversey, A. Ronai, The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, Ecolab, TCL, Matrix, RoomOperations, Restonic, Rational, Dream Master, Galaxy Butchery, Unilever Food Solutions, Modul University Dubai, SIAL Middle East, and MMI, with water sponsor Acqua Panna & S.Pellegrino, coffee sponsor Dallmayr, and supporting sponsor Pulsar Foodstuff.

Read the full coverage of the Hotelier Awards in the December 2016 issue of the magazine, and the website.