Awards success for Media One's training manager

Lynne McGarvey, training manager, Media One Hotel, was crowned HR & Training Person of the Year at the Hotelier Middle East Awards 2016.

The award in this category was sponsored by Modul Unversity and was presented to McGarvey by Modul University's managing director, Zaid Maleh. 

McGarvey impressed the judges with her strategy for boosting employee engagement and reducing staff turnover.

They were also won over by her involvement with colleagues and her focus on their long-term goals.

The Scottish national saw off competition from five other HR and training professionals to take home the trophy, including: Luz Refe, learning & development manager, Intercontinental Doha The City; Muna Al Riyami, training and development manager, Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel; Remi Hajo, assistant HR manager, Hilton Al Hamra Beach & Golf Resort; Tatsiana Tarasevich, HR manager, Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi. 

Highly commended in this category was Fiona Busse, director of learning and development, Madinat Jumeirah, whom the judges praised for her interactive take on colleague engagement and development.

McGarvey told Hotelier: "This is my first job in HR & training - I always used to work in operations -  and I'll have been at Media One for two years on November 9."

Asked about the success of 2016, she said: "Reduction in staff turnover was huge for us - we changed a lot of things like hotel orientation and the new joiners' process. 

"One of the biggest things for me was implementing learning and development plans for growth for the team; we've had a lot of internal growth and that's the best part of the job - to watch people grow."

She describes working for Media One as a fun place to work, and added: "Every day is different and every day I laugh with my team."

The old Hollywood glamour-themed event took place on October 26 at The Ritz-Carlton DIFC.