Hotelier Awards 2017 shortlist: Hotel Team of the Year

A category at the Hotelier Middle East Awards which always generates a lot of interest: here are the eight hotel team finalists for the Hotel Team of the Year category in 2017.

This category is one of the four this year which has eight finalists, in a nod to the calibre of the entries received.

If you'd like to meet last year's winners of all categories, click here to find out more...

Click through to find out who has been shortlisted this year... and take a look at last year's event in the video below!

Address Dubai Marina

The Address Dubai Marina opened in 2009, and has 200 guest rooms, plus 442 serviced apartments. When asked why the team deserves to win, the answer was: "My team deserves to win as we have been through many challenges but have remained relentless in ensuring we continue to adapt, improve, and innovate in all key areas of the hotel. In good times, we celebrate even the simplest things, and in tougher times, we never fail to support each other, and work for solutions together. Through this, we achieve great milestones for our employees and guests. Transparency, engagement, and bonding like a family are the reasons for where we are today! Our people bring the brand and its purpose to life; it is never the opposite. I would like my team to win this award to demonstrate to each and every one of them that their passion, drive and enthusiasm, and more importantly – their commitment to excellence is recognised in the Dubai hotel industry."

Fairmont The Palm

Fairmont The Palm opened in 2012, and offers 381 rooms and suites. When asked why the team deserves to win, the answer was: "Fairmont The Palm isn’t just a work force, it is a family, who all strive to achieve the same goals and ‘Turn Moments into Memories’. In line with the growing trends in the market, Fairmont The Palm has been fully supporting health and well-being for guests and colleagues alike, and despite the overwhelming growth of hotels in the region, or the heavy development on The Palm, are proud to be bringing breakthrough experiences, specialised experts, the latest in international trends and memorable community events to the Middle East market. Over the last year, the resort has implemented new innovative spa offerings, exclusive to the region fitness classes, a whole new private cooking studio concept, hosted one of the largest community events, bringing over 1,500 residents on one evening and two more F&B venues opening soon all whilst achieving positive occupancy levels, growing RevPAR and hitting budgets quarter by quarter whilst being accessible to residents with a friendly and approachable work force - and therefore are fully worthy of receiving this prestigious award."

InterContinental Jeddah

InterContinental Hotel Jeddah opened in 1992, and offers 350 rooms. When asked why the team deserves to win this award, the answer was: "InterContinental Jeddah is one of the pioneering hotels in KSA which saw the ups and downs and witnessed its global transformation under the rule of three different Kings in its 25 years of existence. We took part in shaping the history by defining the true essence of hospitality each time we welcome and treat our guests with royalty. Through the years, we have seen the rise of many others hotels and entrepreneurs in joining us in the hospitality business who inspired us to grow further and bring our core values and distinctive behaviors to life everyday. We acknowledge the continuous transformation of the world we live in and embraced them by being equipped for change, adapting to sustainable green engage programme, being prepared in the upside/downside of economy, remaining highly competitive with renovations of our building and upgrading our facilities and products, and lastly maintaining our focus in creating a great home away from home, making InterContinental Jeddah more than a destination and continuously makes us loved by our guests, followed by our competitors, shining with our owners and a great place to work for our diversified & strong manpower."

Jumeirah Creekside Hotel

Jumeirah Creekside Hotel opened in 2012 and offers 292 rooms. When asked why the team deserves to win, the answer was: "In spite of challenging tough market conditions in the hospitality industry in 2016/2017, it’s the people and the combined team effort that has helped Jumeirah Creekside Hotel to over-perform across all key business areas. It was not an easy road to get there and be the best, however JCH has done that with great coordination among all various department teams and the journey was definitely worth it."

JW Marriott Marquis Dubai

JW Marriott Marquis Dubai opened in 2013 and has 1,608 rooms. When asked why the team deserves to win, the answer was: "Worthy of recognition, the powerful, talented team of 1,650 associates are the sole reason behind the successful operations of the world’s tallest hotel, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai. Without the dynamic combination of the exceptional services provided by F&B, front office, housekeeping and laundry, the extensive knowledge of IT, engineering, purchasing, finance, the determination and intensity of sales and the ingenuity of marketing, social media and PR – the hotel would not function at the success rate that it does today. By applying the internal Marriott International motto of 'Putting Associates First', the hotel ensures every individual in the workforce is happy and comfortable in their roles, which further encourages and boosts their performance and contribution. With a variety of key statistics that overtake many competing hotels, the JW Marriott Marquis continues to drive revenue in a declining market purely because of the intense drive of all the departments, led by the passionate and goal-driven senior management."

Media One Hotel

Media One Hotel opened in 2009, offers 264 rooms, and also has won the 2016 Hotel Team of the Year with the Hotelier Middle East Awards. When asked why the team deserves to win this year, the answer was: "Media One is truly one big family. As an independent hotel we rely on one another to make Media One stand out from all the other big boys in the market. Our members are creative, enthusiastic, full of ideas and really fun. When new venues open or problems pop up everyone mucks in to find a solution. Staff members work their off days or late or early without a word said – they genuinely want success for the hotel. We feel empowered as a team by Mark, our GM and by the senior management. Good ideas, no matter where they come from within the organisation, are taken seriously."

Raffles Dubai

Raffles Dubai opened in November 2007 and has 252 rooms. When asked why the team deserves to win, the answer was: "In 2017, the year that Raffles Dubai celebrates its 10th anniversary, the hotel continues to go from strength to strength; maintaining a position in the top two of TripAdvisor, continuously improving LQA and Guest Satisfaction Scores, as well as achieving high colleague engagement across all departments. The hotel nurtures a family environment for employees as evidenced by the number of colleagues that joined the hotel 10 years ago and remain happily working there today. This ‘home away from home’ sentiment forms a key part of the warm and thoughtful service delivered by Raffles colleagues and fosters a strong brand loyalty that sees guests return to the hotel time and time again. The hotel has a high number of repeat guests, close to 40% of in-house guests at any one time have stayed at the hotel at least once before. Through a commitment to excellence, a culture of continuous improvement, and skilled, dedicated workforce delivering passionate and bespoke service, Raffles Dubai continues to be a leader in the luxury hotel market, as it was when it first opened a decade ago."

The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai

The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai opened in 1998 and offers 294 rooms. When asked why the team deserves to win, the answer was: "In the 19th year of operation we have achieved record level sales to date and are forecasting to have the highest year in revenue since the opening of the hotel in 1998. This achievement is only possible due to the exceptional talent of all our 474 ladies & gentlemen from 53 countries, who are passionate, committed and fully engaged in creating unique, memorable and personal experiences for our guests . These unique experiences and wow moments show in the amount of repeat guests and in our business results. Our overall Gallup (guest satisfaction) is up, despite the fact that we went on a volume strategy. If one would see the difference in teamwork, spirit and passion this hotel team has made last year, it is clear that this team deserves the award."