AICR gears up to judge Dubai's best receptionist

The hunt for Dubai’s best front office hotelier is drawing to a close, as the AICR Dubai gears up to put the finalists of its Receptionist of the Year competition through their paces.

The Receptionist of the Year event is held annually by the Dubai section of the AICR — the Amicale Internationale des Chefs de Reception et Sous Directeurs des Grand Hotels.

AICR Dubai president Steven Mueller said: “It is part of the duties of every section to host a Receptionist of the Year competition every year and the winner of each section will represent its country in the international competition to find the best receptionist worldwide”.

So far, 18 entrants from four- and five-star hotels in Dubai have been whittled down to six finalists who will be judged on a series of interviews and role plays held at Media One Hotel in Dubai Media City tomorrow (November 12).

Mueller, also task force front office manager at Media One Hotel, said: “We have made it really tough for them this year, tougher than it is in the international final actually. We are looking for the top receptionist in Dubai”.

Head to head in the final will be the following shortlisted receptionists: Christina Cynthia Lopez from Ritz-Carlton Dubai, Amit Rawat from Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa, Tatiana Lomteva from Burj Al Arab, Kathleen Marin from Grosvenor House, Tenzing Bhutia from Taj Palace Hotel and Julia Supranovich from Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

In line with international regulations, the judging panel will comprise Media One Hotel GM Cora de Conceicao-Stuart, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing representative (DTCM) Sami Abdul Fattah Taha, Hotelier Middle East editor Louise Oakley, AICR’s Mueller and a hotel HR representative, in addition to three role players who will provide feedback.

The competition has largely been sponsored by DTCM, with executive director human resources and training solutions Ibrahim Yaqoot a keen supporter of the event.

This year, DTCM has increased the prize fund, with AED 10,000 (US $2722) up for grabs for the winner, AED 5000 ($1361) for second place and AED 3000 ($816) for third place.

The awards will be presented at a gala dinner at Burj Al Arab in Dubai on November 14.

DTCM has also sponsored the winner’s trip to the final, which is being held from January 13-17, 2010 in Madrid, Spain. The winner will be accompanied by Mueller and Yaqoot.

The 2009 international competition was held in Cannes in February, with the winner from the New Zealand section of the AICR.

The AICR was founded on the Cote d'Azur in France in 1964 and over the last 40 years has developed into an international fellowship with sections in 17 countries.