Burj Al Arab receptionist takes home AICR award

Burj Al Arab guest services executive Tatiana Lomteva has been named Receptionist of the Year by the Dubai section of the AICR — the Amicale Internationale des Chefs de Reception et Sous Directeurs des Grand Hotels.

Lomteva beat off tough competition from five Dubai hotel receptionists during last week’s final, held at Media One Hotel on November 12, before being announced the winner at an awards ceremony held last night at the Burj Al Arab.

On collecting her award Lomteva said: “The competition was a great experience. It was very, very challenging and meeting my fellow contestants here tonight, I never thought I would be the one to win”.

The finalists included Ritz-Carlton Dubai club receptionist Christina Cynthia Lopez, who claimed the first runner-up prize; Grosvenor House front office assistant Kathlene Marin, named the second runner-up; Jumeirah Beach Hotel receptionist Julia Supranovich; Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort receptionist Amit Rawat; and Taj Palace Hotel Dubai receptionist / cashier Tenzing Bhuta.

Representing the cream of the crop of Dubai’s receptionists, the six finalists — whittled down from 18 entrants from four- and five-star hotels in Dubai — were put through a rigorous interview and role play in front of a panel of five judges.

AICR Dubai president and judge Steven Mueller, who was recently appointed director of rooms at Media One Hotel, said the role plays were particularly challenging this year.

“We made it really tough for them this year, tougher than it is in the international final actually,” said Mueller.

In line with international regulations, the judging panel comprised Media One Hotel GM Cora de Conceicao-Stuart, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) senior specialist human resources Sami Abdul Fattah Taha, DTCM training solutions officer Maria Jathan, Hotelier Middle East editor Louise Oakley and AICR’s Mueller.

In addition, four role players provided valuable feedback: Madinat Jumeriah director of rooms Marco Metge, Jumeirah Beach Hotel assistant front office manager Fabian Schmittmann; Burj Al Arab assistant front office manager Stephanie Zawada; and Madinat Jumeirah director of business excellence Caroline Hardman.

Lomteva will go on to represent Dubai in the international final of the Receptionist of the Year competition, which is being held from January 13-17, 2010 in Madrid, Spain.

She said: “I’m very excited, but it will be very tough. I am confident of course, I’m sure the AICR Dubai team will train me well. I’m really looking forward to it”.

The Receptionist of the Year competition was largely sponsored by DTCM, with executive director corporate support Ibrahim Yaqoot championing the initiative.

This year, DTCM increased the prize fund, with AED 10,000 ( US $2722) awarded to the winner, AED 5000 ($1361) to the first runner up and AED 3000 ($816) for the second runner up.

DTCM has also sponsored the winner’s trip to the final and Yaqoot will accompany Lomteva to the competition alongside Mueller.

The 2009 international competition was held in Cannes in February, with the winner coming 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.