Receptionist of the Year Tatiana Lomteva (centre) with first runner-up Christina Cynthia Lopez (right) and second runner-up Kathlene Marin (left).
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”.
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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.
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Jan 19, 2010 , United Arab Emirates
It is really good to see this job being finally appreciated and recognized. Front office has been methodically ignored in the past years and is by no means in the focus of attention of most current general managers in the middle east. Most of the region's GMs just take it for-granted that anyone...
Nov 20, 2009 , United Arab Emirates
It takes skill and diplomacy (in addition to training and support from team mates) to make every guest happy -- it's not an easy job by a long shot, so everyone who can excel in this role must be a very special person. Congratulations to all the participants and especially to the winners.