Spectrum Consultants JLT CEO Wahid Attalla emphasised the importance of providing good quality housing for hotel employees. Spectrum Consultants JLT CEO Wahid Attalla emphasised the importance of providing good quality housing for hotel employees.

Hotels have one week left to submit their nominations for the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) Best Staff Accommodation Award 2010 prior to the submission deadline of March 18.

The awards seek to to recognise the Middle Eastern hotel that best houses its employees.

Bench Events sponsorship manager Gillian Powell said that the award would be for existing staff accommodation that opened before the end of 2009.

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“Judges will take into consideration comfort, design, convenience and extent of facilities,” added Powell.

Spectrum Consultants JLT CEO Wahid Attalla, chair of the judging panel for the Staff Accommodation Awrards, emphasised the importance of providing good quality housing.

“In most cases, staff members would have the ability to travel back on vacation to their home countries only every second year, hence they would be spending almost 24 continuous months away from their families and friends,” said Attalla.

“The vast mix of nationalities within the expatriate staff members is another factor to be considered," he said.

Attalla added: “One cannot deny that providing a comfortable and welcoming leaving environment for expatriate employees will directly reflect on the level and quality of services rendered to hotel guests.”

The winner of last year’s Best Staff Accommodation Award was Hyatt for Sahari Village in Ras Al Khor, Dubai.

Hyatt was commended for its “resort-style” accommodation, “extensive” on-site social, sporting and entertainment activities, energy-saving action plans and “city within a city” philosophy.

The independent panel of judges for the 2010 Awards comprises Spectrum Consultants COO Wahid Attalla, Joanne Bowen & Associates Ltd MD Joanne Bowen, Horwath HTL managing partner Philippe Doizelet, Management Search Executive MD Nina Johnson-Bennett, Madison Mayfair MD Peter Malone, Portfolio divisional director of international business Corinne Winter-Rousset, Perform Global Pty Ltd executive chairman Keith Yates and Hotelier Middle East editor Louise Oakley.

The deadline for nominations is March 18, 2010, with the winners to be announced during AHIC 2010, which is being held at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai from May 1-3.

To nominate your hotel click here