The Hotelier Middle East Awards final shortlist for the Unsung Hero of the Year category has been announced.

The category of Unsung Hero recognises a team member whose consistent performance, hard work and dedication too often gets overlooked.

And the finalists are:

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Meraj Siddiqui, joint director of finance & business support — Makkah & Madinah, Dar Al Tawhid InterContinental, Saudi Arabia
During the year 2010, 33% of Saudi nationals have been promoted to higher position in the Finance department. The Accounts department is the one which has the lowest staff turnover in the hotel.

Anees Abubacker, team leader – laundry, Burj Al Arab
Anees is a genius with a "can do" attitude, always looking on anything we consider a challenge as an opportunity. Until last year we were manually placing the detergent and chemicals into the machines. Anees was able to programme the machines and with the assistance of the chemical company we now have all the machines dosing automatically.

Zakir Hunekar, staff accommodation manager, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah
Zakir’s dedication and commitment to his role is faultless. He goes above and beyond the call of duty to ensure all accommodation related matters are resolved even if it requires him to work twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Perseverance is the name of the game in his line of work and he has a never ending supply of it! As a salute to his quiet dedication towards creating a home away from home for our team members, we nominate him for Hotelier’s ‘Unsung Hero of the Year’ 2010.

Malik Khudaksh, bell captain, InterContinental Hotel Dubai Festival City
Malik is always available when called upon, and constantly seeking any opportunity to improve a guests stay as much as possible, which has made him a role model for all at the IHG properties in DFC.
 

Bibiyana Chandy, personal assistant to GM, Crowne Plaza Muscat
Bibiyana took responsibility until the successful completion of the first phase of the FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Expenditure) while the materials manager was on emergency leave for two months. This project had helped enhance the suppliers contact in the market and created an “easy to approach” environment.

Oscar Kirwa, doorman, Southern Sun Al Manzil Hotel
“Oscar is more a leader and not just another employee. He takes initiative and doesn’t mind extending himself beyond his role, or example, by actively promoting the Food and Beverage department, especially the Conservatory Restaurant and Mokaroma Café in Al Manzil Hotel. His attitude is very positive and he possesses high self-esteem. I wish him the best of luck!”

Roel Acebedo, agent, VIP Services, Atlantis, The Palm
Roel’s first achievement was being recognised as the 'Employee Of The Month', consecutively followed by 'Employee Of The Quarter' and the highly-coveted 'Employee Of The Year' award in 2009. Roel was the first staff in Atlantis, The Palm to be awarded with these three consecutive awards, an unprecented achievement. 

Fatma Ahmad Ali Al Shabebi
Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates’ official ambassador
Fatma is more than just a guest relations representative, she is the soul of the lobby in a way, always pushing the limits of her duties and collaborating with different departments to enhance guests’ levels of comfort during their stay.
 

Khaled Aziz, concierge/doorman, Crowne Plaza Dubai
Having been here for 14 years, Khaled’s rapport and connection with guests has developed over the years. A very regular guest used to come to Crowne Plaza for the past 12 years. When he started coming to the hotel, he used to bring his five-year-old son with him. The guest kept staying at the hotel right until he bought a house in Dubai. The guest’s son is 17 years old now and he personally asks his dad to come to Crowne Plaza whenever they are out for lunch or dinner. He comes to see Khaled.

Abbas Ebrahim, employee dining room manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa
Abbas is primarily responsible for the employee dining room catering to 700 ladies and gentlemen over three meal periods, but the extended hands that he give towards the banquet kitchen is outstanding. He not only helps with the organization of the events especially those outside, but he also pilot many of the events himself. In addition to that Abbas assists with caterings as he has a heavy duty license to drive the outside catering truck.

The winners will be announced tomorrow night at the Hotelier Middle East Awards which will be held at the Madinat Jumeirah Resort.