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Dedication, shrewdness, warmth and passion are all traits shared by the shortlisted nominees for the Hotelier Middle East Awards 2009, revealed here for the first time T he Hotelier Middle East Awards 2009, in association with fino International, is without a doubt, the indus- try event of the year. It’s glamorous and grand, exciting and emotional, but most importantly, it is the only awards for the Middle East hotel industry that recognise the people that really matter — you. Following weeks of nail-biting tension since the nominations dead- line on August 31 and the subsequent publication of the long-listed candi- dates on HotelierMiddleEast.com AWARDS COUNTDOWN — which resulted in hundreds of messages of support from peers, col- leagues and even guests — Hotelier Middle East is pleased to reveal the shortlisted nominees. First whittled down from a total of 1506 nominations to a long-list of 10, which was carefully dissected and debated by the Hotelier Middle East team before drawing up the list of finalists, every single candidate has battled against the cream of the crop for their place in the top-five. There is now just two weeks to the ceremony itself, where these worthy nominees, surrounded by their fellow hoteliers, will find out if they have been successful in winning a coveted Hotelier Middle East Award. Being held at Madinat Jumeirah on October 14, this is one event you don’t want to miss out on. It’s time to dig out your ‘glad rags’, find that dickie bow and prepare to celebrate with the industry in style. Now, without further ado, Hote- lier Middle East is proud to pres- ent the 2009 Awards shortlist. The countdown has begun! Competition is tough for Fitness and Recreation Person of the Year, with InterContinental’s Babu Mohan Das already winner of the hotel’s Employee of the Year Award. He is up against Jumeirah favourite Luminita Stoican, Mina Seyahi’s Chris Denil and Asela Jayaweera, who in 2008 increased the profitability of her department at InterContinental Doha by 9%. Last but not least, Ilie Popa has his eyes on the title, following the opening of The Address last year. Fitness & Recreation Person of the Year SPONSORED BY TECHNOGYM NOMINEES ILIE POPA Recreation manager The Address Downtown Burj Dubai, Dubai, UAE BABU MOHAN DAS Recreation supervisor InterContinental Muscat, Oman LUMINITA STOICAN Fitness instructor Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai, UAE CHRIS DENIL Recreation manager Mina Seyahi Complex, Dubai, UAE ASELA JAYAWEERA Recreation manager InterContinental, Doha, Qatar The five spa gurus include Michael Monsod from The Palace — The Old Town, Chantelle Mason, promoted twice in the space of 12 months at Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi, and James Roderiguez, a dedicated spa therapist based at Madinat Jumeirah. Joining the trio is InterContinental’s expert facialist Anchen Els and Sunanda Marasinghe from Radisson Blu DMC. Spa Person of the Year SPONSORED BY ESADORE INTERNATIONAL NOMINEES CHANTELLE MASON Director of spa Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi,Abu Dhabi, UAE MICHAEL MONSOD Spa & recreation manager The Palace - The Old Town, Dubai, UAE JAMES RODRIGUEZ Spa therapist Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE SUNANDA MARASINGHE Wellness centre in- charge and head therapist Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Media City, Dubai, UAE ANCHEN ELS Senior spa therapist InterContinental Dubai Festival City, Dubai, UAE Accounts Person of the Year NOMINEES ROLA QIBLAWI Assistant director,finance Fairmont Dubai,Dubai, UAE ASEP PERMANA Receiving clerk Layia Oak Hotel & Suites, Dubai, UAE NOOR HAMITH MOHAMMED REEZA Accounts receivable supervisor Crowne Plaza Muscat, Oman JOY JOHN Credit manager The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain, Bahrain DEEPA AIDASANI Finance manager Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai, UAE HOTELIER AWARDS The spotlight has been on hotel accountants over the past 12 months as properties battle against the financial crisis. Candidates for Accounts Person of the Year include Layia’s Asep Permana; “superwoman” Deepa Aidasani at Jumeirah Beach Hotel; Fairmont’s audit-leading Rola Qiblami; debt-buster Noor Hamith Mohammed Reeza from Crowne Plaza Muscat; and The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain’s debt-collector Joy John. October 2009 Hotelier Middle East www.hoteliermiddleeast.com

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Page 1: Fitness & Recreation Person of the Year Spa Person of the ... Das already winner of the hotel’s Employee of the Year Award. He is up against Jumeirah favourite Luminita Stoican,

Dedication, shrewdness, warmth and passion are all traits shared by the shortlisted nominees for the Hotelier Middle East Awards 2009, revealed here for the fi rst time

The Hotelier Middle East Awards 2009, in association with fi no International, is without a doubt, the indus-

try event of the year. It’s glamorous and grand, exciting and emotional, but most importantly, it is the only awards for the Middle East hotel industry that recognise the people that really matter — you.

Following weeks of nail-biting tension since the nominations dead-line on August 31 and the subsequent publication of the long-listed candi-dates on HotelierMiddleEast.com

AWARDS COUNTDOWN

— which resulted in hundreds of messages of support from peers, col-leagues and even guests — Hotelier Middle East is pleased to reveal the shortlisted nominees.

First whittled down from a total of 1506 nominations to a long-list of 10, which was carefully dissected and debated by the Hotelier Middle East team before drawing up the list of fi nalists, every single candidate has battled against the cream of the crop for their place in the top-fi ve.

There is now just two weeks to the ceremony itself, where these worthy

nominees, surrounded by their fellow hoteliers, will fi nd out if they have been successful in winning a coveted Hotelier Middle East Award.

Being held at Madinat Jumeirah on October 14, this is one event you don’t want to miss out on. It’s time

to dig out your ‘glad rags’, fi nd that dickie bow and prepare to celebrate with the industry in style.

Now, without further ado, Hote-lier Middle East is proud to pres-ent the 2009 Awards shortlist. The countdown has begun!

Competition is tough for Fitness and Recreation Person of the Year, with InterContinental’s Babu Mohan Das already winner of the hotel’s Employee of the Year Award. He is up against Jumeirah favourite Luminita Stoican, Mina Seyahi’s Chris Denil and Asela Jayaweera, who in 2008 increased the profi tability of her department at InterContinental Doha by 9%. Last but not least, Ilie Popa has his eyes on the title, following the opening of The Address last year.

Fitness & Recreation Person of the YearSPONSORED BY TECHNOGYM

NOMINEES ILIE POPA Recreation manager

The Address Downtown Burj Dubai, Dubai, UAE

BABU MOHAN DAS Recreation supervisorInterContinental Muscat, Oman

LUMINITA STOICAN Fitness instructorJumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai, UAE

CHRIS DENIL Recreation managerMina Seyahi Complex, Dubai, UAE

ASELA JAYAWEERA Recreation managerInterContinental, Doha, Qatar

The fi ve spa gurus include Michael Monsod from The Palace — The Old Town, Chantelle Mason, promoted twice in the space of 12 months at Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi, and James Roderiguez, a dedicated spa therapist based at Madinat Jumeirah. Joining the trio is InterContinental’s expert facialist Anchen Els and Sunanda Marasinghe from Radisson Blu DMC.

Spa Person of the YearSPONSORED BY ESADORE INTERNATIONAL

NOMINEES CHANTELLE MASON Director of spa

Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE

MICHAEL MONSOD Spa & recreation managerThe Palace - The Old Town, Dubai, UAE

JAMES RODRIGUEZ Spa therapistMadinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE

SUNANDA MARASINGHE Wellness centre in-charge and head therapistRadisson Blu Hotel Dubai Media City, Dubai, UAE

ANCHEN ELS Senior spa therapistInterContinental Dubai Festival City, Dubai, UAE

Accounts Person of the Year

NOMINEES ROLA QIBLAWI Assistant director,fi nance

Fairmont Dubai,Dubai, UAE

ASEP PERMANA Receiving clerkLayia Oak Hotel & Suites, Dubai, UAE

NOOR HAMITH MOHAMMED REEZA Accounts receivable supervisorCrowne Plaza Muscat, Oman

JOY JOHN Credit managerThe Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain, Bahrain

DEEPA AIDASANI Finance managerJumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai, UAE

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The spotlight has been on hotel accountants over the past 12 months as properties battle against the fi nancial crisis. Candidates for Accounts Person of the Year include Layia’s Asep Permana; “superwoman” Deepa Aidasani at Jumeirah Beach Hotel; Fairmont’s audit-leading Rola Qiblami; debt-buster Noor Hamith Mohammed Reeza from Crowne Plaza Muscat; and The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain’s debt-collector Joy John.

October 2009 • Hotelier Middle East www.hoteliermiddleeast.com

Page 2: Fitness & Recreation Person of the Year Spa Person of the ... Das already winner of the hotel’s Employee of the Year Award. He is up against Jumeirah favourite Luminita Stoican,

HOTELIER AWARDS

Hotelier Middle East • October 2009www.hoteliermiddleeast.com

Often described as a hotel’s doctor, it is fi tting that engineers get a chance to shine at the Hotelier Awards. Al Diar Siji Hotel’s Tito D’Costa was shortlisted for his “pride of ownership”; Fairmont Dubai’s Karuna Krishan for his heated humidity control system; and The Address’’ Pijush Chowdhury for a speedy pre-opening. Lloyd Fernandez has developed 18 Omanis in his team at Al Bustan Palace and buggy technician Anas Makba has defi ed his entry level role.

Hotel Engineering Person of the YearSPONSORED BY AQUACLEAR & WAFI

NOMINEES

PIJUSH CHOWDHURY Duty engineerThe Address Downtown Burj Dubai, Dubai, UAE

KARUNA KRISHNAN Chief engineerFairmont Dubai, Dubai, UAE

LLOYD FERNANDEZ Area director of engineeringAl Bustan Palace InterContinental, Oman

TITO D’COSTA Chief engineerAl Diar Siji Hotel, Fujairah, UAE

ANAS MAKBA Buggy technicianMadinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE

Relied on for solving technical glitches , the IT manager often goes above and beyond the call of duty. At Fairmont Dubai, Keith L’Esteve regularly works 24-hour shifts; at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Fayaz Cajee has achieved his goals despite a 40% reduction in manpower; and at Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek, Asif Minhas has introduced innovative printing options. Meanwhile, Vision’s Mohan Nasseem is described as a “genie in a bottle” and Hakam Sourani at Emirates Palace is dedicated to meeting VIPs needs.

IT Person of the Year

NOMINEES ASIF MINHAS IT manager

Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek, Dubai, UAE

FAYAZ CAJEE IT managerJumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai, UAE

MOHAD NASEEM IT managerVision Hotel Apartments, Abu Dhabi, UAE

KEITH L’ESTEVE IT managerFairmont Dubai, Dubai, UAE

HAKAM SOURANI Director of IT and AVEmirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Concierge of the Year is a hotly-contended title, no doubt deserved by all of the shortlisted nominees. However, only one person can take home the Award. Should it be Beach Rotana’s long-serving Ashok Kuckian; Emirates Towers role model Dickson D’Souza; or Denver Cramer at Qamardeen Hotel? This is not forgetting Kempinski’s team tour guide Gerado Gabat or Hilton Kuwait’s resourceful Ahmed Allazim.

Concierge of the YearSPONSORED BY BAKEMART

NOMINEES DENVER CRAMER Head concierge

Qamardeen Hotel, Dubai, UAE

ASHOK KUCKIAN Chief conciergeBeach Rotana Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE

DICKSON D’SOUZA Assistant manager - conciergeJumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai, UAE

GERARDO GABAT Assistant chief concierge Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates Dubai, UAE

AHMED ALLAZIM Chief conciergeHilton Kuwait Resort, Kuwait

HIGHLY COMMENDED AWARDSFor the fi rst time, the Hotelier Middle East Awards has introduced a “Highly Commended’ awards category.

Such was the calibre of the nominations that Hotelier Middle East wanted to maximise the recognition given to this year’s shortlist. So while, there can only be one winner, each awards cate-

gory will now have two Highly Commended hote-liers that will be announced on October 14.

With a three out of fi ve chance of picking up an award, make sure that if you have been shortlisted you attend the awards ceremony on October 14.

To snap up the fi nal few tickets, contact [email protected].

NEW FOR 2009

Page 3: Fitness & Recreation Person of the Year Spa Person of the ... Das already winner of the hotel’s Employee of the Year Award. He is up against Jumeirah favourite Luminita Stoican,

HOTELIER AWARDS

Hotelier Middle East • October 2009www.hoteliermiddleeast.com

The list of shortlisted nominees displayed over these pages was

presented, along with their nomination submission

and supporting documents, to the Hotelier Middle East Awards’

independent panel of judges in September.After being given a few days to individually

peruse the lengthy nominations, draft their feedback and pinpoint the most deserving candidates, the seven judges met on September 10 to debate the shortlist.

What followed was a fi ve-hour discussion, with the merits of each and every candidate deliberated in turn, before the winners were agreed upon.

The winning names will stay confi dential until the ceremony at Madinat Jumeirah on October 14.

THE JUDGES: Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority head of

tourism training Michelle Sabti The Emirates Academy of Hospitality

Management MD Ron Hilvert Viability director and Hotelier Middle

East columnist Guy Wilkinson MMI brand manager — Moet

Hennessy Fabrice Papin Charterhouse Partnership director

Travis Cowgill Caterer Middle East editor

Lucy Taylor Hotelier Middle East editor

Louise Oakley

See page 22 for Guy Wilkinson’s views on the shortlist.From left: Michelle Sabti, Guy Wilkinson and Fabrice Papin debate the Hotelier Awards’ nominations.

Responsible for saving the environment as well as saving costs, the Green Hotelier is an increasingly important role. Candidates for the title are especially passionate, including community champion Wael Farouk at Marriott, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah’s high achiever Sameh Zaki and Doha Marriott’s “green ambassador” Sasidharan Gopalan. Also vying for the title are green GM Laurent Rigaud from Crowne Plaza and The Palace’s Abdul Quddus Sheikh.

Green Hotelier of the YearSPONSORED BY JOHNSONDIVERSEY

NOMINEES

SAMEH ZAKI Director of engineeringHilton Dubai Jumeirah Dubai, UAE

SASIDHARAN GOPALAN Director of engineeringDoha Marriott Hotel, Qatar

ABDUL QUDDUS SHEIKH Director of engineeringThe Palace - The Old Town, Dubai, UAE

LAURENT RIGAUD General managerCrowne Plaza SZR, Dubai, UAE

WAEL FAROUK Director of engineeringCourtyard by Marriott & Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Green Community, UAE

Managing a vast team, driving additional revenue and keeping hotel linen spick and span is all in a day’s work for the top fi ve nominees shortlisted for Laundry Manager of the Year. First up is Jay Chhetri, who manages two operations for Southern Sun in Dubai, and then Manoj Raj, who boosted guest satisfaction scores at Shangri-La Dubai from 13% to 78% last year. From Al Khobar is Balaiah Thiyagarajah, responsible for reducing chemical consumption at InterContinental by almost 50%, while in Abu Dhabi, Nittyanand Nadar leads a team of 42 at Emirates Palace. Finally, at Park Hyatt in Dubai, Teddy Matthews is a laundry expert, businessman and team leader.

Laundry Manager of the YearSPONSORED BY JOHNSONDIVERSEY

NOMINEES JAY CHHETRI Laundry manager

Al Manzil and Qamardeen Hotels, Dubai, UAE

MANOJ RAI Laundry managerShangri-La Hotel Dubai, Dubai, UAE

BALAIAH THIYAGARAJAH Laundry managerInterContinental Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

TEDDY MATTHEWS Laundry managerPark Hyatt Dubai, Dubai, UAE

NITTYANAND NADAR Laundry managerEmirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Tasked with a round-the-clock job, housekeepers are also the eyes and ears of the hotel, greatly relied upon by management and colleagues, as well as guests. The contenders for Housekeeper of the Year are all at the top of their game, including Dusit Thani Dubai’s hands-on Kachane Bunnag, Renaissance Dubai’s manager of the quarter Suvarna Bahadarpurkar and Ulriche Hocke, the lady providing “constant care” to her team at Al Manzil and Qamardeen. Fighting for the title also are InterContinental Phoenicia’s Mountaha Trad and industry veteran Michele Clark at Kempinski.

Housekeeper of the YearSPONSORED BY FRETTE / EF GULF

NOMINEES KACHANE BUNNAG Executive housekeeper

Dusit Thani Dubai, Dubai, UAE

ULRICHE HOCKE Complex executive housekeeperAl Manzil and Qamardeen Hotels, Dubai, UAE

MOUNTAHA TRAD Housekeeping technicianInterContinental Phoenicia, Beirut, Lebanon

MICHELE CLARKE Executive housekeeperKempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, UAE

SUVARNA BAHADARPURKAR Housekeeping manager Renaissance Dubai Hotel, Dubai , UAE

nomination submission and supporting documents,

MEET THE JUDGES

Page 4: Fitness & Recreation Person of the Year Spa Person of the ... Das already winner of the hotel’s Employee of the Year Award. He is up against Jumeirah favourite Luminita Stoican,

Stewards are the backbone of the kitchen, keeping back-of-house operations running smoothly. Well-deserving of an award are this year’s fi nalists: Hilton Dubai Creek’s Stephan Prakash Monis, Park Hyatt Dubai’s Rajendra Joshi, Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek’s Chamil Lasantha Kumara, The Address Downtown Burj Dubai Bernard Ombee and Radwa Holiday Inn — Yanbu’s Mohammed Siddeque.

Stewarding Person of the YearSPONSORED BY A. RONAI AND STEELITE

NOMINEES RAJENDRA JOSHI Stewarding manager

Park Hyatt Dubai, Dubai, UAE

STEPHAN PRAKASH MONIS Assistant chief stewardHilton Dubai Creek, Dubai, UAE

CHAMIL LASANTHA KUMARA Stewarding supervisorRadisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, Dubai, UAE

MOHAMMED SIDDEQUE Chief StewardRadhwa Holiday Inn - Yanbu, Saudi Arabia

BERNARD OMBEE Assistant chief stewardThe Address Downtown Burj Dubai, Dubai, UAE

The sommelier plays a major role in driving outlet revenue and interacting with guests. But who does it best? Worthy candidates for Sommelier of the Year are The Palace — The Old Town’s award-winning Nicholas Vallet; Hilton Dubai Creek’s Garth Beer; Jumeirah Beach Hotel’s David Elliott; and Refl ets’ Julien Coron. Or will last year’s winner Nicholas Murcott take the title again?

Sommelier of the YearSPONSORED BY MMI

The hotel chef is a key personality within the hotel, but who is worthy of the Chef of the Year Award? Should it be newcomer Olivier Biles at InterContinental DFC or Uwe Micheel, who has held his current role for 16 years? And this is not forgetting Hilton’s Matthew Pickop, Desert Island’s Anthony Gallo and Shangri-La Abu Dhabi’s Giles Perrin. It’s going to be a tough one.

Chef of the YearSPONSORED BY NESTLE

UWE MICHEEL Director of KitchensRadisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira,Creek, Dubai, UAE

OLIVIER BILES Outlet chef Refl ets par Pierre GagnaireInterContinental Dubai Festival City, Dubai, UAE

ANTHONY GALLO Executive chefDesert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara, Abu Dhabi, UAE

MATTHEW PICKOP Executive Head chefHilton Dubai Creek, Dubai, UAE

GILLES PERRIN Chef de CuisineShangri-La Hotel Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, UAE

NOMINEES FELIX HARTMANN SkyView Bar Manager

Burj Al Arab, Dubai, UAE

SIMONE HOPMAN ManagerThe Exchange Floor, Fairmont Dubai, UAE

GIOVANNI RULLO Restaurant manager Certo, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Media City, Dubai, UAE

ANUJ SHARMA Restaurant manager — AsadoThe Palace -The Old Town , Dubai, UAE

CHADI NAHRA Restaurant manager BiCE restaurantQasr Al Sharq Waldorf Astoria Collection, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

The shortlisted candidates for Outlet Manager of the Year head up some of the region’s most exciting bars and restaurants. Multi-award winning Felix Hartman keeps his head out of the clouds at Burj Al Arab’s SkyView Bar; Simone Hopman manages Dubai favourites The Exchange Grill, Cin Cin at The Cigar Bar at The Fairmont; while Anuj Sharma has turned Asado at The Palace into another success story. Giovanni Rullo focuses on authenticity at Radisson’s Certo while Chadi Nahra has really set the dining standard for Jeddah at the Qasr Al Sharq.

Outlet Manager of the YearSPONSORED BY A. RONAI

NOMINEES JULIEN CORON Sommelier

Refl ets par Pierre Gagnaire, InterContinental Dubai Festival City, Dubai, UAE

GARTH BEER SommelierHilton Dubai Creek, Dubai, UAE

NICHOLAS MURCOTT Head SommelierRaffl es Dubai, Dubai, UAE

DAVID ELLIOTT Beverage managerJumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai, UAE

NICOLAS VALLET SommelierThe Palace -The Old Town, Dubai, UAE

NOMINEES

NOMINEES ALFRED ABI MOUSSA Director F&B

Crowne Plaza Dubai SZR, Dubai, UAE

HUSSEIN ABBAS Assistant director of Food and BeverageFour Seasons Doha, Qatar

EDOUARD GROSMANGIN Executive assistant manager — F& BThe Palace - The Old Town, Dubai, UAE

EMILY SHAW Food and Beverage ManagerDesert Palm, Dubai, UAE

ERIC FRANCIS LOBO Food and Beverage ManagerAl Diar Dana Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Creative minds, astute business skills, attention to detail and unfaltering dedication to the role are talents shared by the top fi ve F&B managers shortlisted for this award. In Doha, Hussein Abbas is described as a “silent soldier” and “pillar” of the hotel; while in Abu Dhabi, Eric Francis Lobo is an expert on exciting promotions and loyalty schemes. Dubai’s hot contenders include Crowne Plaza’s multi-talented and tenacious Alfred Abi Moussa; Desert Palm’s events queen Emily Shaw and The Palace — The Old Town’s innovator and money-maker Edouard Grosmangin.

F&B Manager of the YearSPONSORED BY FRETTE / EF GULF

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October 2009 • Hotelier Middle East www.hoteliermiddleeast.com

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HOTELIER AWARDS

Hotelier Middle East • October 2009www.hoteliermiddleeast.com

Hotelier’s Unsung Hero of the YearSponsored by fi no International

Hotelier’s Unsung Hero of the Year Award is one of the most anticipated awards and for good reason. This year, there were 137 nominations for this category alone, and for this reason the shortlist for this Award comprises the top 10 nominations.

The candidates have all excelled in various different ways, whether it be looking after guests’ most prized possession, their children, struggling through adversity to support their team and continue their hotel career, rescuing their hotel from fi re and other disasters or being credited with saving a guest’s life.

See HotelierMiddleEast.com for each nominee’s full story.

IVY DELA CRUZ Hotel nurseCrowne Plaza Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE

RAKESH KUMAR Foreman — engineering departmentPark Hyatt Dubai, Dubai, UAE

DUMINDA PRADEEP KUMARA MADDUMAGE Hotel driver, Courtyard by Marriott and Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Green Community, UAE

PINAKI CHATTERJEE Cluster occupational health and safety managerHilton Dubai Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE

SUJA KURIAKOSE BabysitterJumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai, UAE

RISHI RAM GIRI StewardDoha Marriott Hotel, Qatar

MARIOL CAYANAN Hotel nurseDusit Thani Dubai, Dubai, UAE

SARAVANAN ALAGAPPAN Assistant Housekeeping managerRaffl es Dubai, Dubai, UAE

ABDUL NASIR Senior security supervisorAl Manzil and Qamadeen Hotels, Dubai, UAE

MADELYN COX PERALTA Sales agentJumeirah Living, Dubai, UAE

NOMINEESUNSUNG

HERO

Page 6: Fitness & Recreation Person of the Year Spa Person of the ... Das already winner of the hotel’s Employee of the Year Award. He is up against Jumeirah favourite Luminita Stoican,

NOMINEES YASMINE HIDALGO

PR & marketing communications managerRenaissance Dubai Hotel, Dubai, UAE

KATERINA DIXON Director of marketing communicationsInterContinental Hotels Group properties Dubai, UAE

LAURA PEREZ DIAZ Director of public relationsThe Address Hotels + Resorts, Dubai, UAE

DERRYN FRENCH Director of market communicationsThe Westin & Le Meridien Mina Seyahi, Dubai, UAE

NATALIE GLORNEY Director of communicationsShangri-la Hotel Qaryat Al Beri Abu Dhabi, UAE

Usually focused on achieving recognition for other members of the team, the hotel industry’s marketing and PR experts fi nally get their chance to shine at the Hotelier Middle East Awards. But who is the most deserving? Should it be energetic Yasmine Hidalgo; personalised PR expert Laura Perez Diaz or complex director of market communications Derryn French? This is not to forget marketing campaign masters Natalie Glorney at Shangri-La and Katerina Dixon at IHG in Dubai Festival City.

Marketing / PR Person of the Year

NOMINEES NOORA AL NABRI

Human resources managerPark Inn Muscat, Oman

MARION GAY Director human resourcesCrowne Plaza SZR, Dubai, UAE

KAREN THORBURN Regional director of training, Kempinski Hotels ME and Africa, Ajman, UAE

LOUISE FORRESTER Corporate director of human resourcesEmaar Hospitality Group, Dubai, UAE

MARIEKE SCHELLEN Director of castingW Doha Hotel and Residences, Qatar

As people managers, team leaders, guidance cousellors and surrogate parents, the role of a hotel HR or training manager is diverse and hands-on. So who has really excelled in 2009, when HR teams have been pushed to their limits to counter the impact of the global downturn? The only all-women category in the Hotelier Awards sees Emaar’s Louise Forrester, W Doha’s Marieke Schellen, Crowne Plaza Sheikh Zayed Road’s Marion Gay, Kempinski’s Karen Thorburn and Park Inn’s Noora Al Nabri go head to head in the competition for HR Person of the Year. May the best woman win!

HR Person of the YearSPONSORED BY CATERERGLOBAL.COM

NOMINEES ADRIAN RUDIN GM, Shangri-La Hotel

Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi, UAE

ABDIN NASRALLA GMJumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai, UAE

ANDREAS FLÜCKIGER GMRadisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek, Dubai, UAE

TOM MEYER GM InterContinental Hotel Group properties Duba, Dubai, UAE

MORITZ KLEIN GMBeach Rotana Abu DhabiAbu Dhabi, UAE

An indisputable highlight of the Hotelier Middle East Awards is the General Manager of the Year Award, which recognises the person that has best driven their property and team to business success and industry accolade. Some familar names appear on this year’s shortlist, as Abdin Nasralla, Tom Meyer and Moritz Klein again vy for the title. But the winner could be one of the new names to appear on the shortlist, perhaps Adrian Rudin from the Shangri-La Abu Dhabi complex or Andreas Flückiger from Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek? Let the battle commence!

General Manager of the YearSPONSORED BY AL AQILI FURNISHINGS

NOMINEES AJAY KUMAR RAMACHANDRAN

Purchasing offi cerLe Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort Fujairah, UAE

GABY CHAHOUD Materials managerSeriramis InterContinental Cairo, Egypt

DARVI VARGHESE Group procurement managerHoliday Inn Express Hotels Dubai, UAE

JOSEPH LAURANCE Materials managerCrowne Plaza Kuwait, Kuwait

RAJAN VATTAKANDY Area materials managerAl Bustan Palace InterContinental, Oman

Matching the demands of hotel colleagues with the services of suppliers is no easy feat and all our shortlisted procurmement and materials experts would be worthy of the title Procurement Person of the Year. Among the fi nalists are pre-opening and renovation experts, all wokring even harder during 2009 to achieve a good deal. Make sure you attend on the night to see if the winner is Le Meridien’s Ajay Kumar Ramachandran, Seriramis InterContinental’s Gaby Chahoud, Holiday Inn’s Darvi Varghese, Crowne Plaza Kuwait’s Joseph Laurance of Al Bustan’s Rajan Vattakandy.

Procurement Person of the YearSPONSORED BY CHOICES GENERAL TRADING LLC — SICO

The Hotelier Middle East Awards ceremony will be held at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai at 7.30pm on October 14. To be one of the fi rst to fi nd out who the winners are, book your table or ticket now at www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/awards or contact [email protected]. See you there!

HOTE

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October 2009 • Hotelier Middle East www.hoteliermiddleeast.com