Diversity and Eminence Shines Through in Middle East Hospitality Awards Shortlist

The seventh edition of the Middle East Hospitality Awards (MEHA) announced the shortlist for the industry’s most prestigious event featuring over 70 distinct hotels, restaurants and bars that have made their way through stiff competition.

Reflective of the remarkable developments in the Middle East’s hospitality sector, the Awards received the highest volume of entries from the most diverse collection of properties in the event’s history.

The industry’s foremost properties, projects and people in the region will be honored on Sunday, 16thSeptember 2018 at The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC, Dubai.

Another first in the history of the Awards is a single property that has made it through as a finalist in a record-breaking eight categories. This enviable achievement goes to the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai, which has been shortlisted for 5-Star Hotel of the Year; Event Venue of the Year; Hospitality Leader of the Year (Valerie Wade - Director of Sales & Marketing); Head Chef of the Year (Carmine Pecoraro); Rising Star Award (Anastasia Costache - Assistant Director of Marketing); Renovation Project of the Year; Spa of the Year; and Bar/Nightlife Venue of the Year.

Rove and Sofitel the Palm have been shortlisted in four categories each closely followed by Fairmont the Palm, Gates Hospitality, Millennium Hotel Airport Dubai, Solutions Leisure Group and Zero Gravity each securing a spot in three categories.

The shortlist also reflects strengthening hospitality propositions from across the UAE, with Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah all included this year. Strong entries from the wider region includes hotels from Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

The event will also present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Gerald Lawless, former President and CEO of the Jumeirah Group and immediate-past chair of the World Travel and Trade Council.

Event director Gary Williams said, “The quality and volume of entries received for the Awards this year has been the best that we’ve ever seen. The industry is experiencing rapid growth which is raising standards and spurring innovation across the sector. The 7thedition of MEHA will be a dazzling representation of the progress and accomplishments of the Middle East’s thriving hospitality sector”.

An accomplished panel of judges will review the entries to finalise the winners. The judges for this year are Christopher Hewitt, Director, TRI Consulting, Daniel During, Principal & Managing Director, Thomas Klein International, Filippo Sona, Managing Director - Global Hospitality, Drees & Sommer, Judy Hou, Managing Director, The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, Martin Kubler, CEO, sps:affinity, Paul Evans, Managing Director, Solutions Leisure Group, Rabih Feghali, Vice President, Ròya International, Rupprecht Queitsch, CEO, INHOCO Group, Sharon Jutla, Founder, Sharon Jutla Interiors, Stefan Breg, Head of Strategy, Keane Brands and Tatjana Ahmed, Functional Specialist Housekeeping, Hyatt Hotels.

The Middle East Hospitality Awards 2018 is sponsored by Restonic, Pastificio G. Di Martino, Kimbo, Monviso, Patchi and Guest Supply (A Sysco Company) Leading the Industry in Hotel Solutions.

For more information on how to attend the awards or register for The Hotel Show Dubai, please visit www.thehotelshow.com

The full Middle East Hospitality Awards 2018 shortlist is as follows:

5-STAR HOTEL OF THE YEAR

FIVE Palm Jumeirah
JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
Palazzo Versace Dubai
Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai
The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo
Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah

BOUTIQUE HOTEL OF THE YEAR

Address Montgomerie
Copthorne Hotel Riyadh by Millennium
La Ville Hotel & Suites City Walk, Dubai
Le Gray, Beirut
Manzil Downtown
XVA Art Hotel

4-STAR HOTEL OF THE YEAR

Aloft Palm Jumeirah
Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana
Jumeira Rotana Dubai
Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai
Novotel Dubai Al Barsha
TRYP by Wyndham Dubai

HOTEL LAUNCH OF THE YEAR

Aloft Palm Jumeirah
InterContinental Fujairah Resort
Kingfisher Lodge by Mantis
Park Inn by Radisson Dubai Motor City
Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai
Rove Dubai Marina

3-STAR HOTEL OF THE YEAR

Centro Al Manhal
Centro Barsha
Citymax Hotel Bur Dubai
ibis One Central
Rove Dubai Downtown
The Arabian Park Hotel & Park Hotel Apartments

MOST IMPRESSIVE HOTEL FEATURE OF THE YEAR

Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya - 3D Wall of Riyadh
Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre - The Great Ballroom
Palazzo Versace Dubai - Mosaico Lobby
Rove Downtown Dubai - Reel Boutique Cinema
Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas - Ashwaq Abdulla Art
Sofitel The Palm, Dubai - Vertical Gardens

RESORT OF THE YEAR

Atlantis, The Palm
DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island
Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana
Millennium Resort Mussanah
Sofitel The Palm, Dubai
Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah

RISING STAR AWARD

Anastasia Costache, Assistant Director of Marketing, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
Christopher Kinsley, Head Chef at Flow, Jumeirah Emirates Towers
Elisa Mueller, Sales Manager Corporate and MICE, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates
Ellie Keene, Head of Public Relations, White Label Management
Jonathan Scanlon, General Manager at Karma Kafé and STK Downtown Dubai
Terje Abrams, Public Relations Manager, Fairmont Dubai

BAR OR NIGHTLIFE VENUE OF THE YEAR

folly by Nick & Scott
JB's Gastropub
Level 43 Sky Lounge located at Four Points by Sheraton Sheikh Zayed Road
Lock, Stock & Barrel JBR
Vault Bar, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
Zero Gravity

GYM OR SPORTING FACILITY OF THE YEAR

Body Language Health Club, Al Barari
DRYP
Embody Fitness
SoFIT Health Club at Sofitel The Palm, Dubai
The Aviation Club Dubai
The Gym

SPA OR WELLNESS CENTRE OF THE YEAR

Fairmont The Palm Health Club & Willow Stream Spa
Heart & Soul Spa, Al Barari
Saray Spa, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
SoSPA at Sofitel The Palm, Dubai
The Pearl Spa
The Waldorf Astoria Spa

RENOVATION PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Bridgewater Tavern, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
Grand Hyatt Dubai room refurbishment
Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Resort & Spa
market24
Ritz Carlton Al Hamra Beach Resort
Ritz Carlton Al Wadi Desert Resort

NEW RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR

Little Miss India, Fairmont The Palm
MASTI – Cocktails & Cuisine
Moombai & Co
SLAB
STK JBR
Trader Vic’s, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah

EVENT VENUE OF THE YEAR

Abdulrahman Fakieh Grand Ballroom
Conference Centre, Atlantis, The Palm
JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai
Palace Downtown Dubai
Roda Al Bustan - Grand Rashidiya Ballroom

TEAM OF THE YEAR

Housekeeping Team, Fairmont Dubai
Julien Pilard and Jonathan Vercoutere, Bistro Des Arts / Publique
Marketing and PR Team, Fairmont The Palm
Nick Alvis & Scott Price: Folly by Nick and Scott / The Lion by Nick and Scott
Rove Hotels Cluster Team
Zero Gravity

HEAD CHEF OF THE YEAR

Aphichat Amatmontri, Head Chef, Pai Thai
Carmine Pecoraro, Executive Chef, JW Marriott Marquis
Cesar Bartolini, Chef de Cuisine, Bread Street Kitchen & Bar, Atlantis, The Palm
Christian Knerr, Executive Chef, The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain
Francesco Pescatore, Head Chef, Cavalli Club, Restaurant & Lounge
Winfried Helmetag, Executive Chef, Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai

HOSPITALITY LEADER OF THE YEAR