10 Years of Recognition: Middle East Hospitality Excellence Awards 2024 Celebrate Industry Leaders

On December 17, 2024, the Arabian Ranches Golf Club and Spa in Dubai hosted the much-anticipated 10th Annual Middle East Hospitality Excellence Awards. Organized by Hozpitality Group, this milestone event brought together industry leaders, rising stars, and key stakeholders to celebrate the best of the hospitality world. The night wasn't just about awards but about acknowledging the heart, passion, and innovation that drive the industry forward.  

Presented by Danube Properties and powered by US Beef, the awards reflected the collective achievements of the hospitality community while inspiring new heights of excellence. The industry and the public actively chose this year's winners through an open and transparent voting process. Nominees appeared online, inviting everyone to vote, and the response was extraordinary. Over 151,000 votes poured in, showcasing the community's enthusiasm and commitment to celebrating excellence. This democratic approach ensured the winners genuinely represented their peers' and supporters' admiration and recognition.

The grandeur of the evening was amplified by the continuous support of sponsors and partners who share a commitment to the industry's success. The Arabian Ranches Golf Club and Spa provided a stunning venue for the celebration. Category sponsors such as Welbilt, Scent Circle, La Laundry, Generaltec, Master Baker, Zarya Wellness, and HITEK added depth to the event by championing specific awards. African Eastern, the beverage partner, kept spirits high, while Fushia Events, Absolute Frame, RestofairRAK, and RAK Porcelain ensured every event detail was perfectly polished.  

The awards have always been more than just an event—they're a true reflection of the spirit of the hospitality community. Each winner, from exceptional chefs and dedicated housekeepers to visionary managers, represented the excellence that keeps the industry thriving. The recognition wasn't just about individual accomplishments but about inspiring the entire sector to innovate and grow.  

The winners shared moments of pride, gratitude, and inspiration as they took the stage. The applause from their peers echoed a sense of shared achievement. For many, the recognition was a reward and a motivator to continue raising the bar in hospitality.  

Reflecting on the awards' journey, Raj Bhatt, Founder, and CEO of Hozpitality Group, remarked, "This event is a celebration of people—the ones who work tirelessly to create memorable guest experiences and keep the industry moving forward. The votes and the overwhelming support show how connected and passionate our hospitality community truly is."  

The 10th Middle East Hospitality Excellence Awards was more than just a celebration; it was a platform that reminded everyone of the power of recognition. By engaging the community through voting and celebrating the industry's best, the event has continued to elevate standards and foster collaboration.  

The evening also spotlighted leadership excellence as Hozpitality's Best 30 General Managers of the Year were honored on stage. These exceptional individuals were celebrated for their relentless commitment to driving operational excellence, fostering innovation, and elevating guest experiences across their properties. Their recognition added a prestigious touch to the ceremony, showcasing the vital role that strong leadership plays in shaping the future of the hospitality industry.

As the night came to a close, there was a shared sense of optimism for the future—a belief that the hospitality industry in the Middle East will continue to grow, thrive, and inspire.

Here is the list of winners from the personal and corporate categories of the 2024 Middle East Hospitality Excellence Awards:

PERSONAL CATEGORIES FINALISTS

Hospitality Leader of the Year 

Commended: Markus Oberlin, Chief Executive Officer, Farnek

Gold: Cenk Ünverdi, Managing Director, Rixos Hotels GCC

General Manager of the Year

Commended: Dominic Arel, General Manager, Fairmont The Palm  

Gold: Mohammed Kaddoura, Cluster General Manager, Address Beach Resort Fujairah and Palace Beach Resort Fujairah

 Emirati/Arab Hospitality Champion of the Year

Commended: Abdalla Ahmed Mossad Elsharawy, Guest Relations Officer, Dubai International Hotel

Gold: Khaled Shaker, Director of Investment Strategic Projects, Dubai Developments

 Hidden Gem of the Year

Commended: Anoop Tiwari, Sous Chef, DoubleTree by Hilton and Dubai M Square Hotel & Residences

Gold: Farish Rahuman, Loss Prevention Team Leader, Four Points by Sheraton Sharjah

 CSR/Sustainability Champion of the Year

Commended: Giselle Clark, Hotel Manager, Hilton Dubai the Walk

Gold: Muhammad Zaman, Cluster EHS Manager, Millennium Downtown Abu Dhabi, Copthorne Downtown Abu Dhabi, Kingsgate Hotel Abu Dhabi

 Food and Beverage Service Champion of the Year

Commended: Ahmed Magdy Abdelazim Nada, Waiter, Ramada Hotel and Suites by Wyndham Dubai JBR

Gold: Maricar Alcala, Captain, The Farm Al Barari  

 Guest Services Champion of the Year

Commended: Akbar Ali, Doorman, Ramada by Wyndham Downtown Dubai 

Gold: Kaung Htet, Guest Relation Executive, Zero Gravity Restaurant LLC

 Housekeeping Champion of the Year

Commended: Mini Tareen, Director of Housekeeping, Millennium Plaza Downtown Hotel Dubai 

Gold: Vijay Choudhary, Laundry Manager, Paramount Hotel Dubai

 Human Resources/Training Champion of the Year

Commended: Antia Ann Odero, Senior HR Administrator, Dubai Golf

Gold: Tigin Canci, Talent & Culture Manager, Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi 

 Front Office Champion of the Year

Commended: Ibrar Mehtab, Assistant Front Office Manager, Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel

Gold: Maysara Khalaf, Front Office Manager, Ramada by Wyndham Beach Hotel Ajman

Engineering Champion of the Year

Commended: Asrar Masoodi, Director of Engineering, Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham Ajman

Gold: Prakash Nakarmi, Cluster Director of Engineering, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek, Wyndham Dubai Deira

 IT Champion of the Year

Commended: Sajad Vadakkan, IT Supervisor, Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham Ajman

Gold: Sukitha Liyanage, IT Manager, NH Collection Dubai The Palm

 Admin and Secretary Champion of the Year

Commended: Maricris Martinez, Executive Secretary, Central Hotels and Resorts 

Gold: Osmana Verzola, Executive Secretary, Zero Gravity Restaurant LLC

 Spa and Fitness Champion of the Year

Commended: Hendrik van Vreden, Assistant Recreation & Spa Director, Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa Dubai

Gold: Ahmed Khaled, Health Club In-charge, Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham Ajman

 Lifeguard Champion of the Year

Commended: Karthick Vellaisamy, Lifeguard, Emirates Palace Hotel Abudhabi 

Gold: Saman Pushpa Kumara, Senior Lifeguard, Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel

 Sales and Revenue Champion of the Year

Commended: Arslan Haider, Reservation In-Charge, Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel & Coral Beach Resort Sharjah

Gold: Ashok Kapur, Director of MICE Global Sales – Middle East & Director of Sales, Taj Dubai 

 Marketing/PR Champion of the Year

Commended: Drishti Mistry, Assistant Marketing Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai Al Jadaf

Gold: Rawaa Theeb, Head of Marketing & PR, Al Barari Real Estate

 Accounts and Finance Champion of the Year

Commended: Ciju Thomas, Finance Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Dubai Al Jadaf

Gold: Andrew Braganza, General Finance (TAHR -Cluster), Arabian Ranches Golf Club

 Procurement/Supply Chain Champion of the Year

Commended: Stanly Olakkengil, Assistant Purchasing Manager, Coral Beach Resort Sharjah

Gold: Asif Mahmood, Purchase Manager, The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel

 Culinary/Kitchen Champion of the Year

Commended: Dheeraj Singh, Pastry Chef, Zero Gravity Restaurant LLC

Gold: Celia Stoecklin, Head Chef - Fi'lia Dubai, SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences

 Health/Safety Champion of the Year

Commended: Christina Roslin, Health and Safety Manager, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi

Gold: Prema Menon, EHSS Manager, Swissotel Al Murooj 

 Young Chef of the Year (Under 28 years)

Commended: Fayza Al Doubi, Commis II, Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham Ajman

Gold: Minakshi Chand, Pastry Chef, TIME Oak Hotel & Suites 

 Events/Banquets Champion of the Year

Commended: Nadeem Ahmad, Cluster Events Sales & Operation Manager, The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel

Gold: Bryan Saveret, Meeting & Events Sales Manager, Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, Wyndham Dubai Deira, Days Hotel by Wyndham Dubai Deira and Super 8 by Wyndham Dubai Deira

 Hospitality Rising Star of the Year

Commended: Sridharam Murugesan, Concierge Supervisor, Palace Dubai Creek Harbour

Gold: Maria Nazarova, Cluster Assistant Sales Manager, Bahi Ajman Palace Hotel & Coral Beach Resort Sharjah

 Food/Travel Blogger of the Year

Commended: Suren Rajamohan

https://www.instagram.com/surenrajamohan/

Gold: Isabel Ferrao

Isabel_ferrao_travelette 

 CORPORATE CATEGORIES FINALISTS

 Hotel of the Year (5 star)

Commended: Address Sky View

Gold: Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Dubai

 Hotel of the Year (4 star)

Commended: Novotel Sharjah Expo Centre

Gold: Ramada Hotel and Suites by Wyndham Dubai JBR

 Hotel of the Year (3-star/Budget hotel)

Commended: Days Hotel by Wyndham Dubai Deira

Gold: ibis World Trade Centre

 Hotel of the Year (Hotel Apartments)

Commended: Pyramisa Hotel Apartments

Gold: Bab Al Qasr Hotel & Residences

 Best Weekend Getaway

Commended: Palma Beach Resort and Spa

Gold: Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah

 Best Boutique Hotel

Commended: Palace Downtown 

Gold: DAMAC Maison Distinction

 Hotel of the Year (Sustainable Initiatives)

Commended: NH Collection Dubai The Palm

Gold: Coral Beach Resort Sharjah

 Restaurant of the Year (Fine Dining)

Commended: Asha's Restaurant International

Gold: Little Miss India

 Restaurant of the Year (Casual Dining)

Commended: Bambooda Thai Fusion Restaurant (Movenpick Grand Al Bustan)

Gold: McGettigan's JBR – Hilton Dubai Jumeirah

 Restaurant of the Year (Others)

Commended: Vibe Restaurant, The Retreat Palm Dubai 

Gold: Zero Gravity Restaurant LLC

 Banquet Venue of the Year

Commended: Swissotel Al Murooj Dubai

Gold: Address Sky View

 Lounge/Night Club of the Year

Commended: High Five Bar & Lounge

Gold: Privilege Dubai, SLS Dubai Hotel and Residences 

 Spa of the Year

Commended: Rayya Wellness, The Retreat Palm Dubai 

Gold: The Spa at Address Beach Resort

 Hotel Team of the Year

Commended: ibis World Trade Centre

Gold: Wyndham Garden Ajman Corniche

 Restaurant Team of the Year

Commended: Fi'lia, SLS Dubai & Residences

Gold: Zero Gravity Restaurant LLC

 Best Hospitality Employer of the Year

Commended: Marriott Hotels & Resorts

Gold: Taj Hotels 

 Best Hospitality Brand of the Year

Commended: Emaar Hospitality Group

Gold: Rixos Hotels

 Judges Choice Award

Culinary Champion of the Year: Thirumalai Murugan, Executive Chef, Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers

Inspiring Leader of the Year: Anoop Dhoondo, Regional General Manager Novotel & ibis World Trade Centre Dubai and ibis One Central

Hospitality Leader of the Year: Sheik Ali Rashid Ahmed Rashid Almualla, Chief Executive Officer, Palma Beach Resort and Spa

Team Player of the Year: Mark Kirby, Chief Operating Officer, Emaar Hospitality Group

Promising Entrepreneur of the Year: Mohamed Awadalla, Chief Executive Officer, TIME Hotels

Hospitality Role Model of the Year: Prateek Kumar, SVP - Operations & General Manager, Dusit Thani Dubai

Executive Chef of the Year: Hadi Mosfi, Executive Chef, Time Oak Hotel & Suits 

Promising Restaurant of the Year: Jalfrezi by Chef Vivek Huria

Commercial Leader of the Year: Nuran Kilani, Corporate Director of Commercial, TIME hotels

Marketing Champion of the Year: Paromita Ohri, Director of Marketing & Communications, Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah

Dynamic Hotelier of the Year: Sandeep Walia, Chief Operating Officer - Middle East, Marriott International

HR Leader of the Year: Carmel Ardiente, Human Resources Manager, Four Points by Sheraton Sharjah

Admin Champion of the Year: Thanie Camaya Alkhatib, Executive Secretary, Atana Hotel

Hotel Team of the Year: The Tower Plaza Hotel

Engineering Leader of the Year: Khan Hidayathulla, Engineering Manager, Four Points by Sheraton Sharjah

Finance Leader of the Year: Zaid Al Khuzouz, Cluster Director of Finance & Business Support, Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites Dubai Business Bay

Events Champion of the Year: Vipan Mishra, Head of Events Sales & Marketing, Al Qana

People Manager of the Year: Jennifer Thalawinna, Cluster HR Manager, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek, Wyndham Dubai Deira, Days Hotel by Wyndham Dubai Deira and Super 8 by Wyndham Dubai Deira