The winners of the fourth edition of the Leaders in Hospitality Awards 2018 were announced at the St. Regis Dubai on Sunday, 29 April.
The event, organised by BNC Publishing for the fourth consecutive year, saw a record-number of winners, 25 in total, being named on stage in front of more than 300 guests from all sections of the hospitality industry.
Winners on the night included Dubai-based entrepreneur Ghassan Aboud, who was named as Leading International Hospitality Investor for his pioneering investments into Crystalbrook Collection, Australia. Also among the honours were Dubai-based Solutions Leisure, Fairmont Dubai, Fairmont Ajman, Fairmont Fujairah.
It was a sign of the awards’ international appeal that people flew in from all over the world to be there. International winners on the night included Oman’s Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort and Tariq Yousef, general manager of Intercontinential Riyadh.
Wissam Younane, CEO BNC Publishing, said: “Once again I am humbled to be associated with this fantastic industry. It is a real honour to see so many talented people assembled in one place to share their achievements with us.
“At BNC Publishing we endeavor to shine a light on the prowess of those within this amazing sector and that is what the awards were all about – taking the opportunity to give something back to those who give so much to us.”
The winners in full
LEADING NEW HOTEL
Presented by
WINNER: DOUBLETREE BY HILTON DUBAI BUSINESS BAY
LEADING SERVICED APARTMENTS
Presented by
WINNER: THE ADDRESS BOULEVARD
BEACH CLUB OF THE YEAR
WINNER: LAVA BEACH CLUB FAIRMONT FUJAIRAH BEACH RESORT
CSR INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
WINNER: JUMEIRA ROTANA HOTEL
BEST ONLINE BOOKING PLATFORM
WINNER: WEGO MIDDLE EAST
BEST HOTEL LOBBY
WINNER: PALAZZO VERSACE DUBAI
HOTEL RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Presented by
WINNER: TRESIND, NASSIMA ROYAL HOTEL
HOTEL SPA OF THE YEAR
WINNER: TALISE OTTOMAN, JUMEIRAH ZABEEL SARAY
SUSTAINABLE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: FAIRMONT DUBAI
BOUTIQUE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: XVA ART HOTEL
BEST MID-MARKET HOTEL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: ROVE HOTEL DOWNTOWN
LUXURY HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Presented by
WINNER: THE ADDRESS BOULEVARD
RESORT OF THE YEAR
WINNER: ANANTARA AL JABAL AL AKHDAR RESORT
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
WINNER: CHEF UWE MICHEEL
(ACCEPTED ON HIS BEHALF BY HIS COLLEAGUES AT RADISSON BLU DUBAI DEIRA CREEK)
HOTEL TEAM OF THE YEAR
WINNER: TIME OAK HOTEL & SUITES
RISING STAR
WINNER: KAROLINA GRAHAM – SOLUTIONS LEISURE
F&B MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Presented by
WINNER: NICK PATMORE – JW MARRIOT MARQUIS DUBAI
ENTREPENEUR OF THE YEAR
WINNERS: PAUL EVANS & FREEK TEUSINK – SOLUTIONS LEISURE
PROCUREMENT MANAGER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: HATEM MOHAMED – INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP
EXECUTIVE HOUSEKEEPER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: DEEPU KUNDRA FAIRMONT AJMAN
HOTEL CHEF OF THE YEAR
Presented by
WINNER: CEDRIC DARTHIAL – ATLANTIS THE PALM
HOSPITALITY HEAVYWEIGHT
Presented by
WINNER: PAUL EVANS – SOLUTIONS LEISURE
GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Presented by
WINNER: TARIQ YOUSEF INTERCONTINENTIAL RIYADH
LEADING HOSPITALITY INVESTOR
WINNER: GHASSAN ABOUD