ON THE NIGHT

Regionally, studies have shown that there are 500+ hotels under construction, totalling 153,000 rooms in the MEA. The hospitality industry is predicted to reach $550 billion dollars globally, an increase of almost $100 billion dollars in the past 5 years.

That is why, we at Hotel & Catering News ME believe that it’s only fair that we celebrate the very best that the region has to offer in hospitality. From luxury brands to mid-market hotels, we pay tribute to those who make the region’s hospitality world so unique

Over the last number of years, the Leaders in Hospitality Awards event has quickly established itself as a key happening on the sector’s calendar, and the 2021 edition – a very special one – is guaranteed to be bigger and better.

Nomination

Nominations are open for BNC Publishing and Hotel & Catering News Middle East’s Leaders in Hospitality Awards 2021,

Categories include both People and Restaurants, with some exciting new additions that reflect the dynamic nature of the industry. Restaurant Categories recognise the best venues in the region, offering exceptional service and world-class dining experiences, as well as the biggest market disruptors, while People Awards celebrate visionaries, leaders and pioneers.

Submit Nomination

Nomination deadline: March 23rd, 2021

Hotel Categories

A property which has brought something brand new to the market, the Leading New Hotel will combine all aspects of exceptional service and operations with a flair. The winner ofthis award must be a newcomer, a property which has opened on January 1, 2019 or later

A hotel group that thrived amid fierce competition, the leader in this category has taken over the market with flair, innovation and all the right ingredients to make it all the way through – over and over again.

The top serviced apartments in the region, the winner of this category will have demonstrated a new approach to customer service, introduced new amenities and more.

The winner of the Leading Beach Club award will have abided to its commitment to offering an entertaining environment for the young and young at heart, with a dedication to what makes a beach club ambience unique.

Whether it’s a contribution to societal goals of a philanthropic, activist, or charitable nature, this award category covers the different ways through which a property can “give back” – whether in or out of season – all year long.

Attention to detail and outstanding customer service are the pillars of this category, and must be high up on the winner’s agenda. The property must consistently provide guests with an experience that caters to the needs of luxury travellers.

The best property at offering high standards at an accessible rate, this award will go to a hotel that caters to all ages, with a focus on the millennial market, which is seeking high-end options without sacrificing on quality of service.

The Middle East’s leading resort, this trophy will go to an outlet which has a proven track record of offering a relaxing, fun experience for guests. The winner will have shown creativity and the ability to think laterally when it comes to providing an all-inclusive package.

Offering a high-quality food and beverage offering, this award will go to an outlet that enhances guest experience, and has demonstrated a strong ability to compete with both standalone restaurants, and other in-hotel venues.

Designed to evoke what any hotel offers, this is a category where first impressions matter. Showcasing the true essence of a property, the Lobby of The Year award will be handed out to a setting that is truly deserving of the accolade.

A haven of relaxation, the winner will provide an extensive menu of treatments, coupled with an exceptional guest experience. The leading hotel spa will demonstrate a dedication to the health and wellbeing of both men and women

From saying no to plastic, to turning off the taps, this award will go to a hotel that demonstrates excellence in sustainable practices in terms of energy efficiency, waste management and social responsibility

A region known for luxury, elegance and cutting-edge interior design when it comes to hotels, this award is the talk of the town. The winner will be a property that has shown a clear focus on delivering an interior like no other.

The region’s top hotels are always in a race to offer the latest. In this category, judges are looking for innovation through a concept that has garnered attention, while leading the way for the industry

People Categories

Demonstrating outstanding leadership and inspiration, this year’s winner will possess a strong passion, while being prepared to go the distance to deliver excellence across operations and represent their brand.
The winning team in this category will have displayed operational excellence with outstanding efficiency, productivity and quality. They will have demonstrated a seamless communication process that facilitates outstanding customer service across the property.
Maintaining rooms to the highest of standards, the winner of this award will also demonstrate superb communication and leadership skills to ensure their teams share their commitment to excellence.
The winner in this category will have demonstrated the ability to oversee a procurement programme that delivers excellence and value for money across the board. The recipient of this award will have provided tangible results in terms of purchasing goods that have boosted their company’s strategy both on the long and short term.
An integral part of the successful flow of any hotel, this category will be awarded to the nominee who has kept their company at the forefront of technology. The winner will also have demonstrated the ability to show superb communication skills and offer hardware and software support at all times.
This award highlights the achievements of an individual who has showcased outstanding ability in exceeding KPIs, developing and enhancing hotel restaurant concepts while streamlining processes and team leadership.
Open to executive chefs, the winner of this category will demonstrate outstanding creativity, passion and culinary flair, along with exceptional skills in overseeing an entire kitchen operation in an efficient, cost-effective manner.
A marketeer who has understood the challenges of the market and always comes up with quick and effective marketing strategies to push their brand will make the Hospitality Marketeer of The Year. This individual will be a proven leader in conceptualising, planning and implementing effective campaigns that have taken the industry by storm.
This is someone who is making waves in the Middle East’s hotel scene. This person demonstrates tenacity, creativity and the potential to make a significant impact on the region’s hospitality landscape.
This award will go to a hospitality veteran who has dedicated their life to the pursuit of excellence across the hotel industry. Their achievements will have made the industry a better place for, not only those who have worked with them, but the entire sector.
The winner of this award will have shown commitment to identifying opportunities in the industry and putting their money where it matters. The Leading Hospitality Entrepreneur will be someone whose absence from the hospitality sector would have made it a very different place.
The Leading Hospitality Heavyweight will be someone who is known in the industry for their expertise in the sector. The winner will be a leading light in the industry who has the reputation of being an expert, and the charisma and personality to be the heavyweight.

*CATEGORIES SUBJECT TO REMOVAL IN CASE OF INSUFFICIENT NOMINATIONS

Judges

Dawn Gribble

CEO and Founder, Virtual Solutions Global Ltd. and TV Personality

Dawn Gribble has over 20 years of experience working with hospitality, and food and beverage brands, and has partnered with award-winning boutique hotels, Michelin-starred restaurants, international food brands, celebrity chefs and influencers.

Gribble has appeared on numerous top TV shows, including MasterChef and is an Expert Judge on The Restaurant Talent Show. She is the founder and chief strategist of Virtual Solutions Global, a boutique marketing agency specialising in the hospitality industry, with offices in Dubai and the UK.

Gustavo de Hostos

Managing Partner, Forsite Creative

Gustavo is the managing partner of Forsite Creative, and for the last eight years has been heading up the office in Dubai, which currently executes projects across the EMEA region.

He has a background in hospitality business and operations and has set up multidisciplinary teams to tackle turnkey hospitality and F&B projects. These services range from research, strategy and F&B concepts, to design solutions for front and back of house. This unique combination of in-house expertise ensures coherence between disciplines which are often isolated, resulting in projects which are concept-driven, market-led and operationally feasible.

Martin Kubler

CEO, sps:affinity – Strategic Partnership Solutions

Martin Kubler is a hotel GM and hospitality and service industries consultant with 20+ years of executive-level management experience in hotels, in Europe and the Middle East, and interim-and board-level consulting experience in Africa and Asia.

Kubler is the founder of Iconsulthotels, a boutique hospitality, leisure, and tourism consulting firm, and the CEO of sps:affinity, a Dubai-headquartered business advisory and consulting company. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality, a frequent speaker at hotel, marketing and customer service conferences and events, and a regular contributor to industry websites and publications.

Ali Manzoor

Partner – Hospitality and Leisure, Knight Frank

Manzoor has been in the Middle East since 2011, primarily working on hospitality development projects throughout the MENA region. In this time, he has worked with developers, investors and governmental institutions on feasibility studies, concept definition, pricing strategies and optimum site use for both large-scale multi-use projects and stand-alone assets.

Manzoor has worked with major hotel operators to develop market-entry strategies for new markets, and also helped developers successfully select operators for hospitality assets across the region.

Talal Al Rashed

Hospitality Consultant and Social Media Influencer

A Kuwaiti hospitality consultant and social media influencer who has been based in Dubai for the past six years, Al Rashed has shifted from his career in accounting, investment banking and real estate, to hospitality by studying in one of the world’s top hotel schools: Glion, and worked at different hotels and restaurants in Switzerland, Turkey, Saudi and the UAE.

Now, he travels to experience hotels and airlines, as well as luxury and dining scenes around the world and works with different lifestyle brands. Al Rashed is a public figure who leveraged social media to reach out to an elite following from the GCC region, Middle East and entire world. A global influencer, he has collaborated with many hospitality and lifestyle brands around the region.

Sponsorship

Platinum Ally

  • Onsite product branding
  • Placement of logo on all the event’s marketing collaterals preceding the event
  • Placement of logo in event email shots to the Hotel News ME mailing list
  • Mentions in press releases and subsequent published materials, including pre- and post-event
  • coverage to be featured online and dispersed via relevant social media, and pre- and post-event coverage in print
  • Social media Platinum Ally placement
  • Placement of logo on event print and digital invitations as platinum sponsor
  • Placement of logo on event site branding as platinum sponsor
  • Ally seating accommodating 2 full tables for the Platinum Ally for 20 guests
  • Video footage and imagery of the event released for promotional usage
  • 6 full print pages to be used at your discretion within a period of six months in any edition of Hotel News ME

Gold Ally

  • Placement of logo on all the event’s marketing collaterals preceding the event by 1 months
  • Placement of logo in event email shots to the Hotel News ME mailing list
  • Mentions in press releases and subsequent published materials, including pre- and post-event coverage to be featured online and dispersed via relevant social media, and pre- and post-event coverage in print
  • Social media placement mentions on Hotel News ME platforms
  • Placement of logo on event print and digital invitations as Gold Sponsor
  • Placement of logo on event site branding as Gold Sponsor
  • Ally seating accommodating 1 Full table the Gold Ally for 10 guests
  • Video footage and imagery of the event released for promotional usage
  • 4 Full print pages in Hotel News to be used at your discretion within a period of 4 months in any edition of Hotel News ME

Silver Ally

  • Placement of logo on all the event’s marketing collaterals preceding the event by 1 months
  • Mentions in press releases and subsequent published materials, including pre and post-event coverage to be featured online and dispersed via relevant social media, and pre- and post-event coverage in print
  • Placement of logo on event print and digital invitations as Silver sponsor
  • Placement of logo on event site branding as Silver sponsor
  • Ally seating accommodating one table for the Silver Ally for 6 guests
  • Video footage and imagery of the event released for promotional usage
  • 3 Full print pages in Hotel News to be used at your discretion within a period of 3 months in any edition of Hotel News ME

Category Ally

  • Placement of logo on all the event’s marketing collaterals preceding the event
  • Mentions in press releases and subsequent published materials, including pre and post-event coverage to be featured online and dispersed via relevant social media, and pre- and post-event coverage in print
  • Placement of logo on event print and digital invitations as a category sponsor
  • Placement of logo on event site branding as a category sponsor
  • Ally seating accommodating one table for 4 guests
  • Video footage and imagery of the event released for promotional usage
  • 1 Full print page in Hotel News to be used at your discretion within any edition of Hotel News ME

Contact us

For Nomination and Partnership Opportunities

Samer Alloush

Group commercial Director

Mobile: +971 55 776 4670

phone: +971 4 4200506

Email: samer@bncpublishing.net