The attendees, sponsors and winners of BNC Publishing’s Leaders in F&B Awards offer their feedback on the inaugural event, which welcomed more than 400 F&B professionals to Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi on Wednesday 9 November, to celebrate excellence and innovation in the Middle East’s restaurant, bar and catering sector.
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“For a first time event, in my opinion they exceeded and outdid the others. Job well done! I also liked their choice of location and the food and service was good” -
“The selection of the venue was done very professionally and carefully. It was more interesting that the industry experts were voting instead of an online open voting system where everyone can vote multiple times and more subjectively”
Majed Al Alawi, Group PR & Marketing Manager, Mythos, Nola & The Music Room
“We have been to other award shows recently where the room got emptier as the night progressed, which is a shame for those receiving awards in the second half of the event. At Leaders in F&B Awards, everyone was there until the end and beyond. Credit to the team for keeping the party atmosphere going.”
Ross Hassard, Brand Manager, The Gourmet Olive Market.
“Everyone from the Pulsar Foodstuff team had a fantastic night at the F&B Leaders Awards. We had the opportunity to catch up with friends from the industry and managed to find a number of new leads!”
Stephen Bennett, General Manager, Pulsar Foodstuff
“An excellent evening – a future fixture in the Dubai calendar.”
Sean Moore, Director, Winterhalter
“Great event and most of all a fantastic crowd with many great leaders and influencers from the trade.”
Leonard Parot, Key Account Manager, Manitowoc Foodservice, Inc.
“We think that the awards night was awesome. Being one of the oldest hotels in the GCC and having 16 F&B outlets we attend plenty of similar events in Dubai. So far F&B Leaders one was best organised in terms of timing, atmosphere and location. Straight to the point, very clear and quick. We were pleased to see a full house of our colleagues and the fact that everyone stayed till the very end. The food was delicious and the menu inclusive of vegetarian options. The dessert was to die for! Well done guys!”
Inna Gernega, PR Manager, Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek
“Thank you to Catering News Middle East for hosting a fantastic event. The Leaders in F&B Awards were a huge success and well done to all of the nominees and congratulations to all of the winners from the evening. Thank you again; the team at 1765 Gemini were proud to be a part of the event.”
Sophie Thornton, Marketing Executive, 1765 Gemini
“A fantastic evening, a great turnout and an interesting array of awards. Would definitely like to attend next year!”
Ismail Tekin, Founding Partner, Lambert Strategic Business Advisory Co.
“I wanted to personally thank you for organising another amazing evening. Very well done! A great turnout of industry peers, excellent service, a beautiful venue and very well managed. Hats off to you!”
Terje Abrams, Public Relations Manager, Kempinski Hotel Ajman
“I would like to congratulate the team at Catering News ME for their support of the food & beverage industry within the region – Bravo! Personally, and professionally I am honoured and thrilled to be part of the Leaders in F&B Awards, to help recognise the talented people that continue to shape Dubai’s world class food and beverage scene. “
Mark Patten, Senior Vice President, Food & Beverage, Atlantis, The Palm Dubai
“Congratulations to BNC Publishing on running an excellent awards evening. Fast flowing, great food and a unique format all made for an enjoyable evening. Definitely keen to help with the drinks next year.”
Jason Clarke, Path Bar School, African + Eastern
“We are really pleased to have been part of Leaders in F&B Awards after seeing the excitement and enthusiasm between the key players in the food & beverage industry. We believe Leaders in F&B Awards set a new standard to balance between quantum and qualitative, and raised the bar for such events.”
Mohamed Karam, inSinkerator
“Catering News’ Leaders in F&B Awards was a wonder celebration of the key players in the UAE’s vibrant and ever-evolving food and beverage scene. It was great to be able to get together under one roof to toast and share the successes of not just our business but with those behind some of best restaurants and bars here in Dubai.”
Dannii Gardiner, Communications Officer, Bull&Roo
“It was a surprise to us and it is very nice to be finally recognised for all our hard work. We never really get feedback in our industry because everyone forgets the long hours we put in to make sure their restaurant opens on time despite the delay in handing over the kitchen and bar areas for us to start our work. Not to mention, many of the nice innovative products we represent took hard work to locate and get on board. People only remember things like their microwave did not work the first night of opening!”
Rashid Bahar, Business Development Manager, TSSC Dubai
“ Now, this was one classy event. The Leaders in F&B Awards 2016 was one rocking, uber-cool Party. It was handled brilliantly, end to end. The atmosphere was electric with the crème de la crème of the Region’s F&B giants gathered under the chandeliers. And the best thing was: the momentum kept on going, right till the very end. Overall, it was a great networking opportunity for all sponsors as well. Heartiest congratulations to the BNC Team on such a fantastic Awards ceremony. Truly the Oscar of the F&B Industry!
Shankar Sharma, Caffe di Artisan
Winner of ‘Leading Nightlife Venue’ for Lock Stock & Barrel
Winner of ‘F&B Heavyweight’ – Paul Evans, managing director, Solutions Leisure
“The Solutions Leisure team had an awesome time at the Leaders in F&B awards! Thank you for awarding us Leading Nightlife Venue (LSB) and F&B Heavyweight (Paul Evans). This is such a huge achievement for us”
Beatriz Dujale, PR & marketing executive, Solutions Leisure
Winner of ‘Leading F&B Investor’
