The eighth edition of the Middle East Hospitality Awards (MEHA) has announced the shortlist for the industry’s most prestigious event featuring over 80 leading hotels, restaurants and bars that have made their way through the toughest competition that the Awards has seen to date.
The hospitality industry’s remarkable properties, projects and people will be honoured on Wednesday, 18th September at The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC, Dubai.
The Middle East Hospitality Awards 2019 sponsored by Restonic, Montalbano, 1765 Gemini, Stölzle Lausitz, CHURCHiLL, Top Chairs, Mai Dubai and The Goodness Company saw a 40% increase in entries from distinct properties in the GCC in comparison to last year – a testament to the positive outlook in the region’s hospitality sector.
Two new award categories included this year are Best Use of Technology and, by popular demand, Restaurant of the Year. Several major new market entrants have submitted entries to the awards this year, with many of them, such as Lapita, Dubai Parks and Resorts and Autograph Collection making the shorlist in their debut year – true testament to the continuing innovation in the market.
One of the strongest categories, The Hospitality Leader of the Year, features 16 outstanding professionals from across the region. The entries received for this category highlights that hiring and retaining the right paramount in ensuring quality, retention and delivering seamless customer experience in the hospitality industry – set to be a key pillar of the expected growth of the UAE and wider GCC economy, for 2020 and beyond. The shortlist is comprised of professionals from various demographics and property categories which reflects the sector’s quality-driven, excellence-first approach.
Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of Dubai Duty Free will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the event for his contribution, spanning more than three decades, in shaping Dubai’s tourism, hospitality and retail sectors. This award will be presented by last year’s awardee Gerald Lawless, former President and CEO of the Jumeirah Group and immediate-past chair of the World Travel and Trade Council.
Nathan Waugh, Portfolio Director – Hospitality Division said, “We are excited to announce the largest shortlist in the history of the Awards. Given the exceptional quality and large number of entries that we received this year, it was not an easy task for our experienced panel of judges to compile this shortlist. The hospitality industry in the GCC continues to set world-class standards and leads the way through innovation – a remarkable achievement in the current challenging economic climate. I would like to thank all participants who submitted such compelling entries this year and congratulations to all who made it to the shortlist”.
An accomplished panel of judges will review the entries to finalise the winners. The judges for this year are Rupprecht Queitsch, CEO, INHOCO Group; Esra Lemmens, Founder, The Esra Lemmens Agency; Christopher Lund, Head of Hotels, MENA Region; Colliers International, Peter Goddard, Managing Director, TRI Consulting; Stefan Breg, Head of Strategy, Keane Brands; Martin Kubler, CEO, sps:affinity; Tatjana Ahmed, Functional Specialist Housekeeping, Hyatt Hotels; Ali Manzoor, Partner, Hospitality and Leisure, Knight Frank.
The full MEHA 2019 shortlist is available here: http://awards.thehotelshow.com/shortlist-2019.html
MEHA will take place in conjunction with the 20th edition of The Hotel Show and part of the Middle East Design and Hospitality Week. For more information on how to attend the Awards or to register for The Hotel Show Dubai which will also give you access to The Leisure Show, INDEX, FIM, Surface Design Middle East, FIM and INDEX Home visit: www.thehotelshow.com
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