INTER-HOTEL CULINARY COMPETITION RETURNS TO SAUDI ARABIA THIS WEEK

The ‘Inter-Hotel Culinary Competition – Mystery Box Challenge’ is returning to Saudi Arabia this week with a bigger line up of hotels and resorts for its 2018 edition, battling it out to be recognised as the country’s finest hotel kitchen.

After its highly successful debut in 2017 which saw Jeddah’s Mövenpick Resort Al Nawras cook up a storm to be crowned champion, the competition will now remain a central annual feature of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia and run across its three days – 10-12^th April 2018 – at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events.

Some of the finest hotels from across the Kingdom are set to take part this year including: Hotel Pullman Zamzam Makkah, InterContinental Jeddah, Le Méridien Towers Makkah, Hotel Mercure Jeddah Al Hamra, and Swissotel Al Maqam Makkah.

Endorsed by WORLDCHEFS, the Saudi Arabian Chefs’ Association and Culinary Partner, Unilever Food Solutions, the competition is the only of its kind in the Kingdom and its organisers’ have raised the bar this year to provide an even more challenging experience for competing F&B teams.

“In 2018 we will continue with the ‘Mystery Box’ concept, but in order to increase the degree of difficulty for the chefs we are reducing the available cooking time and adding in some more tricky ingredients – with a focus on healthy eating,” said Chef Yasser Jad – Founder and President of the Saudi Arabian Chefs’ Association (SARCA) and Food and Beverage Manager at Saudi Airlines – who will chair the panel of judges, a line-up of international chefs based outside the hotel environment, to ensure impartial judging.

Each of the teams will be given 2-3 hours to whip-up four courses using ‘Mystery Box’ ingredients only revealed to them once they have stepped inside the kitchen.

Pictured: some of the dishes prepared by the hotel chefs at the Inter-hotel Culinary Competition 2017

Jad added: “To cook an impressive, tasty four-course meal from unfamiliar ingredients is a challenging feat for any chef.

“This competition is so important for chefs in the Kingdom today. There is a wealth of new hotel and restaurant concepts opening with so many international dining options on the agenda. Hotel chefs need to be prepared to handle a wider range of new ingredients to cater to the tastes of both domestic and global travelers.

“More people are traveling across Saudi than ever before. A Japanese guest, for example, staying at a local, traditional Arabic hotel might ask for something with more of an oriental flavor that’s not on the menu. Today’s chefs need to be versatile to cater to the needs of international palettes. More unusual takes on the items in the Mystery Box and a real focus on flavor – which makes up the largest part of the scoring at 50% – is what will set the winning team apart from the rest of the competition.”

The judges will sample each dish created, before crowning the winners based on the WORLDCHEFS-approved judging criteria namely: fixed time (0-5 points), preparations and processing of raw materials and hygiene (0-10 points), correct professional preparation (0-25 points), organization and innovative presentation (0-10 points), and taste (0-50 points).

Pictured: some of the participating hotel chefs present their food to the expert judges at WORLDCHEFS during the Inter-Hotel Culinary Competition 2017

Speaking about the Mystery Box concept – made famous by various international food television programmes – Jad added: “Cooking TV shows such as ‘Master Chef Arabia’ and ‘Top Chef’ – which I have personally participated in as jury judge – undoubtedly encourage amateur and professional chefs of all ages and classes not to fear the audience and to be themselves given the challenges they face so as to develop their skills. This will also help them develop the necessary personality traits to become one of the respected, world-class chefs in the future.”

The Inter-Hotel Culinary Competition – Mystery Box Challenge will take place throughout The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia, 10-12^th April 2018 at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events, with a series of heats each day until the winner is revealed on the final day of the event (12^th April 2018).

Now entering its 6^th year, the Saudi Arabian edition of Dubai-based The Hotel Show unites thousands of hotel and restaurant professionals for three days of business and networking each year.

For more information on The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2018 and how to register to attend for free, please visit: www.thehotelshowsaudiarabia.com

Pictured: last year’s winners of the debut Inter-Hotel Culinary Competition – Mystery Box Challenge from the Mövenpick Resort Al Nawras Jeddah with the expert judging panel from WORLDCHEFS, and representatives from The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia and sponsors RAK Porcelain 

EXPERT CHEFS TO DEMONSTRATE LATEST TRENDS IN F&B IN THE KINGDOM AT HOTEL SHOW

The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia is returning to Jeddah for its 6^th annual edition next week and various live kitchens will be set up across the show floor demonstrating the latest local and international products and trends in F&B.

The Inter-Hotel Culinary Competition is returning for its highly-anticipated second edition, endorsed by WORLDCHEFS, The Saudi Arabian Chefs Association and Culinary Partner Unilever Food Solutions. Meanwhile Unilevers’ stand will have its own dedicated kitchen where various new products and recipes will be revealed to the Saudi market for live demonstrations.

Chef Jean Van Der Westhuizen, Executive Chef Middle East, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who will be cooking up a storm at the Unilever showcase at the event, commented: “The Saudi food industry grows differently to other markets. There has always been a growing popularity for importing international brands into the Kingdom and we can see that these have started to adapt more closely to the unique needs of Saudi Arabian diners.

“We want to cater to the specific needs of the customers in HORECA and their guests. Being at The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia gives us the opportunity to interact with the industry to identify their needs and wants, and share the latest local and international trends and insights.

“We are seeing that owners and managers of high-end hotels, restaurants, and business class travel are searching to enhance their guest experience through high quality natural flavors, and they also care about every detail of service. Pure Leaf, a premium tea brand, popular in the United States, is a great fit for this purpose.

“Less sugar-based beverages are increasingly important. Thus our launch of Lipton Freshly Brewed Ice Tea offers great alternatives to soft drinks to the more health conscious diner.”

Pictured: Chef Jean Van Der Westhuizen, Executive Chef Middle East, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Unilever Food Solutions will be cooking up a storm at the Unilever stand at The Hotel Show in Jeddah

Unilever will also use The Hotel Show as a platform to highlight its latest innovation in its foods portfolio with ‘Knorr Tomato Powder’ – a product which transform 88 dehydrated tomatoes into 6.7 litres of rich tomato sauce in just one minute. The sauce is an innovative solution for Chefs delivering less wastage, more yield per pack, savings with storage space, and provides a highly versatile ingredient for use in many dishes.

The Unilever Food Solutions team will also share its latest, specialist advice for Ramadan at the Jeddah event, focusing on inspirational buffet recipes, monitoring dish consumption to manage costs, and reducing waste, to name a few.

See the latest trends in food and beverages in the Kingdom at The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2018 at the Unilever Food Solutions stand E98 and the second edition of The Inter-Hotel Culinary Competition – featuring the Chefs working behind the scenes at some of the Kingdom’s leading hotels – 10-12^th April 2018 at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events.

Find out more and register to attend The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2018 for free at: www.thehotelshowsaudiarabia.com

 

TOURIST BOOM PROPELS MIDDLE EAST ABOVE EUROPE IN TERMS OF PLANNED HOTEL ROOM OPENINGS

The Middle East’s tourist boom shows no sign of slowing – as new figures reveal the region has overtaken Europe in regards to the number of new hotel rooms in the pipeline.

According to ‘The Middle East Hotel Construction Overview’ report by TOPHOTELPROJECTS – prepared ahead of this year’s editions of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia (10-12^th April 2018) and The Hotel Show Dubai (16-18^th September 2018) – the Middle East is set to add 238,963 new hotel rooms to its current supply, the majority of which will open in the next five years.

There are 214,743 guest rooms set to open in Europe, putting the Middle East ahead of its neighboring region – despite Europe having more new hotel builds in the pipeline.

Ray Tinston, Portfolio Director of The Hotel Show events, said: “This new report reveals the extent to which the room to project ratio for Middle Eastern hospitality projects is considerably higher than average.

“Hospitality here is synonymous with luxury, opulence and pushing boundaries in terms of scale, magnitude and grandeur. As five star developments and mega resorts continue to dominate its construction pipeline, it’s not surprising that this region has an extraordinary number of rooms in development, even higher than compared with regions with a larger amount of individual hotel projects.”

The UAE (222 projects / 126,576 rooms) and Saudi Arabia (143 projects / 55,810 rooms) are the two most active countries for hospitality development in the Middle East.

An even clearer indicator of continued growth for the region is its having more hotel rooms on the way than South America and Africa combined.

“Dubai continues to lead the global hospitality industry in terms of innovation,” said Tinston. “The world’s tallest hotel has just opened here, and it is due to welcome the first hotel in the world with its own rainforest. Developers here continue to push boundaries – it’s a very exciting market.”

Pictured: Gevora Hotel – the tallest hotel in the world – recently opened on Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road

The region’s strong placing is being attributed to substantial growth across its major countries. Saudi Arabia, for example, is in the midst of widespread change in line with the governments’ Saudi Vision 2030 – with a focus on improving its position as a destination for tourism.

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts currently operates 11 hotels across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and has five hotel projects under development in its major cities of Riyadh and Jeddah, Al Khobar – popular with leisure tourists with its coastal location – and industrial city Wa’ad Al Shamal.

Marc Descrozaille, President Middle East & Africa, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, said: “Saudi Arabia is not only home to the Gulf’s largest population, with more than 33 million residents and a robust domestic tourism market, but has become the focal point for government and international investment, based on economic diversification plans designed to secure its long-term prosperity.

“We continue to seek more opportunities to expand our footprint in Saudi Arabia, given its long-term business, investment and tourism prospects. New cities, bigger airports, major leisure-focused tourism attractions and new visa rules are all part of the plan to put the Kingdom on the global tourism map. Saudi’s big-picture plans for development will benefit the hospitality market and the economy at large.”

Pictured: Upcoming hotel opening for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mövenpick Hotel Heraa Jeddah

The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2018 is set to return to the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events next month (10-12^th April 2018) for its sixth edition, with highlights including its highly anticipated ‘Inter-Hotel Culinary Competition’ endorsed by WORLDCHEFS, The Saudi Arabian Chefs Association and Culinary Partner, Unilever Food Solutions.

Hundreds of global brands will showcase the latest products and services designed for the hospitality industry from interiors to technology to thousands of hoteliers and restaurateurs in the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, the 19^th edition of The Hotel Show Dubai will take place 16-18^th September 2018 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Its world-renowned live features including The Middle East Housekeepers League of Champions and The Middle East Hospitality Leadership Forum, are set to return in a big way for 2018.

Find out more about The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2018 and The Hotel Show Dubai 2018 at: www.thehotelshowsaudiarabia.com / www.thehotelshow.com.

THE HOTEL SHOW DUBAI SET TO REACH NEW HEIGHTS IN 2018

Dubai continues to lead the way for hospitality development in the Middle East as its most active city for hotel and restaurant construction, synonymous with world-leading design, service standards, and innovation.

The Hotel Show Dubai has been moving with the trends in the region’s hospitality industry for almost two decades and its 19th edition, taking place from 16-18th September 2018 at the Dubai World Trade Centre – is set to push the boundaries even further.

Like the world-first features that launched at the event in 2017, its 2018 line-up is set to reach new heights, just like the world’s tallest hotel which recently opened in its native Dubai…

The Middle East Housekeepers League of Champions 2018

The first event of its kind in the world launched at The Hotel Show last year, and is returning to Dubai after widespread acclaim that’s led to editions in the likes of South Africa.  Housekeeping staff are arguably the most vital component of any successful hotel. At The Middle East Housekeepers League of Champions, it is their time to shine. At The Hotel Show Dubai 2018 the event will once again pit teams from the UAE’s biggest hotels head-to-head as they race to remedy ransacked rooms against the clock. Fairmont Dubai was crowned champion last year, let’s see who will be taking the title this September…

The Middle East Hospitality Leadership Forum 2018

Will also return to the event with a brand-new line up of expert speakers. The key industry forum will feature well over 50 senior hoteliers, restaurateurs, developers and other key market players engaged in live and unscripted debate on the key strategic opportunities and challenges shaping the regional sector at this time of accelerated expansion and change.

Middle East Hospitality Awards 2018

The Middle East Hospitality Awards will once again take place at one of the top hotels in Dubai, the venue to be announced at The Hotel Show Dubai 2018 launch party (details coming soon!). The evening celebrates outstanding achievements, innovations and excellence across the region’s top hotels, resorts and restaurants over the past 12 months and is set to be attended once again by hundreds of senior industry professionals.

INNOVATION ALERT: Watch this space…
Brand-new features are yet to be announced for 2018 – set to bring innovative takes on the key functions of any hotel and/or restaurant that the industry will not want to miss…

Relive the highlights from The Hotel Show Dubai 2017 
The new show highlights video showcases all of the best of the 18th edition of the region’s leading hospitality event – take a look… 

Find out more: www.thehotelshow.com 

 

2018 FORECAST AS BUSY YEAR FOR UAE HOTEL OPENINGS WITH 83 NEW PROJECTS SET TO LAUNCH

As the region’s largest and longest-standing hospitality event draws to a close for 2017, forecasters have revealed that 2018 is expected be hugely eventful for the UAE’s hospitality industry – with no less than 83 new hotels set to open.

The latest Middle East and Africa Hotel Construction report by TOPHOTELPROJECTS –  commissioned by The Hotel Show Dubai 2017, the 18^th edition of which concludes today (20^th September 2017) at the Dubai World Trade Centre – has identified the UAE as being the busiest country for hotel construction in the Middle East and Africa.

The region currently has more than 200 hotel projects in the pipeline, with Dubai (164 projects), Abu Dhabi (25 projects) and Ras al Khaimah (12 projects) seen as the busiest areas for hotel construction in the UAE. Of these properties, 83 will open next year.

Some of the most anticipated hotel openings include Dubai’s Rosemont Hotel and Residences, Curio Collection by Hilton (730 rooms) and Fairmont Abu Dhabi Marina Hotel & Residences (812 rooms).

“The spotlight is firmly on the hospitality industry in this region, particularly the UAE,” commented Gary Williams, Event Director of The Hotel Show, part of the dmg events hospitality portfolio which also includes The Leisure Show and the Middle East Hospitality Awards – which have all run in Dubai this week to massive success.

“We have welcomed more regional and international guests to our events this week than ever before in our 18-year history serving this market, some of which have massive expansion plans for the region, covering hundreds of hotels.

“Some of the business deals orchestrated at our shows this week have been unprecedented, and this just goes to illustrate once more how continually forward-thinking and how constantly growing the hospitality market is in this part of the world. With experts revealing that hotel openings are going to galvanise the market from 2018, we are set to provide the industry with an even larger showcase of the best products and insights.”

Event organisers have today revealed the dates for next year’s The Hotel Show Dubai and The Leisure Show Dubai. Both will take place 16-18^th September 2018.

In making that announcement, the event organisers also unveiled how both shows will be brought to life with more live features than ever before.

Following on from the huge success of its debut running in 2017, The Middle East Housekeepers League of Champions will once again pit the region’s exceptional pool of background staff against one another in The Hotel Show’s timed contest to clean-up ransacked guest rooms, which attracted an incredible 28 different teams for its inaugural hosting.

The Middle East Hospitality Leadership Forum – which itself drew capacity crowds to every discussion at this year’s show – will return too, maintaining the same quality caliber of speakers which included Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM).

At The Leisure Show, new features will include The Landscaping Competition, The Outdoor Furniture Showcase and Everything Golf – the latter geared at providing all the equipment vital to developing and maintaining the region’s unparalleled golf offering.

The ever-popular Fit Hub will bring live gym sessions back to the Dubai World Trade Centre once more, while the Pool and Spa Conference will gather leading professionals to dissect both the challenges and opportunities facing one of the Middle East’s fastest growing industries.

To find out more about the 2018 editions of The Hotel Show and The Leisure Show, please access: www.thehotelshow.com and www.theleisureshow.com

 

THE SHOE’S ON THE OTHER FOOT: HOW DUBAI WORKWEAR IS NOW DICTATED BY ITS PEOPLE AFTER ‘HIPSTER’ REVOLUTION TRANSFORMED STAFF ATTIRE

The Dubai designer behind many of the city’s most iconic uniforms has revealed how hipster-led trends have revolutionised UAE workwear, rewriting the rules of professional attire.

David Sprakes, design and production manager at Dubai-based hospitality uniform manufacturers A. Ronai, has spent the last 23-years at the forefront of modern workwear, dreaming-up award-winning ensembles for the region’s leading airlines, and a catalogue of its most popular hotels and restaurants.

Pictured: David Sprakes, Design and Production Manager, A. Ronai

Across his tenure as one of Dubai’s most respected industry designers, he has observed and helped drive many significant culture shifts in the style, shape and shading of work outfits adorned by thousands of the city’s people every day.

However, he believes that the transformation uniforms have gone through in the last year alone has forever revolutionised the city’s approach to workwear – and now leaves staff with almost a full closet of work attire.

Speaking ahead of presenting A. Ronai’s latest line of stand-out outfits at ‘The Runway’ feature at next week’s The Hotel Show Dubai, Sprakes said: “I have noticed many changes over the last ten years. There has been a real move away from the traditional Dubai look and feel, as the Emirate embraces trends from the rest of the world.

“The hipster trend, imported from the likes of Brooklyn and Camden, hit the UAE last year. With that, we’re now seeing a shift away from very formal uniform designs. What’s in fashion and heavily requested across Dubai at the moment is more denim, braces, checked shirts, waistcoats, even fedora hats. The hipster style is making a big impact.”

Sprakes relishes that ‘the hipster effect’ has signaled an end to the days of brash and stuffy workwear, ushering in an era of uniforms experts consider to be on the verge of haute couture.

He continued: “International hotels and restaurants opening across the city are like those you might find in London, Chicago, or Spain, and the looks are becoming just as intercontinental.

“Rather than staff looking very similar to one another, venues are being more relaxed with uniforms and employing staff with a more individual look and working with that.

“This year we’ve been delighted to work with Roda Al Murooj Downtown Dubai on the new look for the British-themed ‘Double Decker’ bar. The staff there are able to wear their own jeans, whilst the attire we designed is customized to each individual person, certainly with a hipster influence to it including a canvas blazer for management and checked shirts for service staff.”

Pictured: The new Double Decker uniform at Roda Al Murooj Downtown Dubai designed by A. Ronai is an example of the ‘hipster’ trend

The movement towards uniforms that reflect employee personality has gone hand-in-hand with the Emirates’ growing hospitality and commercial diversity, which will also be explored at The Hotel Show.

Sprakes added: “We are launching our new catalogue at The Hotel Show Dubai. ‘The Runway’ is a static fashion show that will showcase more than twenty of the latest looks from front of house service staff to back of house including chefs and housekeepers. We will also have a full range of our latest available materials with brand new styles, textures and colours.”

At The Hotel Show Dubai (18-20^th September 2017) other trends to be covered reflect the latest developments in the fast-growing and diversifying hospitality industry including: ‘Market Positioning’, ‘Design & Layout’, ‘Technology’, ‘Women in Leadership’ and ‘Predictions for the Ongoing Development of Dubai’s Hospitality & Tourism Sector’ at ‘The Middle East Hospitality Leadership Forum’.

The conference, alongside ‘The Runway’ and ‘The Middle East Housekeepers League of Champions’ will take place across the three days of the annual hospitality exhibition.

This year, the 18^th edition of The Hotel Show will take place as part of Dubai International Hospitality Week (DIHW). The Dubai Tourism endorsed event, organised by dmg events and the DWTC, is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors.

The three-day event, taking place at the DWTC, encompasses six hospitality and foodservice trade shows under one roof: The Hotel Show and The Leisure Show (owned and organised by dmg events); GulfHost, The Speciality Food Festival, and SEAFEX Middle East (owned and organised by DWTC); and yummex ME (jointly organised by DWTC and Kölnmesse).

To find out more and register to attend the events for free, visit: www.thehotelshow.com

THE RISING STARS ENSURING MIDDLE EASTERN HOSPITALITY STAYS ON TOP: MEET THE AMBITIOUS YOUNG HOTELIERS SHAPING THE REGION’S TOURISM FUTURE

As the hospitality industry in the UAE continues to lead as a driver of employment ahead of 2020, the sector’s leading awards ceremony is recognising its most promising rising stars.

Four exceptional young people – between them helping shape the future of guest services, features and design for the thousands of world-class hotels and restaurants in the region – have been shortlisted for the ‘Rising Star Award’ at the 2017 Middle East Hospitality Awards (MEHA).

From pioneering innovative employee initiatives and launching new brands, to serving as role models to the Emirati community, and even assisting with marriage proposals, it’s all in a day’s work for this group of promising young men and women working for some of the world’s biggest names.

Three of the total of four distinct finalists represent the next generation of hoteliers: Cenk Unverdi, General Manager at Rixos the Palm Dubai; Elham Bolooki, Operations Manager – Future Leader Programme at Jumeirah Group; and Peter Adel, Front Desk Supervisor at Fairmont Dubai; whilst Yasmin Farahmandy, an Interior Designer at Gensler, is becoming known as one to watch for hotel and restaurant design.

“This year, the standard of entries at MEHA has been higher than ever before,” commented Gary Williams, Event Director of The Hotel Show Dubai, organisers of MEHA 2017.

“The young people shortlisted for the Rising Star Award are the talent responsible for driving this innovative and fast-paced industry forward in this region. Without them, the hotel and restaurant sector would become stagnant. As such, it is important to highlight their immense achievements that keep bringing tourists back to Dubai, and further cement this region on the global map for hospitality excellence.”

Cenk Unverdi, General Manager at Rixos the Palm Dubai, was promoted to the position of GM at the tender age of 31. Under his leadership, the resort recorded an impressive average occupancy rate of 90% throughout 2016, and launched the all-inclusive service concept the hotel and brand have since become known for in the UAE.

Speaking about the initiative, Unverdi said: “Being the first of its kind here meant that we had no familiar benchmark or standard from which to build on or learn from, but it was what our guests wanted, and that meant it was imperative for the business. We were very pleased by its enormous success, and it was an invaluable reminder of our importance and influence in the market – we like to take calculated risks and are not afraid to do what’s not been done before.”

Pictured: Cenk Unverdi, General Manager, Rixos the Palm Dubai

Unverdi is known by his staff as being, first and foremost, extremely approachable. He launched the “Coffee with Cenk” initiative to allow any employee the opportunity to sit down with him in the Grand King Suite, enjoying 360 views panoramic views of Dubai, to discuss anything that they may choose.

Identified by the Jumeirah Group as an employee with high potential, 24-year-old Elham Bolooki is an Operations Manager at Jumeirah Al Naseem under the firms ‘National Future Leaders Programme’ – currently placed in the culinary department. The programme aims to train UAE nationals in a five-year-period to become Jumeirah’s Hotel Managers of the future.

During her time at the Burj Al Arab, Bolooki developed an impressive new training programme for the hotel’s housekeeping function designed to elevate staff’s personal confidence. An evaluation found that it had significantly increased job efficiency and satisfaction amongst this employee group. The programme is still being offered at Burj Al Arab today.

Pictured: Elham Bolooki, Operations Manager, Jumeirah Group – National Leaders Programme

Bolooki studied at The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (EAHM) based in Dubai, recently identified by Education.com as one of the top ten hospitality management schools in the world.

Marianne Saulwick, Director of Industry Liaison and Professional Development at EAHM, commented: “An Emirati woman achieving in the male dominated world of hospitality, Elham is a wonderful example of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for the women of the UAE.”

Peter Adel, a 29-year-old Front Desk Supervisor at Fairmont Dubai, started his career as a food runner in an all-day dining restaurant at Fairmont Nile City in Cairo. After being promoted to a server, he was then chosen as one of just five employees from a pool of 800 candidates to transfer to Fairmont Dubai in 2012.

Adel has since become affectionately known as the “Fairmont Kid” due to his eight successful years with brand and unconditional loyalty. He is known for his tendency to go above and beyond the call of duty in all aspects of his role, including guest services. From assisting with successful and memorable marriage proposals to paying for a guest’s lost item out of his own pocket, Adel is cited as a major influence on guest loyalty.

Pictured: Peter Adel, Front Desk Supervisor, Fairmont Dubai

Anuja Ghosh, Training and Development Manager at Fairmont Dubai, said: “When assessing the front office training needs as an LQA mystery shopper during a busy weekend at Fairmont Dubai, Peter touched my heart the moment I checked into the hotel with his genuine humbleness, when handing a coloring book to my four-year old daughter. Keep in mind – Fairmont Dubai is not a family hotel, but he went beyond his call of duty, to make my daughter happy. Peter is guest-oriented, extremely passionate about his colleague-development and highly driven by the results, as his record-breaking upselling numbers in Fairmont Dubai’s 15-year history proves.”

Adel was named “Upselling Champion of the Year” for the Fairmont Dubai in 2016, and has expressed desires to progress in his career to become a Director of Sales and Marketing.

Yasmin Farahmandy, an Interior Designer at Gensler, is a 26-year-old multi-award winning designer and artist, known for her exceptional pieces which have featured in some of Dubai’s biggest hotels.

Pictured: Yasmin Farahmandy, Interior Designer, Gensler

Despite her young age, Farahmandy’s design experience has led her to build her own furniture line, which is set to launch in 2018.

Sejal Patel, a Lead Designer at Gensler, the global design practice where Farahmandy currently resides, commented: “Yasmin has been paramount to the successful opening and startup of Gensler Hospitality Interior Design operation in the Dubai office for the MEA region. With strong communication skills, leadership potential and extraordinary forward-thinking spirit, these qualities have led her to win numerous awards.”

A panel of ten industry experts including Michelin-starred Chef and Restaurateur Gary Rhodes OBE make up the MEHA 2017 judging panel. The winner of the Rising Star Award along with 16 other categories from ‘Head Chef of the Year’ to ‘Luxury Hotel of the Year’ will be announced at MEHA 2017 on the first night of The Hotel Show Dubai, 18^th September 2017, at the Palazzo Versace Dubai.

MEHA 2017 is sponsored by Restonic, Pastificio Di Martino, Zumtobel Group, Kimbo, Pearl Tree and The L’OCCITANE Group.

For more information on how to attend the Middle East Hospitality Awards or The Hotel Show Dubai, please visit: www.thehotelshow.com

 

FROM ‘SPARRING’ WITH A LEGENDARY BOXER TO SADDLING UP FOR THE TOUR DE FRANCE: DUBAI EXPERTS REVEAL THE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES SET TO REVOLUTIONISE HOW WE TRAIN

How would you fair going toe-to-toe with a boxing legend or a MMA superstar? Well, according to Dubai’s leading fitness gurus, you’ll soon be able to find out – without risking a black eye or two!

Experts from Les Mills – the world’s largest international provider of group fitness classes – have offered a glimpse into the future of exercise ahead of their much anticipated talk on the digital revolution of the gym at next month’s The Leisure Show Dubai.

According to the UAE-based team, full-scale, virtual reality work-out immersion is the future – allowing gym buffs to tackle everything from the Tour de France’s toughest peaks to getting the best of champion boxers – all from the relative comfort of the gym.

Les Mills recently launched the world’s first immersive fitness program – THE TRIP – internationally, with its first location in the Middle East at GFX Indoor Cycling Studio in Dubai’s Business Bay. The cycle-classes, held in a darkened studio with a cinema-scale screen and booming surround-sound, have been taking UAE based cyclists on a virtual journey through digitally-created worlds since July, to sell-out success.

Pictured: Les Mills THE TRIP class in full swing 

Speaking ahead of their appearance at September’s three-day exhibition – the only one of its kind in the region dedicated to leisure, sports and resorts – Glen Stollery, Director at Les Mills Middle East, made clear this kind of technology is only the beginning in what promises to be a new-age for fitness and exercise.

He said: “Group exercise is more popular than ever, but millennials don’t want to be working out in the same way in which their parents did, through traditional step classes, for example.

“Combining technology and fitness in a way that is in some ways gamifying an exercise class is a radical concept that requires a big investment and entire team of animators. We developed THE TRIP over the course of a year and tested it out in five different clubs across the world before launching it commercially, including here in Dubai. The original concept was to provide a virtual reality (VR) headset, but combined with exercise this was too strenuous for users.

“You don’t even feel like you’re working out when taking part in THE TRIP. The experience can be intense for some users. People have reported the feeling of dropping or turning whilst remaining static. Recent research by Penn State University revealed that the perceived exertion rate for a TRIP class is much lower than in a traditional cycling class – therefore people are working much harder than they realise and thus getting much more from the session.

“We’re now planning to integrate the immersive element in to some of the other popular Les Mills programmes. At BODYCOMBAT or GRIT for example, gym goers could find themselves fighting against a digital opponent, or doing a tuck jump to avoid barriers.”

Dubai’s GFX Indoor Cycling Studio is the first facility in the Middle East and Africa to house the TRIP programme, which takes users on an intense journey cycling through a range of environments, from quiet country fields to busy racecourses.

Deepak Lalvani, owner of GFX, admitted that the demand for the classes has been unprecedented. He said: “The response to THE TRIP has been overwhelming. We started with five classes a week for the month of August and due to its immense popularity are introducing four additional weekly classes onto our timetable.

“Guests from all over Dubai and Abu Dhabi are coming to experience this incredible immersive indoor cycling workout. Going forward we are going to launch THE TRIP – 11. This TRIP is named ‘VAI’, which is Samoan for water.

“We are taking THE TRIP workout to new depths as we head underwater.”

Les Mills’ Dubai team will unveil a catalogue of proposals for exciting future projects at The Leisure Show, taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre, September 18-20, as part of Dubai International Hospitality Week.

The talk is titled ‘The Future of Fitness: How technology is changing the industry’, and will be held on day two of the annual show.

Additionally, the firm are also inviting fitness fans to join them across the exhibition’s three-days for their daily participation in The Leisure Show’s ‘The Fit Hub’, where they will be hosting a series of live new HIIT work-out sessions – which are free to attend for show visitors – including their hugely popular GRIT and SPRINT classes.

Several of the routines will be streamed across Facebook Live in a bid to try and gather as many people as possible from across the city to take part in the workout.

To find out more and register to The Leisure Show and The Fit Hub for free, visit www.theleisureshow.com

 

REGION’S GROWING INFLUENCE AS A LUXURY DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTED AS HOTELS FROM FOUR DIFFERENT COUNTRIES SHORTLISTED FOR MEHA’S TOP PRIZE

The region’s growing influence as a high-end tourist destination has been reaffirmed after the Middle East Hospitality Awards (MEHA) announced hotels from four different countries as their Luxury Hotel of the Year finalists for 2017.

Resorts in Oman, Kuwait, Morocco, and the UAE have been pitted against one another for the annual prize-giving’s most sought after title – the first time in the awards’ six-year history that all four finalists have come from different nations.

The five-star-rated properties identified as the Middle East’s most luxurious are Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara; Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa Kuwait; Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca; and Palazzo Versace Dubai (pictured in slideshow below).

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“We received hundreds of entries this year, covering more of a geographic reach than ever before,” commented Gary Williams, Event Director of The Hotel Show Dubai, organisers of the Middle East Hospitality Awards.

“Our finalists across all our award categories include hotels from Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Bahrain, and the UAE, with five-star hotels from four of those competing for one of our top prizes. The stellar line-up for Luxury Hotel of the Year confirms the Middle East’s growing position as one of the world’s most impressive destinations for luxury hospitality.”

Dubai has the most properties represented in the shortlist, with almost 50 different properties nominated across the awards’ 17 categories.

One of the city’s most iconic hotels, Atlantis The Palm Dubai, is up for the most awards this year with four shortlisted entries: Hospitality Leader of the Year (Serge Zaalof, Chief Operating Officer, Atlantis Resorts & Residences), Head Chef of the Year (Grégoire Berger, Ossiano), Most Impressive Hotel Feature (The Dale Chihuly Sculpture), Best Use of Technology (Wi-Q).

Pictured: The Dale Chihuly Sculpture at Atlantis The Palm Dubai – shortlisted for Most Impressive Hotel Feature 2017

Meanwhile Dubai-based Rove Hotels (Most Impressive Hotel Feature; Hotel Launch of the Year; Mid-Market Hotel of the Year); Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa (Most Impressive Hotel Feature; Resort of the Year; Hospitality Leader of the Year); dusitD2 Kenz Hotel (Mid-Market Hotel of the Year; Best New Restaurant of the Year; Most Impressive Hotel Feature); and Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai (Best Spa / Wellness Centre; Hotel Launch of the Year; Boutique Hotel of the Year) are all shortlisted for three awards.

Pictured: Rove Downtown – shortlisted for Mid-Market Hotel of the Year 2017

Pictured: Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa – shortlisted for Most Impressive Hotel Feature 2017; Resort of the Year 2017; Hospitality Leader of the Year 2017

Pictured: Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai – shortlisted for Best Spa / Wellness Centre 2017; Hotel Launch of the Year 2017; Boutique Hotel of the Year 2017

Famed for its unique location on the edge of a cliff, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort Oman has been shortlisted for two awards (Hotel Launch of the Year; Hospitality Leader of the Year) alongside Gates Hospitality, Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay, and The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, also with two nods each.

Pictured: Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort Oman – shortlisted for Hotel Launch of the Year 2017; Hospitality Leader of the Year 2017

The 2017 awards received a record number of applications, with the most popular entered categories being: Luxury Hotel of the Year, Best Spa / Wellness Centre, Best Team of the Year, Hospitality Leader of the Year and Best New Restaurant of the Year.

A distinguished judging panel of ten industry experts – headed up by Michelin-starred Chef and Restaurateur Gary Rhodes OBE – will now be tasked with selecting the winning entries.

Rhodes said: “The Middle East Hospitality Awards are a great opportunity to show the international market that we’re knocking on its door.

“There are world-class hotels here. There are world-class restaurants here. There are great eateries of all kinds – so let’s show everybody what we are all about.”

Pictured: Michelin-starred Chef and Restaurateur Gary Rhodes OBE, MEHA 2017 Ambassador and Judge 

The Middle East Hospitality Awards 2017, sponsored by Restonic, Tagit RFID Solutions, Pastificio Di Martino, Zumtobel Group, Kimbo, and Pearl Tree, will take place on the first evening of The Hotel Show Dubai 2017 on 18^th September, at the Palazzo Versace Dubai. More than 400 hoteliers from across the Middle East are expected to attend.

For more information on how to attend the awards or register for The Hotel Show Dubai 2017, please visit: www.thehotelshow.com

 

The full Middle East Hospitality Awards 2017 shortlist is as follows:

LUXURY HOTEL OF THE YEAR

Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca
Palazzo Versace Dubai
Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara
Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa

BOUTIQUE HOTEL OF THE YEAR

Melia Dubai
Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai
Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay
XVA Art Hotel

MID-MARKET HOTEL OF THE YEAR

dusitD2 Kenz Hotel, Dubai
Park Inn by Radisson Hotel Abu Dhabi Yas Island
Premier Inn Ibn Battuta
Rove Downtown

HOTEL LAUNCH OF THE YEAR

Address Boulevard
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort
Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai
Rove City Centre

MOST IMPRESSIVE HOTEL FEATURE

Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve – Al Maha – A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa
The Dale Chihuly Sculpture – Atlantis, The Palm
Zeinab Al Hashemi artworks – dusitD2 Kenz Hotel
The Contemporary Cabinet of Curiosities – Rove Hotels

BEST HOTEL DEVELOPER

Dur Hospitality Company
Jannah Hotels & Resorts
Khamas Hospitality
Swiss International Hotels & Resorts

RESORT OF THE YEAR

Al Maha – A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa
Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort
Sofitel The Palm
Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah

RISING STAR AWARD

Cenk Unverdi – Rixos The Palm Dubai
Elham Bolooki – Jumeirah Group Dubai
Peter Adel – Fairmont Dubai
Yasmin Farahmandy – Gensler

BEST BAR / NIGHTLIFE VENUE

Iris Dubai – Addmind Group
Luna Sky Bar – Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Finance Centre
Hendricks Bar – Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach
The Backyard – Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay

BEST GYM / SPORTING FACILITY

Fitness First Oasis Centre
Haddins Fitness
Smart Fitness
Talise Fitness – Madinat Jumeirah

BEST SPA / WELLNESS CENTRE

Anantara Spa – Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort
Heart & Soul Spa and Wellness – Al Barari
Nikki Spa – Nikki Beach Resort & Spa Dubai
Talise Spa – Madinat Jumeirah

BEST USE OF TECHNOLOGY

Atlantis, The Palm – Wi-Q
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi – RFID
Jannah Hotels & Resorts – Jannah Burj Al Sarab
Kenz Hotel Management LLC – HDI

BEST NEW RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR

Bazxar – Create Hospitality
folly by Nick & Scott – Gates Hospitality
Ramusake – DoubleTree by Hilton
Wise Kwai – dusitD2 Kenz Hotel

BEST EVENT VENUE

Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel Residence & Spa
Fairmont Ajman
Hilton Makkah Convention Hotel
Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre

BEST TEAM OF THE YEAR

Citymax Hotel Bur Dubai
Okku
The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management
MATTO

HEAD CHEF OF THE YEAR

Gregoire Berger – Ossiano
Maurizio Bosetti – Il Borro Tuscan Bistro
Himanshu Saini – Tresind
James Knight-Pacheco – Vida Downtown

HOSPITALITY LEADER OF THE YEAR

Arne Silvis, General Manager – Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai
Darren Darwin, General Manager – Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, Oman
David Allan, Cluster General Manager –  Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Waterfront
Naim Maadad, Chief Executive Officer – Gates Hospitality
Serge Zaalof, Chief Operating Officer – Atlantis Resorts & Residences
Stefan Tornau, Senior Director Hospitality Service – Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

 

RUNNING UP THE METER: LEISURE SHOW DUBAI SET TO EXPLORE GREENER FIT-TECH – STARTING WITH TREADMILLS THAT POWER THE HOME

How would you feel if you could power your home by foot?

As harebrained and exhausting as that may sound, it could very well soon be your far-from-arduous reality.

The Leisure Show, the UAE’s leading annual celebration of all things sports and fitness, has gathered its greenest pool of exhibitors ever for its 2017 event, taking place in Dubai next month.

One of the most eagerly anticipated product launches is the latest in energy-converting exercise technology: ellipticals, cycles, and treadmills that transform movement into wattage – providing enough of it to power any fitness fan’s home.

In what is a world first, the SportsArt ECO-POWR™ range harnesses the energy created by a workout and sends it directly back to the grid, offsetting the electricity initially used to power the machine.

The ECO-POWR™ line is already being billed as one of the biggest energy conserving innovations since solar panels, and leads the way in the growing market of eco-friendly and digitally revolutionized fitness equipment set for exhibiting at September’s Leisure Show.

The hugely popular yearly event will also introduce the Middle East’s leisure market to similar eco-ranges, including high-end machines that operate purely off water and the latest in virtual reality’s growing influence on the industry.

Pictured: The SportsArt ECO-POWR™ Treadmill – The G690

Sarkis Kahwajian, Event Manager of The Leisure Show Dubai, said: “What we’re experiencing is a major shift in the operating capabilities of the traditional gym and fitness products. Eco-friendliness is now a prime concern for both manufacturers and users, meaning that even the finest gym and sports equipment now aims to offer as little an environmental impact as possible, while providing the maximum physical challenge.

“On top of that, virtual reality is only getting bigger too, generating endless creative possibilities for taking work-outs, for example, to a whole new level, while reducing the need for electricity draining equipment.

“Both leading trends will be available to experience across our show floor, where we’ll welcome many of the world’s biggest leisure resort and gym suppliers; the likes of SportsArt, Matrix, Technogym, Les Mills and CYBEX. Their experts will be on hand to explain how gym-goers are so open and adaptive to these fresh, exciting approaches.”

Giovanni Berselli, EMEA Sales Director – Hotels Channel, for SportsArt said: “We are the only company whose products put watts back into the power grid, converting up to 74% of the user’s energy while cleaning it up, and converting it into utility-grade electricity. That is what is unique and why we are the pioneer in green fitness technology.

“SportsArt was founded in Taiwan by Paul Kuo, a visionary who has aspired to make the world a better place through eco-innovative fitness equipment. Our ECO-POWR™ line is the culmination of these aspirations, allowing facilities to reduce their carbon footprint, become more sustainable, offset their power costs, and attract more members who are interested in green companies that do all of the above.”

Pictured: No installation required. Simply plug in your ECO-POWR™ products and start generating utility-grade electricity for your facility!

A recent survey conducted by the international brand focused on consumer preference when it comes to the option of sustainable and eco-friendly gym equipment. It found that 62.4% prefer to work out at a gym if it uses environmentally friendly equipment, with 47% of business travelers admitting they prioritize green hotels when away on work. It also revealed that more than 90% of millennials believe it is important that products they use have eco-benefits.

Pictured: California’s first sustainable indoor cycling studio, Sacramento Eco Fitness, uses ECO-POWR™

The Leisure Show – taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre September 18-20 as part of Dubai International Hospitality Week – will welcome hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the best in leisure, sport and resort equipment. It will also play host to dozens of live demonstrations and talks, covering every corner of the industry.

To register to attend for free, visit: www.theleisureshow.com