THREE MAKKAH HOTELS TAKE TOP AWARDS AT SAUDI ARABIA’S INTER-HOTEL CULINARY COMPETITION

Recognised worldwide as one of the Holy Cities of Islam, Makkah is also finding a name for itself in the culinary world as three of its leading hotels have been awarded as the best hotel kitchens in Saudi Arabia.

Chefs from Anjum Hotel Makkah, Swissôtel Al Maqam Makkah, and Le Méridien Towers Makkah were awarded bronze, silver and gold places respectively, at the Kingdom’s second annual ‘Inter-Hotel Culinary Competition – Mystery Box Challenge’.

The competition, which took place in Jeddah as part of the 2018 edition of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia last month, witnessed its most competitive line-up to date – with eleven kitchens from some of the Kingdom’s leading hotels cooking up a storm in a bid to be crowned champion.

Pictured: Chefs cooking at the Inter-Hotel Culinary Competition – Mystery Box Challenge

Endorsed by WORLDCHEFS, the Saudi Arabian Chefs’ Association and Culinary Partner, Unilever Food Solutions, it is the only event of its kind in the Kingdom celebrating the excellent standards of its hotel restaurants.

Each participating team was given three hours to whip-up four courses using ‘Mystery Box’ ingredients only revealed to them once they stepped inside the kitchen, the final dishes presented to a panel of judges from WORLDCHEFS (The World Association of Chefs’ Societies).

The winning menu for Le Méridien Towers Makkah included a ‘Mixed Bean Salad’ for the starter, ‘Traditional Sweet Corn Soup’ for the soup, ‘Stuffed Chicken Breast with Peaches’ as the main course and an ‘Orange Crème Brulee with Caramelized Pineapple, Banana and Crispy Puff’ for dessert.

Upon winning the gold medal, Anas Mohammed Ayyub Ansari, Head Chef at Le Méridien Towers Makkah said: “This feeling is indescribable – all chefs dream to be crowned as Saudi Arabia’s top hotel kitchen and we are very proud to win the gold for our hotel, Le Méridien Towers Makkah.

“The judges commented that they appreciated how we kept our dishes modern in presentation, maintaining the authenticity of the dish yet the taste spoke volumes about how passionate we are about our food.”

Pictured: The Le Méridien Towers Makkah team are presented the gold trophy, medals and certificates from the WORLDCHEFS judges 

Chef Yasser Jad, Founder & President of the Saudi Arabian Chefs’ Association (SARCA) and Manager Food & Beverages at Saudi Airlines, chaired the jury, a line-up of expert local and international chefs.

Jad commented: “This year we raised the level of difficulty of the competition significantly by limiting the number of items in the ‘Mystery Box’, with chicken the only protein provided, for example.

“This ensured that teams had to be creative in order to give their own signature take on each dish. The winning team from Le Méridien Towers Makkah stood out with their chicken main stuffed with peaches, a unique, Mediterranean take on the dish. This team was very professional and managed to create flavorsome dishes with the limited ingredients available.

“Other chefs stuffed the chicken with dates which maintained an Arabic touch. All of the menus were very impressive and to a high standard. We look forward to returning to The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia next year with a more challenging competition format and new ingredients for the chefs to work with, in order to raise the bar even further.”

Pictured: The winning team take their awards back to their hotel in Makkah

The Inter-Hotel Culinary Competition will return for its third edition at The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2019, taking place across three days – 21-23^rd April 2019 – at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events.

Find out more at: www.thehotelshowsaudiarabia.com

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 

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.

JUMEIRAH GROUP LAUNCHES NEW HOTEL BRAND, ZABEEL HOUSE

Jumeirah Group has announced the launch of its new hotel brand: Zabeel House by Jumeirah. The second brand for the global luxury hotel company has been created in response to the continuing and growing travel trend for exploration and enrichment through travel experiences.

Zabeel House will be targeted towards the increasing segment of travellers, from across a broad demographic, who want to connect meaningfully with their travel destinations. For the curious traveller with an intrepid spirit, who wants to experience a city like a resident, discover lesser-known neighbourhoods or uncover a different version of the city that they already know well, Zabeel House by Jumeirah will offer places to immerse into the local neighbourhood or use as a great jumping off point to discover more in cities round the world.  Each hotel under the brand will have a price point, service attitude and fanatical attention to design to match this ethos.

With five management agreements already signed in the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom, and a number under discussion, Jumeirah Group is creating an eclectic collection of hotels under the Zabeel House brand, with a focus on locations at the heart of interesting and exciting neighbourhoods.

High on design but low on complexity, hotels under the new brand will offer brilliant basics and unexpected extras set in an upscale, casual environment. The core target market for the brand will be both business and leisure travellers who want a lively base from which to explore: therefore each property will be conveniently located to help guests experience the city they’re in.

The core design ethos of the Zabeel House brand is centred on the uniqueness of each individual neighborhood. Each Zabeel House by Jumeirah hotel will offer an element of bespoke design, unique features and architectural details. As such, the design model challenges standardization but with common features to anchor the brand and deliver efficiency of scale.

Although positioned as an upscale hotel brand, there is no reference to a particular hospitality category. This versatility is an important element of the brand vision and design concept, and reflects the Zabeel House guest; a strong individual with unique tastes and travel passions, whether it is adventure, socializing or seeking somewhere fabulous to retreat to.

Jumeirah Group Chief Operating Officer Marc Dardenne said: “The launch of Zabeel House by Jumeirah is a significant milestone in achieving strategic expansion and provides an opportunity for Jumeirah Group to access new localities and destinations. Zabeel House by Jumeirah is for the traveller who wants to enjoy our award winning hospitality, but experience it in a more relaxed and casual setting. The brand has broad appeal, and we are confident that owners will be very pleased with its commercial strengths – not least the endorsement that comes as being part of the Jumeirah family of brands – and guests will be delighted by their Zabeel House by Jumeirah experience.”

Although Zabeel House by Jumeirah is a distinct and independent brand, the association with Jumeirah gives guests an assurance of relentless quality and commitment to excellence.  Jumeirah Group currently operates 19 Jumeirah branded hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Find out more: www.jumeirah.com

• Image credit: Getty Images
• Images are provided as indicators of the brand style and are not actual images of Zabeel House by Jumeirah^TM properties

Saudi Arabia reveals massive push to drive pilgrim tourism

Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund is establishing two new companies to increase the number of pilgrims that the Kingdom can host in Makkah and Medina, the fund said in a statement on Monday.

The investment at the holy sites is aimed at boosting revenues from tourism and offsetting the impact of lower oil prices. The Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) said the companies — Rou’a Al Haram and Rou’a Al Madinah — will develop residential and commercial areas around the Grand Mosque in Makkah and in Medina.
Initial preparation works are currently underway for both companies, with construction due to start in 2018. The first phase of the project is anticipated to launch in 2023.
The fund said that the new companies would help the Kingdom accommodate between 25 million to 30 million pilgrims a year. The companies will develop 150,000 hotel rooms in both cities near the holy sites.

Rou’a Al Haram aims to develop the areas around the Grand Mosque in Makkah and raise the quality of services in the local hospitality sector. The first phase of the company’s projects will cover an area of 854,000 square meters, delivering 115 buildings of various architectural designs. The company’s first phase will also see the development of around 9,000 residential units, 360,000 square meters of commercial space and prayer areas for over 400,000 worshippers. The project is located around 1.4 kilometers from the Holy Kaaba, the fund said.

Rou’a Al Madinah – a company dedicated to increasing capacity for pilgrims and visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque – will develop a 1.3 million square meter site located about one kilometer from the east wing of the Prophet’s Mosque. The project will see the development of 500 new housing units, 80,000 hotel rooms, and increase the number of prayer areas to accommodate 200,000 worshippers per day.

Rou’a Al Madinah also aims to create a comprehensive system for pedestrian passages and update public transport stations. The fund said the combined projects are set to generate around 200,000 job opportunities, with an estimated annual contribution to GDP of SR7 billion.

Tourism is a major focus of the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 economic diversification plan, which was unveiled in 2016. The Kingdom’s National Transformation Program has earmarked approximately $8 billion for tourism projects across the country, including its recently announced Red Sea project, which aims to transform 50 islands for luxury tourism purposes.

The latest Saudi Commission for Tourism figures show that around 245,000 Saudis work in the tourism sector. The target is to boost that to 352,000 by 2020 and to see investment in tourism upped by $8 billion to reach nearly $46 billion.
Wes Schwalje, COO of Middle East consulting firm Tahseen Consulting, told Arab News, he expects Rou’a Al Madinah to bring a significant level of “international cache” to the Kingdom’s tourism development and promotion efforts.

He said: “It will be key to forming strategic partnerships with world-class partners to further develop medical tourism, build family-friendly world-class resorts and attractions, and build adventure and ecotourism offerings.

“Right now travel and tourism accounts for approximately 10 percent of GDP. Saudi Arabia is pursuing a two-track strategy to grow the sector by prolonging the stays of inbound international tourists and promoting more domestic tourism.”

Schwalje said, in the short term, domestic tourism is experiencing significant growth due to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage’s efforts to enhance domestic awareness programs of cultural heritage sites, support local artisans, and strengthen educational programs to build national identity. “All of these efforts are designed to provide more economic opportunities for Saudis and build thriving local economies in secondary cities,” he said.

On Sunday, Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson announced he planned to invest in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea project. Branson is the first international investor to commit to the project, Saudi Arabia’s information ministry said, in what officials called “a clear sign that Saudi Arabia is opening its doors to international tourism.”
The Saudi Public Investment Fund will provide the initial investment into the Red Sea project, with construction slated to start in 2019.

Source: Arab News

Swiss International continues expansion in KSA, opening hotels in Tabuk and Al Qaseem

Swiss International Boutique Hotel Saif – Al Rass and Swiss International Tabuk Hotel will welcome guests this September 2017!

Baar (CH)/Ras al Khaimah (UAE)/Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), September 11, 2017 –
Swiss International proudly announces the opening of the chain’s 6th and 7th Hotel in Saudi Arabia, Swiss International Boutique Saif – Al Rass and Swiss International Tabuk Hotel.

After entering major cities like Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah and waving its flags in Al Baha and Turaif, Swiss International now sets its foot in the Tabuk Province and Al Rass region of Al Qaseem Province.

Naji Al Shiha, the CEO of Swiss International Arabia added “We have watched and identified Tabuk and Al Rass as upcoming cities with great potential.

We look forward to welcoming our guests seeking high level of comfort & service, which is synonymous with the Swiss International Brand. In the coming months, we are opening 2 hotels in Jeddah and 1 hotel in Makkah.”

Swiss International Boutique Saif – Al Rass.

The newly constructed hotel in Al Rass region of Al Qassim Province is the first International chain hotel in Al Rass offering international standards, comfort and service.

The hotel has 62 rooms and suites with all upscale amenities including free Wi-Fi.
The Suite rooms also have Jacuzzi and Sauna. A revolving restaurant – Grill Room, on the top floor that offers breathtaking 360° view is the talk of the town. In addition, the hotel also has a café for women only and a lobby café on the ground floor.

The facilities also include one big banquet hall with a capacity of 200 guests, 3 meeting rooms, a male Spa and a female Spa.

The hotel is expecting domestic travelers, both leisure and business.
Swiss International

Swiss International Tabuk Hotel

Located in the heart of the city, with only 3 minutes’ drive to Prince Fahad Bin Sultan Hospital and 7 km’s from Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Regional Airport in Tabuk, cater to the needs of business and leisure travelers alike.

The hotel has 82 upscale fully equipped rooms and suites featuring traditionally inspired Arabian décor combined with international standards of service, in compliance with Swiss International’s tag line – International Quality, Local Affinity.

The hotel also features 2 meeting rooms, 1 large banquet hall, fine dining restaurant, café, fitness center, indoor pool and a Spa.

Speaking of the new hotel opening, Mr. Henri W.R Kennedie, the President and CEO of Swiss International Hotels & Resorts said: “The 2 openings solidifies the chain’s position as one of the fastest hotel developer in the Middle East, while the chain is also celebrating its nomination for “Best Hotel Developer Award” for the upcoming Middle East Hospitality Awards.”

Swiss International currently has 30 hotels under contract all over the globe, with 14 hotels in the Middle East, of which 8 are operational.

For more information, visit: http://www.swissinternationalhotels.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

 

Anantara to debut in Saudi Arabia by 2019

 

Minor Hotels will debut its luxury Anantara brand in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2019.

Minor Hotels – a hotel owner, operator and investor – currently has a portfolio of 155 hotels and resorts in 23 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, South America, Africa and the Indian Ocean.

Scheduled to open in 2019, Anantara Jeddah Resort will be located on the waterfront in Obhur in the city’s upmarket northern district and will offer 226 guest rooms and 102 two to five bedroom villas.

The property is owned by SAB Group and was previously a luxury residential compound which will undergo a renovation and transformation led by cutting edge international design architects.

Facilities will include a selection of dining options with both indoor and outdoor seating, fitness and swimming pool areas, a kid’s and teen’s club and a library. For business guests, there is a 500 square metre meeting room which is divisible by two, plus two further meeting rooms. The resort has two receptions and lobbies, one dedicated for VIP arrivals.

Spa and wellness will be a major focus of the resort, which will offer a female and male Anantara Spa and an impressive wellness centre. An extensive selection of wellness journeys will be available, as part of Anantara’s ‘Balance’ programme. These will include detox, de-stress, weight management, anti-aging and rejuvenation, along with therapies such as Ayurveda, hammam and reflexology. Guests will be able to enjoy wellness cuisine and healthy cooking classes, with activities including yoga, pilates and Tai Chi. In addition, the resort will offer a regular programme of wellness-focused educational workshops and special events.

The Obhur area is undergoing a significant transformation anchored by the development of the one kilometre high Kingdom Tower which will open in 2020 and will become Jeddah’s new city centre. The Anantara Jeddah will offer stunning views of the nearby Kingdom Tower.

Jeddah is one of the preferred destinations among domestic leisure tourists and religious pilgrims as it is the gateway to the holy cities. The area’s transport and airport infrastructure is currently being enhanced, including a new high speed rail access scheduled to open in 2018 which will connect Jeddah to the airport, Makkah and Medina.

William E. Heinecke, Chairman and CEO of Minor International, commented, “We are delighted to announce Anantara Jeddah which represents Minor Hotels’ debut in Saudi Arabia and grows our presence in the GCC to four countries. Minor Hotels has been looking for the right opportunity to expand into Saudi Arabia and we are pleased to be partnering with SAB Group to launch our luxury Anantara brand in this key strategic market.”

Sheikh Salah al Belawi, Chairman of SAB Group, added, “We are excited to bring the concept, experience and legacy of Minor Hotels through their flagship “Anantara Hotels and Resorts” to Jeddah. The concept of a health and wellness resort is long overdue in KSA and our Obhor property lends itself to such a concept. We, at SAB Group, are very delighted to partner with Minor Hotels and host the Anantara brand. This venture subscribes to our Think Ahead philosophy and to our futuristic steps towards achieving Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”

Minor Hotels currently operates nine Anantara properties in the Middle East and has a further strong pipeline in the region with new resorts under development in the United Arab Emirates (in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah), Bahrain, Morocco and Tunisia. Overall Minor Hotels currently operates 14 properties in the Middle East across four of its brands – Anantara, AVANI, Oaks and PER AQUUM.

MÖVENPICK TEAM WINS GOLD AT KINGDOM’S DEBUT INTER-HOTEL CULINARY COMPETITION

Chefs from Jeddah’s Mövenpick Resort Al Nawras cooked up a storm to be crowned champion kitchen at Saudi Arabia’s first ever Inter-Hotel Culinary Competition.

Pitted off against ten of the Kingdom’s finest hotels, the Mövenpick team came out on top as the chefs’ quick-thinking, creative spark and cooking prowess were put to the test by the contest’s Mystery Box challenge.

Each team were given three hours to whip-up four courses using ingredients only revealed to them once they stepped inside the kitchen, with their efforts judged by four leading chefs from the Saudi Arabian Chefs’ Association and the Saudi Arabian Chefs Table Circle – and played out in front of thousands of spectators at The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia.

With almost 50 mouth-watering dishes served over the three-day WORLDCHEFS endorsed competition, it was eventually the Mövenpick’s “innovative and tasty menu” that saw their five-man team take home the gold medal.

Ali Salloum, Executive Chef at the Mövenpick Resort Al Nawras Jeddah, said: “This is the first time my kitchen has participated in such a competition. It has been amazing to be given such an opportunity, and I am very proud of our team on winning the gold.”

Chef Yasser Jad – Founder & President of Saudi Arabian Chefs’ Association (SARCA), and Food and Beverage manager at Saudi Airlines – chaired the jury, a line-up of expert international judges.

Jad commented: “We would like to congratulate Mövenpick Resort Al Nawras Jeddah. They have done a marvellous job creating a simple, presentable and very tasty menu from some of the more tricky ingredients in the mystery box including tuna for the starter, fresh vegetables for the soup, chicken for the main course, and the creation of a crème brulee for dessert. This team also stood out for its excellent presentation and perfect portion sizes.”

Elaf Jeddah Hotel and Makarem Ajyad Makkah Hotel took the silver and bronze medals respectively, the latter being unique as it was the only team in the competition comprising of entirely Saudi female chefs.

Jad said: “We would like to thank all of the teams that took part in the competition for their outstanding efforts.

“Through competitions such as this, Saudi Arabian Chefs’ Association aims to highlight the talent and skilled roles of chefs in the Kingdom. There are excellent opportunities available in the Food and Beverage sector here, and we seek to assist the goals set by Saudi Vision 2030 in increasing the number of jobs occupied by Saudi nationals in hospitality.”

Judge and Master Chef Adrian Meyer of Switzerland added: “We witnessed very interesting combinations and innovations and our taste buds were put to the challenge. We certainly learned something, and we hope that the contestants did too. We were very happy to have them – and we hope that they return for next time.”

The Inter-Hotel Culinary Competition – Mystery Box Challenge 2017 was sponsored by Chbib Kitchens Company Ltd., RATIONAL, Alabna Est, and RAK Porcelain, and took place on the show floor at the fifth edition of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia – an annual event that unites thousands of hotel and restaurant professionals for three days of business and networking.

The competition will return next year at the sixth edition of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia, taking place 10-12^th April 2018, at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events.

For further information, please visit www.thehotelshowsaudiarabia.com

THE HOTEL SHOW SAUDI ARABIA AND STONE & SURFACE SAUDI 2017 ARE NOW OPEN IN JEDDAH

The fifth edition of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia and the inaugural Stone & Surface Saudi Arabia opened Tuesday (4^th April 2017) Under the Patronage of Mohammad A. Al-Amri, General Manager of the Saudi Commission for Tourism & National Heritage (SCTH) in Makkah Province, Jeddah.

Thousands of hospitality and construction industry professionals are anticipated to attend the co-located trade shows, taking place at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events until Thursday (04^th to 06^th April 2017; 4-11pm).

“We are honoured that Mohammad A. Al-Amri, General Manager of the SCTH in Makkah Province, Jeddah opened the fifth edition of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia and the first edition of Stone & Surface Saudi Arabia, and invested time with our local and international exhibitors,” said Elliot Rizk, Vice President at organisers M.I.C.E Arabia.

“The hospitality industry in Saudi Arabia is currently experiencing record levels of growth with 170 hotels in the pipeline,” commented John Suzara, Event Manager of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia at co-organisers dmg events. “The Hotel Show is the must-attend annual event for professionals in hotels, resorts and restaurants looking for the latest international products, or to establish a presence in the Kingdom.”

“In the wake of the announcement of Saudi Vision 2030, there has been a surge in construction across various industries throughout the Kingdom – and stone is an essential part of the majority of built structures,” added Yan Wang, Event Director of Stone & Surface Arabia at co-organisers dmg events.

“The inaugural Stone & Surface Saudi Arabia is providing an essential platform for international stone suppliers to showcase the latest materials to construction professionals working in this active market.”

At The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia, the technology sector is set to be active this year with new product launches including a “world’s first” from LG Electronics, and other, major international exhibitors including Onity and CMT Technologies. The interiors, lighting & design product sector is also cited to be of prominence with major brands Sandalyeci, Closet World, Banta Furniture, Adasan, Zubair Furnishing, Raha Oman and more – all displaying their latest product ranges.

Pictured: Mohammad A Al-Amri, General Manager of the SCTH in Makkah Province, Jeddah tours The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia 2017 – technology sector (above) and visits the Saudi Ceramics stand (below)

The Hotel Show is also hosting the inaugural ‘Inter-Hotel Culinary Competition – Mystery Box Challenge’. Endorsed by WORLDCHEFS through the Saudi Arabian Chefs’ Association and the Saudi Arabian Chefs Table Circle, the brand new culinary competition for the Kingdom will run throughout the three days of the event, with the victorious hotel team to be announced on its final day.

The judges of the first Inter Hotel Culinary Competition – Mystery Box Challenge including Chef Yasser Jad (Head Judge)

Meanwhile Stone & Surface Saudi Arabia is set to provide a vast international showcase of the latest stone materials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, China, UAE, Italy, Oman, Belgium, Lebanon, Germany and Australia.

Stone & Surface Saudi Arabia 2017

A highlight is the major Turkish pavilion at the event, home to more than 80 types of stone incorporating 400 different colours and patterns, Turkey is firmly established as the world’s leading nation for stone supply.

The co-located The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia and Stone & Surface Saudi Arabia are free to attend events. On-site registration is now open from 4pm at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events.

Find out more: www.thehotelshowsaudiarabia.com / www.stoneandsurfacesaudi.com