Region's Hotels Honoured in Prestigious Awards Ceremony
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Burj Al-Arab triumphed at the DEPA Middle East Hotel Awards last night beating three entries to be named Middle East Hotel of the Year.
The awards, bestowed by an independent panel of international judges, were presented during a glittering ceremony at Dubai's Madinat Jumeirah attended by more than 750 people from the international hotel and tourism sector.
The One & Only Royal Mirage, Dubai scooped the Middle East Resort Property of the Year while Intercontinental Phoenicia, Beirut was named Business Hotel of the Year. The trophy for New Business Hotel went to the Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai and The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa won Hotel Spa Facility of the Year.
A clearly delighted Marc Dardenne from The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai was crowned Hotel Manager of the Year. He was joined on stage by an equally thrilled Alyssa Palagnas from The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai as Young Hotelier of the Year.
Now in their fourth year, the DEPA Middle East Hotel Awards are designed to recognise and reward outstanding service, performance and creativity by the region's hotels and hospitality professionals.
DEPA Chief Executive Officer, Mohannad Sweid said: "DEPA has been working with the region's hotels for the past 30 years so although we are not involved in the judging we knew that the judges would have a very tough job. We are absolutely delighted for the winners although it must be stressed that each and every entry exemplified excellence in all the categories."
Head of the judging panel, Stephen Head, Managing Partner, Conseil International UK Ltd, added: "The judges were faced with a truly daunting task. The standard of entries was outstanding in all areas and deciding the winners was not easy. As head of the panel and on behalf of all the judges, I'd like to extend our heartiest congratulations to every hotel that entered. All were worthy contenders."
DEPA also thanked the support sponsors of the awards which included: Arab Bank Group; ITP Events; Fusion Marketing Management; Hotelier Middle East Magazine; Mice; Showtime; Etihad Airways; The Hotel Show; Al Aqariyah TV and Maritime & Mercantile International.
"The commitment from our co-sponsors, the judges and the hotels which prepared such superb entries have all helped to set a benchmark for best practice within the region's hospitality sector," added Sweid.
"The DEPA Awards are now well and truly established as the pinnacle of excellence to which all Middle East hotels aspire. We are already looking forward to next year's event and genuinely hope that those who were not so lucky this time will try again. They owe it to themselves."
The full list of winners and highly commended nominees:
The Middle East Hotel of the YearBurj Al-Arab Hotel, Dubai
The Middle East Resort Property of the YearThe One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel, Dubai
Business Hotel of the YearIntercontinental Pheonicia, Beirut
New Hotel of the YearMadinat Jumeirah, Dubai
Hotel and Spa Facility of the YearThe Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa
Convention, Conference and Banquet Facilities AwardJ.W. Marriott, Dubai
Food and Beverage AwardThe China Club, Intercontinental, Dubai
Hotel Advertising Campaign of the YearLe Meridien Al-Aqah Beach Resort
Commitment to Quality AwardThe Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
Energy Conservation and Environmental Awareness AwardTowers Rotana Hotel, Dubai
Excellence in Interior Design AwardShangri La Hotel, Dubai
Human Resource Development AwardThe Fairmont Hotel, Dubai
Hotel Manager of the Year Award
Marc Dardenne, The Ritz Carlton, Dubai
Young Hotelier of the Year Award
Alyssa Palagnas, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
-Ends-
About DEPA:
DEPA is an Interior Contracting company specializing in full scope Fit-Out and Furnishing of Five Star Luxury Hotels, Yachts and Facilities. DEPA's main office is in Dubai with branches in Milan, Cairo and Abu Dhabi, and site offices in various cities in the Middle East & North Africa. This network allows DEPA's clients to benefit from the knowledge, organizational ability, purchasing power and facilities it provides.
Some of DEPA's references in UAE are: Burj Al Arab, Conference Palace Hotel, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Ritz Carlton, Grand Hyatt, Al Bustan Rotana, Fairmont, and Hilton. In Egypt: Four Seasons Sharm El-Sheikh, Four Seasons Nile Plaza, Four Seasons San Stefano, J.W. Marriott Cairo, Sheraton Alexandria, Hilton Luxor, and Crown Plaza Sharm El-Sheikh. In other areas: Four Seasons Doha, Sheraton Bahrain, Grand Hyatt Muscat, Sheraton Amman, Le Royal Amman, Radisson SAS Cannes, Ledra Marriott Athens, Radisson Parkway Orlando, Hilton Osaka.
After three decades of Hotel Interiors accomplishments DEPA continues to present magnificent achievements in turnkey interiors of five star luxury Hotels and Yachts, and has developed professional customized services for financing and products leasing that allow clients to benefit from extended financial facilities.
For more information, please contact:
Caroline Chadarevian
DEPA Interiors
Al Maktoum Street, Al Reem Tower, 18th Floor
P.O. Box 56338 - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +97142243800
FAX: +97142243700
E-mail: caroline@depa.ae
Website: www.depa.ae
Siobhan Adams Fusion Marketing
Tel: 00971 50 507 1209
Fusion Marketing Management LLC
Reuters Building
Dubai Media City
P.O.Box 72248
Dubai, UAE
www.fusion-mgt.com
www.itp.net/events/depa2005
© Press Release 2005
