Dubai, UAE 10th June 2015: From a record shortlist of nine hotels, Gordon Ramsay at The St. Regis Doha has been announced winner of Best Restaurant at the Middle East Hotel Awards 2015.

Starwood's The St. Regis Doha is home to the only Gordon Ramsay restaurants in the Middle East, Gordon Ramsay Doha and Opal by Gordon Ramsay, after the closing of his Verre restaurant at the Hilton Dubai Creek in 2011. There has been speculation of the British celebrity chef bringing new brands to the region but no official plans have been announced for the moment, providing Qatar with a unique proposition for culinary fans and tourists.

Daniel During, Owner of Thomas Klein International and Middle East Hotel Awards 2015 judge described Gordon Ramsay Doha as: "The best culinary experience I had in the last year," and commended Chef Amalen Vyapooree.

Tariq Derbas, General Manager at the St. Regis Doha, said: "With tough competition throughout the Middle East, we are honored that Gordon Ramsay Doha has been recognised as Best Restaurant at the Middle East Hotel Awards 2015. The restaurant is one of 11 at The St. Regis Doha, Qatar's finest address for food, service, people and atmosphere, and this combination with the genius of Gordon Ramsay is what won us the award tonight."

Guests gain access to Gordon Ramsay Doha via private elevator. Described as "the destination for lovers of exceptionally fine cuisine in Doha", the avant-garde dining experience, pioneered by Ramsay, "involves creating an environment and menu which offer a total theatre of the senses". The interiors imitate an English manor-house surrounded by a winter setting, while the international dining experience is enhanced when the Head Sommelier is invited to pair the perfect beverages with guest's choices.

Gordon Ramsay was up against steakhouses Wolfgang Puck's at The Address Downton Dubai and Atlantis the Palm's Seafire; two signature restaurants at Armani Hotels - Ristorante and Amal; 18° at Hyatt Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi; Benjarong at the Dusit Thani, Dubai; Peppercrab at the Grand Hyatt, Dubai; and Vivaldi at the Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers. The 2014 Restaurant award was taken away by Atlantis the Palm's Ossiano.

Lynne Bellinger, Managing Director of Purple Hospitality and Middle East Hotel Awards judge for 2015 continued: "The record number of entries for the Restaurant category at the Middle East Hotel Awards 2015 reflects the F&B industry in the Middle East where individual restaurant concepts are on the increase, becoming more on trend, and hotels are now upping their game. Not all entrants this year are new restaurants, we had some excellent existing ones, along with those that have gone through a revamp or rebranding. Purple Hospitality is currently placing restaurant concepts in the MENA region from all over the world and knowing what is about to arrive, there are some really exciting things on the horizon. With this, hotels will need to continue to up their game with regards to their F&B offerings."

Judges noted a record increase in entries as a whole this year, nearly double that received in 2014, and particular surges in interest from hotels in Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, and a higher level of applicants from Saudi Arabia.

The Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa won the coveted Best Middle East Hotel 2015 award which Burj al Arab was honoured in 2014.

Winners across other categories included: Atlantis the Palm (Best Recreation Facilities), Four Seasons Jumeriah Beach Dubai (Best New Hotel) and Banyan Tree Ras al Khaimah Beach (Best Boutique Hotel). The full winners list for 2015 can be found online at: www.thehotelshow.com/Content/Middle-East-Hotel-Awards

The Middle East Hotel Awards has evolved from the long-standing industry event The Hotel Show Dubai, taking place 28-30th September 2015 at the Dubai World Trade Centre: www.thehotelshow.com.

For more information on the Middle East Hotel Awards, please contact Heather Macpherson, PR Manager of the dmg events hospitality portfolio: heathermacpherson@dmgeventsme.com or +971 4 445 3749

For more information on Gordon Ramsay at The St. Regis Doha, please contact JoAnn Kharma at Ogilvy PR on joann.kharma@ogilvy.com

The Middle East Hotel Awards is organised by dmg events and belongs to the dmg hospitality portfolio comprising of The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia, The Hotel Show Dubai, The Vision Conference, The Leisure Show, The Middle East Hotel Awards, and The Middle East Pool & Spa Awards.

The Middle East Hotel Awards
Now going on to its 6th year, The Middle East Hotel Awards seeks to identify, highlight and reward excellence across the hotel industry. Find out more: www.thehotelshow.com/Content/Middle-East-Hotel-Awards

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The Hotel Show Dubai (28-30 September 2015, Dubai World Trade Centre) and The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia (17-19 May 2016, Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events) are important business forums for the hospitality industry in the Middle East and Africa. Working with Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, industry associations, and partners, the Shows include visionary features, extensive educational content (through the Vision Conference) and other knowledge sharing platforms together with senior level networking. Find out more or register to attend FREE at www.thehotelshow.com or www.thehotelshowsaudiarabia.com

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© Press Release 2015