Martin van Kan bags GM of the Year Award
Chosen from over 600 hotels across Europe, Middle East & Africa, InterContinental Doha has been awarded as an outstanding performer, winning an award for Middle East & Africa – general manager of the Year.
This prestigious award is given to the best hotels within InterContinental Hotels Group portfolio. All of the group’s four hotel brands - InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Express by Holiday Inn – battle it out annually to win the accolade. Martin van Kan, general manager of InterContinental Doha and recipient of General Manager of the Year award, stated: “We are delighted to have won this award and be honoured from amongst so many hotels. I am very proud of all our employees. This has been an excellent team effort and one that we will strive to win again next year!”
Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain welcomes new staff to its “family”
The guestrooms and suites of the 264-room Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa may be closed for renovations, but the human resources department continues to aggressively recruit new “ladies and gentlemen,” especially Bahrainis, this summer. The award-winning hotel recently welcomed 18 citizens of the Kingdom of Bahrain. “Even though the resort is undergoing a major renovation this summer, we want to demonstrate our commitment to the national Bahrainisation program,” says general manager Pascal Duchauffour. After participating in the mandatory two-day orientation programme, the new ladies and gentlemen will be placed in the front office, security, culinary, food and beverage, and housekeeping departments.
Le Meridien Al Aqah unveils ‘Nail Art’
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort has added a new attraction at the hotel with the launch of ‘Nail Art’, providing guests with complete care coupled with indulgence. At Nail Art, guests can choose from a variety of services, including treatments such as nail extensions, nail art and air brushing, pedicures and manicures, all aimed at enhancing the beauty of hands and feet. Speaking on the launch of the Nail Art, Patrick Antaki, general manager said, “Nail Art is part of our endeavour to provide guests maximum comfort and luxury during their stay with us.”
Traders Hotel supports EK’s Seoul-Dubai services
Traders Hotel, Dubai has joined with several other Dubai properties and tour operator Arabian Adventures, to support the inauguration programme of the new Emirates airlines’ Seoul office and their non-stop services to Dubai. Emirates Group chairman, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, visited Seoul in South Korea to celebrate the new services and to officially open the Emirates' elegant town office. “Traders Hotel is delighted to be supporting the Emirates and Arabian Adventures initiated media familiarization as a host hotel for South Korean journalists. The participants will enjoy an exciting itinerary of activities which showcase Dubai and which will allow them to experience first hand the dazzling tourist attractions, dining options and of course bear witness to the rapid rate of development within the Emirate reflected in an ever-changing skyline,” said Anny Tan, director of sales and marketing, Traders Hotel, Dubai.
InterCon Dubai scoops achievement award
InterContinental Dubai has been awarded as an outstanding performer, winning an award for best “Market Performance Achievement”. The hotel had an increase in occupancy level of five percent in 2004 compared to the previous year, over 45 percent increase in average rate and 52 percent raise in RevPar. This prestigious award is given to the best hotels within InterContinental Hotels Group portfolio. All of the group’s four hotel brands InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Express by Holiday Inn – battle it out annually to win the accolade. Tom Meyer, general manager of InterContinental Dubai said: “We are delighted to have won this award and be honoured from so many hotels. This has been a tremendous team effort and one that we will strive to win again next year!”
Ritz-Carlton, Dubai is there for every event
If there is one thing the ladies and gentlemen at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai know about, it’s stylish service and attention to detail. The dedicated Conference and Catering team can arrange any kind of special event – whether it be a wedding, a birthday celebration perhaps, or even a corporate launch. ‘Our clients can rest assured that we will take care of their every requirement, allowing them the freedom to play the elegant host with quiet confidence,’ commented Maya Saliba, assistant conference and catering director.
Fairmont Dubai implements centralised credit card system
The Fairmont Dubai, Middle East flagship property for Toronto-based luxury hotel group, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, implemented a fully integrated credit card processing facility into both their Fidelio Property Management and Micros Point of Sale System. Working together with 3C Communications International, Micros Fidelio International and Emirates Bank International (EBI), The Fairmont Dubai became the first hotel in the UAE to implement this system. The 3CIntegra Hospitality system allows credit card processing to take place internally and automatically, removing the need for traditional credit card processing terminals, which greatly increases performance and efficiency. The centralised 3C credit card server is interfaced directly to the hotel's PMS and POS systems and connects via multiple modems directly to EBI's card processing systems. Additionally, the hotel benefits in using the system are increased guest service and satisfaction, efficient reconciliation and book-keeping, environmental friendliness with the reduction of power and paper usage, and centralised control and management of the processing system.