THE chairman of Al Habtoor Group, Khalaf Al Habtoor, has been chosen to be awarded the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC 2013), for his significant accomplishments over the years in the hospitality and tourism industry in the UAE.
The AHIC 2013 advisory board chose Al Habtoor to receive this award, for his invaluable contribution to the region’s hotel industry. He has also played a major role in driving the tourism industry forward in the UAE, by meeting the growing demand of the number of tourists with significant hotel projects.
Starting in 1970, Khalaf Al Habtoor has been involved with every successful step Dubai takes, he founded the Al Habtoor Group and had been working with a local construction firm but spotted a gap in the market and left to start his own company. The group then won a number of major construction projects throughout the country, and Al Habtoor spotted further opportunities, and began reinvesting the company’s profits into building a diversified business empire. Today, it is recognised as one of the most successful companies in the region.
Describing his journey of success, Al Habtoor said: “Success is not something one reaches and sits back and enjoy; it’s rather the spirit to keep moving forward and continue the journey with.”
“I am honoured to be recognised by one of the top hospitality conferences in the region. I have always been keen to see Habtoor Hotels participate in AHIC, because it offers a valuable platform for industry leaders to share their success stories and achievements.”
The Patron of AHIC 2013, HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Airports, president of Dubai Department of Civil Aviation, chairman and CEO of Emirates, also highlighted the role Al Habtoor played as part of Dubai success story.
HH Sheikh Ahmed said: “AHIC has always been showing encouragement and recognition of significant leaders in this industry. I’m very delighted that the Conference this year is showing appreciation and acknowledges Khalaf Al Habtoor remarkable achievements in the hospitality industry and beyond. Al Habtoor Group is one of the prominent business corporations in the region and it has a major contribution in diversifying the UAE economy.”
Habtoor Hotels owns and operates four hotels in Dubai, and has over 30 years of hospitality experience, the Metropolitan Hotel on Sheikh Zayed being its first venture. The Al Habtoor Group is now developing Dubai’s first-ever integrated resort comprising of three hotels on one complex as well as a Las Vegas style theatre. It will be managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and will include the first super luxury St Regis hotel in Dubai, a W hotel and a Westin hotel – with more than 1,600 rooms making it the largest hotel complex in the Middle East and one of the biggest in the world. It is due to open in 2015. The Group is also developing the Waldorf Astoria on the Palm Jumeirah. It will be the first luxury resort by the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand in Dubai. The resort is due to open at the end of 2013.