Following a four-month series of audits and training programmes, Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa in Dubai has achieved ISO 9001:2000 from BSI.
The official certificate was presented to hotel owner, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum by BSI's Tom Johnson, and further awards of commendation were handed out to the 24 internal auditors responsible for implementing and enforcing quality systems throughout the resort. The ISO certification was first achieved in the Middle East by sister hotel, Le Meridien Dubai, but the Jumeirah beach resort is the first worldwide to gain this for both hotel and its staff complex. Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa has recently completed renovation of rooms in its main building, completing a three-phase expansion and upgrade programme, and alongside the physical transformation, management has been working to introduce services standards of a similar deluxe level. A total quality management team was brought in, along with Dubai-based consultants Incon. Together they rewrote operating procedures and completed quality awareness training for all 700 staff. Ninety audits were then carried out by the 24 internal auditors to ensure all new systems were embedded into the culture of the hotel: a process that took four months during the summer season. The resort has been identified as Le Meridien's top performer in the Middle East for guest satisfaction and number one worldwide in the group for food and beverage, monitored by global consultants, JD Powers.