One of the Middle East`s landmark hotels is planning to give international travel to
One of the Middle East`s landmark hotels is planning to give international travel to
The Awards will take place at the Semiramis Inter-Continental Cairo on April 18. The host hotel will use the occasion not only to showcase its facilities as an international meetings, incentive, conference and event venue, but also to highlight Egypt`s appeal as a business and travel destination.
While this is a Middle East event, it is attracting attention from the hotel industry, and media, in many other parts of the world, and we plan to capitalise fully, said Michel Tourniare, General Manager of the hotel, and Regional Vice President of Operations, Egypt, Six Continents Hotels.
World events of the last few months have hit business and tourism hard in Egypt, but travel fears are gradually being overcome, and the staging of a major event such as the Middle East Hotel Awards can only help rebuild confidence among business and leisure travellers, and conference and incentive organisers.
The Awards countdown gathered pace last weekend when the 11-member international judging panel met in Cairo to assess 110 entries from 40 five-star Middle East hotels.
Nominations will be announced shortly in 16 categories, including best new hotel, best design project, most progressive employer, top business, leisure and conference hotels, with a special floating Hotel Of The Year presentation to the leading Nile boat cruise.
The winners will be announced, Oscar style, during a glittering gala evening hosted by the Semiramis Inter-Continental Hotel and attended by senior representatives of the world`s major hotel operators in the Middle East.
The Awards show will be held in the Cleopatra Ballroom, which offers the largest banqueting facilities in the Egyptian capital. The hotel will also use Awards night to show off its new look, which includes four new restaurants styled by acclaimed New York-based restaurant designer, Tony Chi, who is also a member of the Awards judging panel.
The Awards recognise the highest standards in the Middle East hotel industry, and the hotel is putting on a show to match the occasion, said Denis Johnson, Regional Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Middle East and Africa, Six Continents Hotels, which manages 121 Inter-Continental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels in the region.
Johnson is another of the judges for the event, which was held for the first time in Dubai last year, and is sponsored by international hotel interior contractors, Depa Hotel Interiors.
Photo: The luxury Semiramis Inter-Continental Cairo, on the banks of the Nile to host this year`s Middle East hotel Oscars.
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