The awards program has seven categories – performance, mobile, social media, digital assets, digital by sector, integrated, and special – and was open to all digital players throughout the Middle East and North Africa region.
This year, FP7 dominated the winners’ list with a total of five awards across four categories, followed by Netizency with four awards, and UM with three.
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MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA
The Innovation in Construction & FM awards 2020, which took place at Sofitel Dubai The Obelisk, is one of the leading events applauding the achievements of the region’s construction and FM professionals.
source: cbnme.com
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The Hotelier Awards 2020 recognised 18 of the region’s most talented hospitality professionals, with many more leaving Highly Commended or with a special mention.
Held at JW Marriott Marquis Dubai on Tuesday November 24, the gala event welcomed more than 200 people, who were kept safe from COVID-19 by the event team’s hygiene measures and partnership with Bee’ah.
Housekeeper of the Year
Winner – Asif Khatri, Executive Housekeeper, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah and Hilton Dubai The Walk
Highly Commended – Harsh Gaur, Executive Housekeeper, Taj Dubai
IT Person of the Year
Winner – Fritzi Lescano, IT Manager – Internal Communications, Accor Regional Office MEA
Highly Commended – Abdul Baseer Mohammed, Technology Manager, InterContinental Jeddah
Hotel Engineer of the Year
Winner – Gurpal Singh, Chief Engineer, InterContinental Hotels at Dubai Festival City
Highly Commended – Fernandez Nicholas, Director of Engineering, Mercure Dubai Barsha Heights – Hotel Suites & Apartments
Safety & Security Person of the Year
Winner – Muhammad Waqar Azeem Qamar, Risk Champion / Learning & Quality Manager, InterContinental Jeddah
Highly Commended – Onkar Sawant, Director of Security, Taj Dubai
HR & Training Person of the Year
Winner – Feryal Haddon, Cluster Director of Human Resources, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, Hilton Dubai The Walk, Hilton Dubai Creek
Highly Commended – Yasmine Farouk, Director of Human Resources, Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
Procurement Person of the Year
Winner – Alan Lewis, Purchasing Manager, Fairmont Dubai
Finance Person of the Year
Winner – Mazen Salha, Director of Finance, Swissotel Al Ghurair & Swissotel Living Al Ghurair
Highly Commended – Joanna Talegon, Assistant Credit Manager, TIME Oak Hotel & Suites
Concierge/Guest Services Person of the Year
Winner – Kamal Kariyawasam, Chief Concierge, InterContinental Hotels at Dubai Festival City
Highly Commended – Swapnil Patrikar, Complex Guest Services Manager, The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina
Special Mention – Vinay Govande, Front Office Manager, Taj Dubai
Fitness/Spa Person of the Year
Winner – Rosemary Read-Larsen, Director, Wellness at Atlantis Dubai
Highly Commended – Majd Kassab, Recreation Supervisor, TIME Oak Hotel & Suites
Sales Person of the Year
Winner – Valentina Sobeshchuk, Director of Sales and Marketing, Rixos Bab Al Bahr and Regional Director of Sales, Rixos Hotels UAE
Highly Commended – Ileshaa Nijhawan, Multi-Property Senior Sales Groups & Events Manager, Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre and Le Méridien Fairway
Marketing & PR Person of the Year
Winner – Shamia Abdul Aziz, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications, Sofitel Dubai The Palm
Highly Commended – Ahmad Jaber, Cluster Director of Marketing, Digital & Communications, InterContinental Hotels at Dubai Festival City
Special Mention – Richard Thorburn, PR & Marketing Manager, Six Senses Zighy Bay
Executive Chef of the Year
Winner – Jay Williams, Complex Director of Culinary, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina and The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina
Highly Commended – Luigi Vespero, Executive Chef, Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
Special Mention – Nasser Lamei Rayes Khalil, Executive Chef, Crowne Plaza Dubai-Deira
F&B Manager of the Year
Winner – Emad Ramzy, F&B Manager, Crowne Plaza Dubai-Deira
Highly Commended – Jodie O’Meara, Hotel F&B Operations Manager, Zabeel House by Jumeirah, The Greens
Young Hotelier of the Year
Winner – Bhavesh Tanwani, Assistant Front Office Manager, Bab al Qasr Abu Dhabi
Highly Commended – Tatiana Radchenko, Revenue Manager, W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island
Unsung Hero of the Year
Winner – Leonora T. Manuel, Senior Nurse, Raffles Dubai
Highly Commended – Simone Troxler, Sustainability Manager, Six Senses Zighy Bay
Special Mention – Myra Macalma, Hotel Nurse, Fairmont Dubai
General Manager of the Year
Winner – Christophe Schnyder, General Manager, Sofitel Dubai The Palm
Highly Commended – Luke James, General Manager, Zabeel House by Jumeirah, The Greens
Mid-Market Hotel Team of the Year
Winner – Zabeel House by Jumeirah, The Greens
Highly Commended – Radisson RED Dubai Silicon Oasis
Hotel Team of the Year
Winner – Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai
Highly Commended – Al Baleed Resort Salalah By Anantara
source: hoteliermiddleeast.com
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Saudi Arabia hosts the G20 Summit in 2020. First for an Arab Nation.
Leader’ Summit
In 2020, the G20 Leaders’ Summit will be held virtually, proudly hosted by the Saudi G20 Presidency. The virtual meeting will take place over two days on November 21-22, 2020.
The Group of Twenty, or the G20, is the premier forum for international economic cooperation. The G20 brings together the leaders of both developed and developing countries from every continent.
Each G20 Presidency develops a theme for the year which is central to international discussions. The 2020 G20 Presidency will focus discussions, forums, working groups and Ministerial Meetings under the theme of:
Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century for All
www.g20.org
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SAUDI ARABIA
Amal Al Raisi – Founder and Creative Director. : Dar Al Aseel
Fashion Designer . Omani Women’s Wear, over 12 years plus Label: Dar Al Aseel.
Available in Oman and regionwide through selected retail outlets.
www.amalalraisi.com
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OMAN
Nabil El-Nayal (aka) Nabil Nayal. Fashion Designer.
Founder , ready-to-wear fashion brand ‘Nabil Nayal’
Education:
Awards/ Honours :
www.nabilnayal.com
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UNITED KINGDOM / SYRIAN / BRITISH ARAB
Dr. Najat Benchiba-Savenius was named by the British monthly magazine Women in Finance as the ‘Businesswoman for the year 2020’ in the SME category.
Najat Benchiba-Savenius – Founder of Consulting company – Gazelle Advisory Group.
Education:
Graduate – University of Oxford / Masters : Social Science in Applied Linguisitics / PhD – University of Oriental and African Studies, London
Others:
Member – Think Tank team ‘Oxford Strategic Consulting’
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UNITED KINGDOM / MOROCCO
Kuwait Airways, the national airline of Kuwait took delivery of the world’s first Airbus A330-800 aircraft on October 29th, 2020.
The two aircraft the airline received are the first of eight scheduled to join the Kuwait Airways fleet, which will position it as the world’s largest operator of the type.
The Kuwait Airways aircraft A330-800 will acommodate 235 passenger, featuring 32 fully flat beds in Business Class and 203 spacious seats in Economy with a large capacity cargo hold.
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KUWAIT
Modar Alaoui (aka) Modar JR Alaoui . Technology Entrepreneur. Public Speaker. Advisor.
Founder and CEO – Eyeris Technologies Inc., specialising in Computer Vision AI software for In-Cabin sensing and In-Vehicle scene.
Member-Advisor to Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF)
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AMERICAN / MOROCCAN-AMERICAN
The Saudi Monetary Authority (SAMA) announced its plan to introduce a denomination of SR20 (Twenty Saudi Riyals) banknote .
It is to mark the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Presidency of the G20 summit during the era of the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques – King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The G20 summit is scheduled on November 21 – 22nd, 2020 in Riyadh.
The new banknote is to feature King Salman and the G20 summit logo on one side with a World Map highlighting G20 countries in darker shade on the other side.
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SAUDI ARABIA