1. Leading Developer of the Year and Excellence in Hospitality – Organization awarded to Emaar Hospitality Group
2. The Palace – The Old Town wins Best Hotel Design Award
3. Marc Dardenne wins Excellence in Hospitality Leadership Award
Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality & leisure subsidiary of Emaar Properties, has won four awards at the Middle East Hotel Expansion Congress (MEHEC) in Abu Dhabi. The MEHEC awards, now in their third year, recognize outstanding individual and organization achievements in the hospitality sector.
Emaar Hospitality Group won top laurels for Excellence in Hospitality Leadership (organization), and Leading Developer of the Year, while Mr Marc Dardenne, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group and Emaar Hotels & Resorts, won the Excellence in Hospitality Leadership (individual) award. The Palace – The Old Town, managed by Emaar Hospitality Group’s five star hotel brand The Address Hotels + Resorts was awarded the Best Hotel Design award.
Mr. Dardenne received the awards from Mr. Fabien Faure, Managing Director – Naseba at a gala ceremony held in Abu Dhabi recently.
Commenting on the awards, Mr. Dardenne said: “Winning the MEHEC awards for Emaar Hospitality Group is a reiteration of our thought-leadership position and the fresh thinking that we bring to the industry. The Palace – The Old Town winning the Best Hotel Design award is testimony to the unique design it has adopted which keeps guests coming back. On a personal note, I am also thankful for The Excellence in Hospitality Leadership (individual) award, which highlights the opportunities provided by the company to identify, undertake and develop various world-class projects.â€
“Emaar Hospitality Group has grown from strength to strength in a very short period of time. With over 30 years of international experience, not only has Marc Dardenne built a world-class team but he has played a key role in the launch of Emaar’s own hotel brand, The Address Hotels + Resorts,†said Mr. Faure during the MEHEC Awards ceremony.
In recent months, Mr. Dardenne, has also been awarded ‘CEO of the Year 2009’ by CEO Middle East for his contribution to the hospitality sector in the Middle East and his outstanding achievements in identifying, undertaking and developing world-class projects for Emaar Hospitality Group and The Address Hotels + Resorts. Earlier this year, Mr. Dardenne ranked Number 3 in the Hotelier Middle East’s 50 most influential hoteliers.
Emaar Hospitality was awarded the excellence in hospitality leadership recognizing the company’s incisive vision in their ongoing expansion strategy. The properties under the company’s umbrella have experienced continued success throughout the year with the new hotels in Downtown Burj Dubai recording strong occupancies through the summer. The award also recognizes the group’s key milestones in opening two new Address hotels this year despite difficult times and their vision for international expansion with The Address Hotels + Resorts brand.
Amongst other coveted awards previously won by Emaar Hospitality and its properties are: Arabian Business Hospitality Company of the Year 2008; World Travel Award’s Dubai’s Leading Lifestyle Hotel 2009, Middle East’s Leading New Hotel 2009; AHIC’S Best New Hotel 2009 for The Address Downtown Burj Dubai; and Dubai’s leading City Resort for The Palace – The Old Town at the World Travel Awards.
The Palace – The Old Town, which won Best Hotel Design, is renowned for its classical themes and Arabian tradition. Its guestrooms and suites are decorated with authentic Arabian interiors, including dark wood paneling and furnishings. All rooms have balconies with views over the Burj Dubai Lake offering stunning views of The Dubai Fountain or The Old Town Island.
Emaar Hospitality Group manages a diversified portfolio of hospitality assets such as hotels, serviced residences, golf resorts, Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, health clubs and Dubai Marina Yacht Club.
