The first-ever Hotelier Saudi Arabia Awards were a roaring success. Never before had the Kingdom’s hospitality superstars been given such an opportunity to celebrate its achievements and reflect on just how far the industry has come in a few short years. The event took place at the voco Riyadh on March 8, 2023, with more than 250 of the country’s finest hoteliers coming together.
From luxury hotel general managers to unsung heroes, the Hotelier Saudi Arabia Awards 2023 was a platform for celebrating Saudi Arabia’s brighter hospitality talents Event sponsors include Sagma, Eira Water and Les Roches Global, the last of which handed a scholarship to 2023’s Young Hotelier of the Year.
Read on to find out who won in each category, how they did it, and hopefully get inspired yourself by the level of innovation happening every day across Saudi Arabia’s hotels.
CONCIERGE AND GUEST SERVICES PERSON OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Sarah Khalaf Bin Hamed Almasri, Swissôtel Makkah
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Reem AlKhayyat, Riyadh Airport Marriott
Sarah Khalaf Bin Hamed Almasri is one of Swissôtel’s most exceptional front office leaders. In charge of the concierge department, she has spent five years at her property. She leads a team of more than 40, collectively handling 500 arrivals each day. Beyond her ability to handle large numbers of guests, judges were impressed with Almasri’s personal commitment to career development. She is currently competing her bachelor’s degree in business management.
FITNESS, SPA AND RECREATION PERSON OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Tamer Elmoghainy, Crowne Plaza Riyadh, RDC Hotel & Convention
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Mohamed Fahad Gholam, Centro Shaheen by
Rotana, Jeddah
Tamer Elmoghainy has taken the recreation department into his own hands and transformed it. He convinced investors and IHG to fund new swimming lessons, a training academy for tennis and a paddle court, the hotel first in KSA to have one. He is invested in the reputation of the entire hotel and brand, fuelling him to find “gaps in the market,” and show how Saudi hotels
can modernise.
HOTEL ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Mina Karim, InterContinental Al Jubail
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Chandu Nair, Aloft Dharan Hotel
Mina Karim has transformed his hotel for the better. Through 2022, he led programmes to drive down carbon emissions, utility costs, water usage, and general day-to-day costs, thanks to his masterful approach to efficiency. In terms of safety, he upgraded all fire alarm systems, fire pumps, hydrants, piping and more. The hotel received Royal Commission Safety certification for the first time in almost half a century as a result. A team player, he has developed his maintenance team, providing training and tools for them to perform even better.
SAFETY AND SECURITY PERSON OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Raghad Badakkuk, Crowne Plaza Jeddah
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Abdulrahman Basaffar, The Ritz-Carlton, Jeddah
Raghad Badakkuk is a certified occupational health, safety and security personal. In the past year, she has continued to create a safe and secure environment for guests, staff and contractors by training, instruction and SOPs. She achieved zero major accidents, trespassing, theft, data breaches, privacy issue and violence and has successfully completed safety and security hotel projects such as upgrading CCTV to IP cameras. She also believes that good mental health is the key to avoid accidents.
CHIEF STEWARD OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Ali Al Saleem, Hilton Makkah Hotels
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Juma Mzee, Crowne Plaza Jeddah Al Salam
Currently the cluster executive steward across some of Hilton’s most high-profile regional hotels, Ali Al Saleem boasts more than two decades of experience in stewarding. Today, he handles thousands of hotel rooms, dozens of dining outlets and actively works with 120 other fellow stewards in Hilton hotels to motivate them and help them be their best selves. In the words of his team, he is self-motivated, assertive, communicative and results-driven. He has an eye for luxury hospitality too, previously working in Hilton’s top hotels, as well as the likes of Six Senses, Kempinski and more.
EXECUTIVE CHEF OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Konstantinos Arampatzis, InterContinental Jeddah
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Shane O’Neill, Shangri-La Jeddah
Leading a team of 55 chefs and 25 stewards, Konstantinos Arampatzis is as much a standout leader as he is a great chef. Since taking on his role, he has reviewed all menus and come up with new, inventive, cost-saving alternatives. Guest scores are on the up and food costs are down. Outside of menu creation, he shows care to guests and colleagues, you will see him always in the kitchen working closely with the chefs and pass his knowledge and experience.
Food and Beverage Director of the Year
WINNER: Andreas Senn, The Ritz-Carlton Jeddah
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Nabiel El Nakib, Shangri-La Jeddah
Andreas Senn is a renowned expert in managing food and beverage operations for high-end establishments globally, and has had a successful career in the industry. In 2022, he further solidified his success by achieving exceptional guest satisfaction in the region.
Find out more about his achievements here.
HOUSEKEEPER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Abdullah Algafari, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Hanan Redaa, Crowne Plaza Jeddah Al Salam
Leading the Ritz-Carlton Riyadh task force team in Jeddah for the World Tourism Organisation event, Abdullah Algafari is an industry veteran who has participated in several key industry conferences, including GACA, Future Aviation, and World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Find out more about his achievements here.
FINANCE PERSON OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Ahmed Abousaleh, Staybridge Suites Al Khobar
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Islam Mohamed Eid Mustafa, Centro Salama by Rotana
Well respected in his team, Ahmed Abousaleh has had one of his best 12 months to date. He has expertly managed costs across his property, and helped steer it towards a fantastic end in Q4 2022. Working within a typically longer-stay hotel, managing costs has been vital, as well as finding ways to streamline the finance department for the benefit of guests and staff alike.
HR PERSON OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Mohammed Monsour Alfaraj, Grand Millennium Tabuk
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Al Nafea Thamer, Accor
Mohammed Monsour Alfaraj is credited as transforming his hotel’s Saudisation measures. He re-established the hotels plan for hiring locals and opted to hire Saudi graduates fresh, helping ensure the hotel brought in the most impassioned staff in the whole market. In addition to this, he has organised a range of crucial activations, from Saudi Foundation Day, to International Women’s Day, not only motivating staff, but showing the market the thoughtfulness of the property. Employee satisfaction is this number one priority, says his team, and thus he hosts annual colleague gatherings, a practice which garnered the hotel immense respect in the market.
IT PERSON OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Hassan ElKamshoushy, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh & The Ritz-Carlton, Jeddah
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Fahad Almotiri, Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace
As the mastermind behind the information technology operations of Ritz-Carlton properties in Riyadh and Jeddah, Hassan ElKamshoushy has masterfully leveraged his extensive expertise to lead his team to unprecedented success. His innovative approach to incorporating cutting-edge technologies has resulted in seamless integration, earning both properties recognition and acclaim.
Find out more about his achievements here.
PROCUREMENT PERSON OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Abdullah Alkathiry, Accor Makkah Hotels
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Mohammed Bondok, Radisson Hotel Riyadh Airport
Abdullah Alkathiry is the man behind procurement at Accor’s Makkah hotels, managing the huge demands of the four Holy City hotels. During hajj and Ramadan, where business couldn’t be busier, he achieved everything the team could have hoped for. Well-versed in the world of luxury, promoted from group director of purchasing at the famous Makkah Clock Royal Tower, he knows exactly what his unique position demands.
REVENUE MANAGEMENT PERSON OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Mohamed Ali, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh & The Ritz-Carlton, Jeddah
HIGHLY COMMNENDED: Diaa Alseh, voco Riyadh
With his sharp mind and analytical expertise, coupled with a deep understanding of the market, Mohamed Ali Hashem’s steady rise through the ranks of the hospitality industry is a testament to his ability to boost revenue and secure market share for the hotel.
Find out more about his achievements here.
SALES PERSON OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Sameh Elshalkmi, Crowne Plaza Riyadh AlWaha
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Mohamed AlQuthmi, Jabal Omar Hyatt Regency Makkah
A masterful salesman, Sameh Elshalkmi has helped his hotel achieve doubledigit growth across ADR, RevPAR and occupancies. Room revenue has increased, attributed to Elshalkmi’s ambition to activate different market segments for the hotel, finding ways to push it into leisure and corporate business. He spent the past year increasing cross-function partnerships across the hotel, helping boost numbers and turning the hotel into a selling machine.
UNSUNG HERO OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Awatif Al Ghamdi, Shangri-La Jeddah
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Abdullah Al Beeshi, Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel & Convention
With no prior experience in the industry, Saudi Awatif Al Ghamdi has come a long way with the prestigious Shangri-La. Joining as a laundry attendant, she was promptly promoted to laundry supervisor. In a short time frame, she learnt and mastered everything there is to know about her demand, along with all the five-star nuances. She is always willing to learn more, pushing herself further into the world of hospitality and proving anybody can be a hotelier, should they have the passion and determination to do so.
IN-HOUSE PR/MARKETING PERSON OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Leena Alzaharani, Le Méridien Riyadh
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Shimaa Galal Kashef, Al Hokair Group
Marketing manager Leena Alzaharani continues to go above and beyond. While she may be a marketer, one can easily call her a saleswomen, an events organiser and a general out-side-the-box thinker. Through her focus on SEO for the hotel website, direct bookings and room revenues skyrocketed. She also led a range of social media activations helping plug any gaps in the business. If there was a slow weekend, she would see it coming and solve it with some social media expertise.
YOUNG HOTELIER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Razan Abdullah Alghuthaym, Dur Hospitality
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Roaya Moni, Shangri-La Jeddah
Young Hotelier of the Year and recipient of aLes Roches scholarship as a result, Razan Abdullah Alghuthaym is senior digital marketing officer. She works with all major hotel teams, giving her insights into revenue maximisation, F&B, sales and more. Helping move Dur into the digital world, she has been instrumental in improving online booking experiences, fine-tuning new websites, and looking at new ways the Dur brand can partner with other groups.
GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: MID-RANGE TO UPSCALE
WINNER: Fady Sawaya, Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel & Convention
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Mohammad Abuharba, Dar Al Tawhid InterContinental Makkah
Fady Sawaya is capable of looking after a lot of things at once. He leads a dozen hotels and motivates and mentors countless staff between them. For 2022, the financial results of Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel & Convention speak for themselves, where both total revenue and occupancy have exceeded budget. He has also developed two executives up to the role of GM in the Riyadh Central area and developed four department heads to executive level.
GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR: LUXURY
WINNER: Salem Ali Al Shahrani, Accor Makkah Hotels
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Mohammed Marghalani, The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh & The
Ritz-Carlton, Jeddah
Salem Al Shahrani has 25 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry and holds a track record of outstanding achievements. A resilient, resultoriented leader and one of the most influential characters in the hospitality sector, he has left his mark on the previous roles. In this current role, Shahrani oversees the strategies, day-to-day operations including management of the hotel’s executive teams, 5,000 keys and more than 1,800 hotel employees.
HOTEL TEAM OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Shangri-La Jeddah
HIGHLY COMMENDED: The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh
Located in Burj Assila, Shangri-La made its brand debut in Saudi Arabia on February 22, 2022, the Kingdom’s Founding Day. The property was seen as “marking a new dawn” for Saudi hospitality, standing as a monument to the ambitions of its future, as an upmarket, internationally-appealing leisure hotel. In few weeks post opening, the hotel was able to leverage its product, service and prime location during the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix weekend to command premium rates that broke the records in the country with its five digits ADR, resulting an STR ranking first place with an RGI of 226.7 during the four days of the event.