Dubai: The head of low-cost carrier, flydubai, and the founder of mid-market hotel brand Action Hotels, were both announced as the winners of the annual Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) Awards on Thursday.
The winners were Gaith Al Gaith, chief executive officer of flydubai, who received the Leadership Award, and Shaikh Mubarak Al Sabah, founder and non-executive chairman of Action Hotels, who bagged the Industry Pioneer Award.
The two winners were recognised for contributing to the growth of the Middle East’s hospitality industry, especially in the regional mid-market travel and tourism segment, which has traditionally been underserved.
Driving forces
Dubai-based Action Hotels is the only Kuwaiti company and only hospitality company in the region listed on the London Stock Exchange and regulated by the Dubai International Financial Centre.
The awards were presented by AHIC Patron, Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of Emirates airline and Group.
“The AHIC Awards are designed to recognise and celebrate the driving forces behind the Middle East hospitality industry. These are the people we hope will inspire the next generation of hoteliers and embolden young, local talent to pursue a career in our dynamic industry. The underserved mid-market segment is finally getting the attention it deserves, as reflected in the conversation at this year’s AHIC …” stated Jonathan Worsley, co-founder of AHIC and chairman of Bench Events.
The AHIC 2017 Awards are nominated and voted for by the AHIC advisory board, a panel of hotel owners, investors, operators, and consultants with experience in the Middle East hotel industry.
