Business
The H Hotel and JW Marriott Marquis Dubai Honoured
The inaugural '2016 Food and Travel GCC Awards' was held yesterday in the Kingdom of Bahrain in the presence of worldwide acclaimed chefs and restaurateurs.
The glittery event, held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Bahrain, was arranged by the respected Food & Travel publication, and held as a part of the 'Manama Gulf Capital of Tourism 2016' calendar of events. The occasion was gone to by Shaikh Khaled Bin Humood Al Khalifa, Acting Chief Executive of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority along with dignitaries and vital figures within the travel and hospitality sector.
The H Hotel Dubai bagged the very best Weekend Destination Hotel while JW Marriott Marquis Dubai won the very best City Hotel.
Other awards were offered to Dubai-based Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire for the Restaurant of the Year while its Chef, Francois Xavier Simon, won the Chef of the Year award. Daniel Everts of Jean-Georges Dubai got the Breakthrough Chef of the Year award while Alain Ducasse bagged the International Chef of the Year award.
Gary Rhodes OBE got the Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Award.
In the restaurants classification, Rang Mahal at the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai got the Timeless Classic Asian Award while Timeless Classic International Award was captured by The Ivy at the Emirates Towers Boulevard Dubai. Award for Best International Restaurant was clinched by Rhodes W1 at the Grosvenor House Dubai.
"As a country soaked in history, rich in culture, and an enthusiasm for food and hospitality, it was just fitting that the world-renowned Food and Travel Magazine chose Bahrain to host the supreme requirement for Awards in the area; the prestigious 2016 Food and Travel GCC Tourism Awards," said Sheikh Khaled.
"These awards represent the ultimate standard for hospitality across the GCC; a celebration of the hard working and gifted teams at the hotels, dining establishments and cafes throughout the region. It is likewise a true testimony to the depth and quality of area's prospering hospitality market; validating the GCC's position on the culinary and tourism map," he included.
Over 263,000 votes were casted by the public in the preliminary, helping to pick an elite band of finalists.
"Food and Travel's professional panel of hotel and dining establishment inspectors have actually been working tirelessly throughout this year evaluating, investigating and taking another look at the finalists in their extensive and objective look for excellence," included Salah Alhaiki, Publisher of Food and Travel Magazine.
The full award list:
Hotel
Best 5 Star Hotel Four Seasons Bahrain Bay
Best 4 Star Hotel Swiss-Bellhotel Bahrain
Best Weekend Destination Hotel The H Dubai
Best Destination Hotel Ritz-Carlton Bahrain
Best City Hotel JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
Best Resort Hotel Marsa Malaz Kempinski Doha
Restaurants
Best Middle Eastern Restaurant Tugra Burj Rafal Hotel Kempinski
Best Japanese Restaurant Nozomi Riyadh
Timeless Classic Asian Rang Mahal JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
Timeless Classic International The Ivy Emirates Towers Boulevard Dubai
Best Casual Chic Delphines H Dubai
Best All Day Casual Villa Mamas Bahrain
Best International Restaurant Rhodes W1 Grosvenor House Dubai
Best French Restaurant Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Best Steakhouse & Grill Plums Ritz Carlton Bahrain
Best Mediterranean Gordon Ramsey at the St Regis Doha
Best Indian Junoon Dubai Shangri-La Dubai
Best Thai Tong Thai JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
Best Newcomer Antica Pesa Doha
One to watch Nobu Doha
Best South American Toro Toro Grosvenor House Dubai
Best Spanish El Faro Marsa Malaz Kempinski Doha
Best Italian Vivaldi by Alfredo Russo Sheraton Dubai Creek
Best Asian Fusion Zuma Dubai
Best Chinese Hakkasan Doha