Aldar Properties PJSC (‘Aldar’), Abu Dhabi’s leading listed property development, investment and management company, today announced that its hospitality portfolio has won an impressive 14 industry awards during the course of 2015 and 2016.
Aldar’s hospitality portfolio includes ten hotels, seven of which are located on the iconic Yas Island – reaffirming the destination’s position as a leading business, tourism and leisure hub in Abu Dhabi.
Showcasing cuisine from all corners of the globe, dining and lounge venues at Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi, Crowne Plaza & Centro by Rotana received certificates of excellence for consistently achieving outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, with a number of their restaurants named as favourites of the popular publications; What’s On Abu Dhabi, Fact Abu Dhabi and Time Out Abu Dhabi Awards. In addition, the Yas Viceroy secured 4th position in the Top 15 hotels in the Middle East by Conde Nast Travellers’ Readers’ Choice Awards 2015, a survey of more than 128,000 travellers.
The Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi has also recently launched The Kids’ Zone Generation V, a new entertainment facility consisting of a brightly coloured 335 square metre Kids’ Zone. Featuring a multitude of wall cut-outs and tunnels which interlink the different spaces, the new zone will include sound tubing, wall climbing, play stations, play houses, and a soft play area. Offering parents another form of entertainment for their children is the latest example of Aldar’s efforts to build Yas Island into a family destination, not only for visitors but also for residents, whose number will grow as Aldar’s projects on the island are completed.
Hala Arjaan, operated by Rotana, won the Best Luxury Serviced Apartments award by World Luxury Hotel Awards, one of the hospitality industry’s most prestigious annual awards. Yas Island’s Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suites each received 8+ ratings on Booking.com and acclamation from the Holiday Check Awards 2016, the largest independent travel portal in German-speaking countries for best hotel in the UAE.
Demonstrating its commitment to environmental sustainability, Radisson Blu & Park Inn secured the largest global eco-label for tourism and leisure establishments, Green Key Award 15/16 by Emirates Green Building Council. A non-governmental, non-profit and independent program, Green Key is recognized by the World Tourism Organization and United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
Elsewhere in Abu Dhabi, Richard Bleakley, General Manager of Courtyard by Marriott World Trade Center Abu Dhabi, received individual recognition in the form of the Diamond General Manager of the Year award by Marriott International. He beat almost a thousand other aspiring Marriott candidates from around the world and was applauded for his outstanding leadership towards successfully establishing the first Marriott endorsed brand in Abu Dhabi. Courtyard by Marriott World Trade Center Abu Dhabi also received Marriott International’s Excellence in Delivering Guest Experience (EDGE) award for the MENA region.
Additionally, Courtyard by Marriott at WTCAD was recognised by the Hospitality Technology Awards for ‘best use of technology as marketing platform’ and its 5th Street Café was voted Fact Magazine’s Favourite Café in its 2016 Abu Dhabi Dining Awards.
Tilal Liwa, a 4-star resort located in Liwa, Abu Dhabi’s Western Region, received a number of awards including recognition from Abu Dhabi government authorities including Department of Transport, Management of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Zayed Heritage Festival, Ministry of Interior, Al Gharbia Sports Club and GHQ of Civil Defence – Abu Dhabi for its warm hospitality and exciting leisure experience.
Jahed Rahman, Director – Hospitality & Leisure division, Aldar Properties PJSC, said: “The awards that Aldar has received for its hospitality and leisure division in the past year are a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our staff and our partners. Each of them strives to deliver the highest standards of service to guests and visitors at all times. Yas Island, and indeed Abu Dhabi, has become a popular location for tourists and residents alike and recognition from the industry in the form of these awards is a true testament to our commitment to providing new, innovative concepts and a first-class hospitality and leisure experience.”
