Stars dazzle @Arabian Travel Awards

Travel, tourism and hospitality stalwarts felicitated for their outstanding contribution to the industry at the glittering awards ceremony held in Dubai recently. Ammar Sajwani, Director, Tourism Development Department UAE, Ministry of Economy, graced the occasion as Chief Guest and presented the awards.

Shehara Rizly

The evening kicked off with the official ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by the launch of the special collector’s edition by the Chief Guest, Ammar Sajwani. Thereafter, SanJeet, Director, DDP Group and Sumeera Bahl, Director DDP Group, received the award winners on stage.

This year, Mohamed Jassim Al Rais entered the Gallery of Legends, Basmah Abdulaziz Al – Mayman was honoured as Tourism Ambassador, Jaal Shah was recognised as the DDP Gamechanger and Mohammad Khoori as DDP Trailblazer. The next session was the presentation of business awards to all those engaged in the travel, tourism and hospitality sector for their team efforts, making it through thick and thin over the past year.In his opening remarks, SanJeet said, “The travel and tourism industry in the Middle East has not just survived the pandemic but started to thrive again, and they are leading by example. In fact, the world is carefully watching this magic that is happening from this part of the world, I wish that we could go back and delete the last two years, but the hard battle has made us all stronger and tougher. Everybody in this room is a winner, we have all won both personal and professional battles and led to adapting the new normal.” He added, “I am very happy to be here and I would like to first of all take this opportunity to thank the organisers, a very good set-up and it is my first time to be here and I’m very privileged to be among the leaders of the travel and tourism business. This award continues to become the platform for all those successful in the travel and tourism industry for their hard work and dedication. There is no better time for this awards night to come now, especially as we are a few days towards after the launch of the national tourism strategy, which was on 11th November by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The strategy aims to attract 100 billion dirhams investments in UAE by the year 2031 and in the same year attract 40 million hotel guests.”