Oryx Rotana winner in 5 categories of Choice Awards

Oryx Rotana Hotel has bagged five different awards at the inaugural Qatar Choice Awards ceremony held recently. During the event, winners in 26 different categories were announced after a two-month social media based public voting competition. There were over 12,000 votes cast across the 26 categories featuring 181 nominees out of some 372 nominated registrants. Oryx Rotana was able to successfully garner the highest number of public votes across five categories: Favourite Creative Concept for a restaurant (won by The Cellar); Favourite Nightlife (Jazz Club); Favourite Brunch (Choices); Favourite General Manager (Kevork Deldelian); and Favourite Chef (Executive Chef Rainer Rudolf Mueller). Apart from the Oryx Rotana’s win across five categories, perhaps the most coveted categories were bagged by the W Doha, which won the Favourite Restaurant, Favourite Asian Concept Restaurant, and Favourite Hotel Awards. The winners of the first two categories were the W Hotel’s favourite haunts- the Market by Jean-Georges and the Spice Market respectively. For the Favourite Hotel award, the W Doha beat 13 other world-class hotels to claim the out prize. Other awards of note included the Favourite Hosted Event Space (won by the Katara Cultural Village), Favourite Stand-alone Restaurant (won by Katara-based Mamig restaurant) and a seasonal favourite in Qatar, the Favourite Ramadan Tent (won by the Ritz-Carlton Doha). While the awards handed out to hotels and restaurants were lauded with equal vigor by the audience, the most exciting individual award for those gathered at the Qatar Choice Awards gala dinner was Favourite Individual in Hospitality Industry won by Luke Noble-Four Season, Doha. Qatar Happening executive director Mona Whitice noted: “The awards had harnessed the power of social media to deliver a verdict on the whole industry. Those who have won today are now challenged to have another strong showing next year. The whole exercise is guaranteed to push the restaurant and hotel industry of Qatar forward and that, in the end, is good for Qatar.” Highlights of the award ceremony included musical performances by local talents including the big band from Doha Jazz Vincent Corver, a classical pianist and Grammy award nominee and EMI recording artist highlighted the night’s entertainment with his rendition of his own songs (Why and That Girl), while also surprising the crowd with a classical piano addition to a Michael Jackson and Akon songs. Patrizia Doringer, an electrical violinist who also plays at the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, dazzled the guests with a brilliant performance that resulted in a standing ovation. The locally-based group, Groove Mechanics rounded off the night’s entertainment with pizazz. One of the guests, Andrew Malone of ‘3asha Wednesday’, said: “The reception itself is absolutely amazing … it was built for the audience as a true celebration. Walking into the awards ceremony, I had little knowledge of the proceedings, but in the end, I am really happy that I came. It has been an excellent night, and seeing the faces of the people around me, I know I am not the only one that feels that way.” George Ayache, general manager of IFP Qatar-the organisers of the Qatar Choice Awards, was celebrating not just the event by itself, but also the launch of a new arm within the company - the IFP Qatar Events Division. He noted: “The Qatar Choice Awards was the event’s division’s first foray into the world of specialised, industry-specific events. We aimed to set a high standard for this event and we believe that we exceeded those expectations. I am very proud of our team and partners who have worked so hard to put together an event that wasn’t just great, but also completely foreign to the industry- an excellent start for the IFP Qatar Events division.” Sarah Mroueh, the brain behind the IFP Qatar events division and in charge of the recently concluded Diyafa Exhibition and Qatar Choice Awards, said: “The hotels took the awards programme to heart and engaged with their customers like never before. The voting process gave people a chance to deliver honest feedback and opinions which will have a direct impact on how the restaurant and hotel industry operates in Qatar.” The Qatar Choice Awards was supported by a team of dedicated partners including Al Isteklal, Premium Projects and Gulf Crafts as well as Qatar Happening, and ILoveQatar.net and Diyafa 2012. Category winners * Favourite Day Ambience - Sealine Beach Resort *Favourite Private Beachfront - Sealine Beach Resort * Favourite View - Al Mourjan Restaurant * Favourite Arabic Restaurant - Al Mourjan Restaurant * Favourite Hosted Event Space - Katara Cultural Village * Favourite Delicatessen - Red Velvet Cupcakes * Favourite Stand-alone Restautant - Mamig * Favourite Live Music Entertainment - Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra * Favourite Fitness Centre - The Bay Club (Intercontinental Doha) * Favourite Newcomer Restaurant - Strata (Intercontinental Doha) * Favourite Newcomer Hotel - Renaissance Doha- City Centre * Favourite DJ - Roger Choueiry (La Cigale Hotel) * Favourite Event in 2012 - Cirque Du Soleil (SDI Marketing) * Favourite Creative Concept for a Restaurant - The Cellar (Oryx Rotana) * Favourite Nightlife - Jazz Club (Oryx Rotana) * Favourite Brunch - Choices (Oryx Rotana) * Favourite General Manager - Kevork Deldelian (Oryx Rotana) * Favourite Chef - Executive Chef Rainer Mueller (Oryx Rotana) * Best Lounge and Pub Admirals - (Ritz-Carlton Doha) * Favourite Evening Ambience - Four Seasons Pool & Grill * Favourite Individual in the Hospitality Industry - Luke Noble (Four Seasons, Doha) * Favourite Spa - Four Seasons Doha * Favourite Asian Concept - The Spice Market (W Doha) * Favourite Restaurant - The Market (W Doha) * Favourite Hotel - W Doha