The Middle East attractions industry successfully continued its tradition of annual get-togethers and awards in the face of adversity.
Trade body MENALAC's digital conference, held yesterday, was heralded a real success. Secretary general of the association, Rosa Tahmaseb, said that she was "absolutely thrilled" with how it all went, faced as it was with adversity in face of the pandemic.
There is usually a gala dinner for the presentation of the association’s awards, at an upmarket Dubai resort hotel, but the glittering occasion this year has also fallen victim to the necessary pandemic restrictions.
This year it was carefully organised and presented remotely, after an international panel of experts had evaluated contenders and drawn up a list of finalists. The 23 categories of awards was perhaps headed by a Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award that went to Majid Al Futtaim, head of the Dubai-based shopping malls development company that has a string of FEC and attractions.
It was an exhausting week for Tahmaseb and her team. The Middle East and North Africa Leisure and Attractions Council (MENALAC) head said: “Our intention was to bring our industry together and give them a chance to celebrate one another’s achievements. As we moved further and further into the ceremony it was clear that the MENA leisure and attractions industry was ready to remember why we always have been and still remain at the forefront with so many of our amazing attractions and experiences.
“It has not been an easy year for either operators or suppliers due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and to quote our president Alhasan Alzaabi ‘We should all consider ourselves winners this year’. Nevertheless we are extremely proud of our industry across the MENA region, they are resilient and after our fantastic Virtual Conference and Awards Gala we know they are ready to continue forging ahead with their amazing attractions to ensure their guests always get the very best experience it is possible to deliver.
“We are also of course very pleased for all the winners of the numerous awards. I would like to congratulate them all from everybody on the MENALAC team, and we want to wish each and every one of our industry partners the very best as we head towards the end of this year.”
This year's award winners were:
Best Water Park: Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi.
Best Establishment Manager (above 250,000 visitors/transactions): Enas Alkhateeb, Sala Entertainment.
Best innovation in Health and Safety: Majid Al Futtaim Leisure Entertainment and Cinemas.
Most Innovative Applications of Technology: Play Area Membership System, Landmark Leisure.
Best CSR Programme: Speedy Recovery, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.
Best Cinema Experience: VOX Cinemas, Majid Al Futtaim Leisure.
Best Sales and Marketing Campaign: Summer Says Yes Campaign, Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi.
Best New Product for Theme Parks: Disk O’Coaster, Zamperla Middle East.
Leisure and Entertainment Personality of the Year: Shyam Kumar Pillai, Landmark Leisure.
Best Customer Loyalty Programme: Play Area Membership, Landmark Leisure.
Best New Leisure Entertainment Concept: Teen Titans Training Academy, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi.
Best Employee Engagement Initiative: The WOW Awards, Farah Experiences.
Best New Concept/Interior Design for a Leisure Facility: Tekzone Kuwait, Al Shaya Group.
Best Establishment Manager (below 250,000 visitors/transactions): Rim Mhadhbi, Landmark Leisure.
Best Sport/Adventure-Based Entertainment: Trampo Extreme, Kuwait, Muroui Branch.
Best Edutainment Playscape: KidZania, Dubai. Best Unique Visitor Attraction: Qasr Al Watan, Abu Dhabi.
Best New Product for FECs: Air Race, Zamperla Middle East.
Best Theme Park: Warner Bros World, Abu Dhabi. Supplier of the Year: Amusement Services International, Dubai.
Best FEC: Tridom, Landmark Leisure.
Best Day Out: Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi.
