The top players in the Middle East and Africa’s hospitality sector were honoured at the Future Hospitality Summit Awards today in the presence of the Founding Patron of the Arabian Hospitality Investment Conference (AHIC), His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman & Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group.

The FHS Leadership Award, Lifetime Award for Services to the Industry and the Be The Change Award winners were named as Amit Nayak, Ranjan Nadarajah and Assia Riccio respectively, following nominations and selections by the FHS Advisory Board and key industry peers for their outstanding contributions and leadership.

Amit Nayak, Vice President of the Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA) Middle East and Africa, received the Leadership Award in recognition of his 20-plus year career in asset management, private equity and operations across the region. Amit is a mentor at Intelak Dubai, sits on the executive board of the Cornell University Alumni Association for GCC, and is a board member of the UAE Restaurants Group.

The Lifetime Award for Services to the Industry went to the late Ranjan Nadarajah in honour of his remarkable leadership and unparalleled services to the sector. The legendary Dubai hotelier, who sadly passed away in March this year after a career spanning several decades, was known as a ‘thorough gentlemen, loved and respected by peers, fellow hoteliers, industry leaders and associates’. Nadarajah was senior advisor to Wasl Hospitality and GM of Dubai International Hotel at Dubai International Airport. He was also the long-serving GM at Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, where he worked for more than 35 years. The award was proudly accepted by his family.

Assia Riccio, Founder & CEO, Evolvin’ Women, won the Be The Change Award in recognition of her work as a champion of change for the hospitality industry. A pioneer in supporting the development of unemployed women from under-privileged background and female farmers in developing countries, Assia is the former Group Learning and Development Manager at Jumeirah Restaurants Group, where she developed strategies for more than 1,000 employees across a portfolio of 42 restaurants.

Commenting on receiving the award on stage today Assia said: “Being recognised by the Future of Hospitality Summit, for ‘Be The Change’ award is an incredibly meaningful milestone for us at Evolvin’ Women. Our strategic partners in the hospitality field have been intrinsic to our success, and the success of the amazing women who have gone through our programme and thrived.

We are on a mission to empower more women and propel gender equality in our society, but we cannot achieve this alone, so we request the hospitality industry to join us – because when we all unite, there is tremendous potential to bring more meaningful change and pave the path for an equitable, resilient and sustainable future.”

Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench, organiser of FHS, said: “We are honoured and proud to celebrate our FHS Award winners, whose outstanding contributions, achievements and leadership are pivotal to the region’s past, present and future hospitality sector. Our three winners are exemplary in their work, role models for up-and-coming industry stars, and a shining example of effectively leading the way to enhance the region’s world-class, ever-growing hospitality sector.”

FHS was attended by nearly 1,000 delegates and featured 185 top-flight speakers, with three days of high-level debate, networking and events, all centred around the theme Lead the Change.