General manager of Makkah Hilton and Towers in Saudi Arabia Shuja Zaidi has won the General Manager of the Year award at the Kingdom Hotel Expansion and World Investment Summit held recently in Riyadh.

“Shuja has managed our largest and most profitable property in the region with 1,413 rooms since 2003. He balances creative strength with tactical knowledge, and leadership with team spirit,” said Jean-Paul Herzog, president, Hilton Hotels, Middle East and Africa.

“He is known for his consultative management technique, his mentoring of managerial talent for Hilton and his merit-based system of advancement. Last year, we also appointed him as vice president, projects, Saudi Arabia, to support our development ambitions in Saudi Arabia.”

The Kingdom Hotel Expansion & World Investment Summit and Awards, organised by Naseba, is one of the industry’s most prestigious trade events and recognises hospitality leaders who have transformed the face of the industry.

Zaidi, who had to beat 25 other nominees from across the Middle East, to win the award, has been a part of the Hilton Family for 17 years, and was selected as the award winner for his work in increasing the hotel’s commercial performance.

A recreational pilot, Zaidi was also recognised for his CSR commitments as an active board member of the Children Health & Education Foundation which operates and promotes mother and child healthcare systems in third-world countries.

Meanwhile, Hilton HHonors, the company’s customer loyalty programme, won three awards for best customer service, best award redemption and best award in Europe, Middle East & Africa in this year’s Freddie Awards, where the public rates frequent airline and hotel guest loyalty programmes. – TradeArabia News Service