DUBAI: At a glittering ceremony at Burj Khalifa in Dubai recently, Raffles Makkah Palace was crowned Middle East's Leading Luxury Hotel by the World Travel Awards, the travel industry's version of the Oscars. Votes were cast online by over 213,000 travel professionals around the world, from over 160 participating countries. Raffles Makkah Palace was nominated for the first time in the category of Middle East's Leading Luxury Hotel, following its successful opening in August last year. Winning this award even less than one year in operation, Raffles Makkah Palace's dedication to impeccable service has quickly given the hotel an established, eminent name in the Middle East hospitality industry. “It is an honor to be named Middle East's Leading Luxury Hotel,” said Mohammed Arkobi, Vice President and Managing Director for Fairmont Raffles Hotels International – Makkah. “We are very proud to be the standard-bearer for hotels in the Middle East, and this award represents the culmination of our tireless efforts to provide the highest levels of the luxury hospitality and excellence while constantly seeking to surpass our own achievements.” Khaled Yamak, Group Director of Communications and Business Development, said the award is particularly significant as travel industry professionals around the world have voted, carrying global recognition of the hotel's well-deserved reputation as the top luxury spot in the Middle East.”
