Erwin Rachim of Al Qasr, Madinat Jumeirah was declared 2006 Concierge of the Year, whilst The Fairmont Dubai won the overall Best Team Award. The competition was stiff as they were competing against all the other five star hotels in Dubai.

The Concierge of the Year awards, initiated and sponsored by Wafi City - Dubai’s leading retail, leisure and shopping destination - are held in conjunction with the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Government of Dubai.

Winning the individual title topped a great year for Erwin, who also won Al Qasr’s Employee of the Year Award for 2006 and has been recently promoted to Concierge Team Leader.

“I have been with the hotel since it opened two years ago and I am really thrilled about this win,” said Erwin Rachim, who had entered the competition for the second time.

Erwin, originally from Indonesia, won the title and will receive a total of Dhs12,000 as a cash reward from Wafi City, a suit sponsored by Strellson Menswear, plus a Cambridge University scholarship of his choice, for a six-month part-time course in hospitality courtesy the DTCM. “This is a great win for me and I am really looking forward to the course as it will help me advance my career.”

The awards, cash and specially-designed trophies, were presented to all the winners by Ibrahim Yaqoot, Manager – Human Resources of DTCM and Abdulla Ibrahim, Director of Local Affairs & Marketing, Wafi Group of Companies, at an elegant gala dinner held at the prestigious Sphinx Restaurant at Wafi City.

The Fairmont Dubai’s concierge team won the overall Best Team Award and received Dhs20,000 in cash, plus a trophy.

Concierge Manager Junaidi Susantio, of the Fairmont said: “Winning this title is a great payoff for us, as we have been striving to provide world-class services to our customers all throughout the year. It is not just during the competition that we up our service levels. Our colleague Mitchel’s title win last year, motivated us to work hard for the team title.”

Other winners include:

- UAE National Marwan Mohammed from the Burj Al Arab for Best Knowledge of Attraction & Events and received Dhs2000 in cash sponsored by Castaway Cards.

- Sharlan Rabacal from the Al Murooj Rotana, for Best Communication Skills as well as Dhs2000 sponsored by Concierge Magazine.