Action Hotels chairman accepts major regional industry award

Owner, developer and asset manager of branded three and four-star hotels in the Middle East and Australia Action Hotels announced on Friday that H.E. Sheikh Mubarak Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, founder and chairman of the company, had been awarded the “prestigious” Industry Pioneer Award at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference 2017.

The AIM-traded firm said the award recognised the achievements of individuals who had made a “significant contribution” to the Middle East hospitality industry.

It said the award was nominated and voted for by the AHIC Advisory Board, a panel of more than 40 hotel owners, investors, operators and consultants with “extensive” knowledge and experience of the Middle East hotel industry.

Sheikh Mubarak founded Action Hotels in 2005, the board explained, after identifying a gap in the underserved three and four star branded hotel market across the Middle East.

The company now had 12 operational hotels with 2,181 rooms in aggregate across the Middle East and Australia, and a further six hotels in the pipeline.

It said the expansion of Action's hotel portfolio across the Gulf Cooperation Council had been driven by increasing demand for quality, affordable hotel accommodation in the region, particularly from intra-regional travellers, and the material undersupply in the economy and midscale hotel sectors.

“This year's acclaimed winners are pioneers in the regional mid-market travel and tourism industry,” said AHIC co-founder Jonathan Worsley.

“They are responsible for enabling and encouraging more visitors to come to the Middle East and stay in the wonderful destinations this region offers.

“The underserved mid-market segment is finally getting the attention it deserves and as an industry we are inspired by and grateful to our winners for paving the way.”

Commenting on the award, Sheikh Mubarak said it was a “privilege” for him to accept the Industry Pioneer Award.

“The award is testament to the team at Action Hotels.

“We have delivered organic growth and established the company as a leading owner, developer and asset manager spearheading the development of economy and mid-market hotels in the Middle East and Australia.”

Sheikh Mubarak said the company was “passionate” about what it does and that was the reason why it continued to commit time, energy, resources and investment to further growth.

“This Industry Pioneer Award is recognition of our successful strategy and acknowledges our team at Action Hotels, who have worked tirelessly to grow the business and deliver returns for all our stakeholders.”