Business & Money | Wednesday 3 April, 2019 4:00 am |

The Middle East & North Africa Leisure and Attraction Council (MENALAC) – the trade association for the Middle East and North African leisure market – has announced the winners of its annual, Leisure, Entertainment & Attractions awards on March 26, 2019 at the Ritz Carlton DIFC, Dubai. The 2nd MENALAC Awards were held in conjunction with the region’s largest trade show for FEC, leisure, theme parks and amusement industries in the MENA region.

Aimed to highlight and honor excellence across 21 categories in the MENA leisure and attraction industry, MENALAC Awards received over 100 entries from leisure operations in the region. The best theme parks, water parks, FEC’s, visitor attractions as well as the best industry practices and operational managers have battled it through to win glory and recognition in their specific categories announced on the night of the awards. The winners include:

Best Theme Park – Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi

Best FEC – Fun City - Pakistan

Best Waterpark – Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi

Best Unique Visitor Attraction – Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

Best Edutainment / Playscape – KidZania Dubai

Best Sport / Adventure-based Entertainment - Jumble

Best New Leisure / Entertainment concept – Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi

Best Sales and Marketing Campaign – Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi

Best CSR Program – Ataa Al Hokair Group

Best Employees’ Engagement Initiative – Landmark Leisure

Best Customer Loyalty Program – Play Membership – Landmark Leisure

Best Innovation in Health and Safety – Majid Al Futtaim – Leisure & Entertainment and Cinemas

Best Establishment Manager; below 250,000 visitor / transaction – Swaraj Pradham – Fun Ville Ezdan Mall, Wakra, Qatar

Best Establishment Manager; above 250,000 visitor / transaction – Taleb Madah – Safforiland Hasaa, KSA

Leisure and Entertainment Personality of the year – Mishal Al Hokair – Al Hokair Group

MENALAC Hall of Fame – Mr. Mohammed Salem Al-Mashad – COO Al Othaim Leisure & Tourism Co.

 

This year, the highly coveted awards celebrating path breaking achievements in the leisure and attraction sector, covered all facets of the entertainment industry including cinemas and manufacturers with introduction of new award categories:

Best Cinema Experience – VOX Cinemas

Best Day Out – Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi

Most Innovative New Product/ Installation/ Show/ Production Etc (For Any Indoor L&E Establishment) – Ferrari World Abu Dhabi

Most Innovative New Product/ Installation/ Show/Production Etc. (For Any Outdoor L&E Establishment) – WaveOz Laguna Park – WhiteWater

Most Innovative Application of Technology – iFly Dubai VR

 

An independent Seven-member jury comprising eminent professionals from the global leisure, retail and real estate industry analyzed the entries received, short listed nominees and identified their choice to an external audit firm, Crowe, who then collated the results and announced the winners during the gala event. In addition, the event witnessed a Hall of Fame Award in the memory of Mr. Mohammed Salem Al-Mashad – COO Al Othaim Leisure & Tourism Co., MENALAC Founding and board member.

 

Commenting on the launch, Prakash Vivekanand as MENALAC Secretary General, said “We are thrilled to announce the winners at the 2nd MENALAC awards. We received over 100 entries and it is amazing to see some great names emerging as winners. The Middle East market is very competitive and as tourism is soaring high in these countries, the demand for amusement and leisure centers is on the rise. With such a high demand, we have to be able to provide nothing but the best in our amusement and leisure offerings in the region.  The 2nd MENALAC Awards recognizes and celebrates the innovativeness and uniqueness that is added with each new attraction. The esteemed awards acknowledge and reward exceptional achievements and initiatives of top centers as well as individuals setting a benchmark against global leisure and entertainment hubs simultaneously adding value to the operating standards in our region.”

 

The 2nd MENALAC Awards is supported by Cheer Amusement, followed by Bob’s Space Racer and the Entertainer. The management will also like to thank EMBED Technology and CROWE Auditing Partner for their support.