#THINCAfrica: The winners of the inaugural THINC Africa Awards

Winner of the inaugural THINC Africa Awards General Manager of the Year, Kais Mbarek (GM at The Resort Group plc's Meliá Dunas Beach Resort and Spa in Cape Verde).

“The THINC Awards are our way of promoting the very best in Africa to ensure the rest of the world is aware of the extraordinary experiences they can enjoy when they visit this great continent,” said Tim Smith, managing partner of HVS in South Africa. “It is up to the industry to nominate the hotels and people they believe are deserving.”

The winners are:

Student of the year: Aldair Borges, Stenden University, Port Alfred

Hotel of the Year: The Maslow Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa

General Manager of the Year: Kais Mbarek, Meliá Dunas Beach Resort and Spa in Cape Verde.

Special Recognition Hotel of the Year: Once in Cape Town

Special Recognition GM Chris Godenir: The Peninsula All-Suite Hotel in Cape Town

Acknowledging greatness

“For both Hotel of the Year and General Manager of the Year, we asked for self-nominations. The quality of the nominations was exceptional in both categories, right across the continent,” says Smith, who launched the South African arm of the global hotel valuation and investment consultancy in 2015. “We want to give Special Recognition Awards to one hotel and one general manager who’ve gone over and above their line of duty for the work that they’ve done. They are exceptional guys that deserve the recognition.”

Smith emphasises that it is important to give back to the industry. “For the Student of the Year we would like them to receive amazing opportunities; for GM of the Year, opportunities to further enhance their CV and boost the performance of their hotel with acknowledgement of great service and guest experience. And for Hotel of the Year, global exposure to highlight some of the best hotels in the world are in Africa. This is our way of acknowledging greatness and thanking them for all they do for our industry,” he says.