Dubai, June 2012: Jumeirah, the global luxury hospitality company and a member of Dubai Holding, is delighted to announce the success of Senior Lecturer and Director of Culinary Arts at the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (EAHM), Michael Kitts, after taking home the People’s Choice Award at the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards in London.
The award, which celebrates those who have made an outstanding contribution to the industry, highlights Chef Kitts’ role in developing Dubai’s culinary scene since joining Jumeirah Group in 2001 as part of the pre-opening team of EAHM.
Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman of the Jumeirah Group, commented: “Michael Kitts has been based in the UAE for over a decade and has helped to establish Dubai as a culinary hotspot. He has inspired many chefs, restaurant managers and hospitality students, as well as attracting international celebrity chefs to the Dubai scene. Being voted as the People’s Choice at the Craft Guild of Chefs Awards reflects the enormous respect Michael Kitts commands among his peers and the inspiration and innovation he has brought to Jumeirah’s own portfolio of restaurants.”
Ron Hilvert, Managing Director of EAHM, commented: “Michael Kitts joined Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management at its foundation and has helped to establish it as one of the world’s top hospitality management schools. This award is further proof of the extraordinary contribution he has made internationally to the art of culinary excellence and the kind of teamwork and creativity that is central to the success of any restaurant business.”
As one of only four people to be nominated for the “People’s Choice Award”, Chef Kitts won the award with a majority public vote and received his trophy at Wembley Stadium in front of an audience of several hundred culinary professionals. Earlier this year, Kitts, alongside Madinat Jumeirah’s Resort Executive Chef Christian Gradnitzer – recently heralded the region’s Number One Executive Chef by Hotelier Middle East – led a team of chefs to 14 Gold Medal successes in Le Salon Culinaire International de Londres 2012 at Hotelympia – the UK’s largest hospitality exhibition.
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