Arab News: Arab News

Mohammed H. Arkobi was awarded the World’s Leading Hotelier 2011 title recently.

Arkobi, vice-president and managing director of Fairmont Raffles Hotels International Makkah, received the honour at the World Travel Awards show in Doha, Qatar.

He leads a team of 5,000 employees in Saudi Arabia

In addition to this award, he was ranked 22 on the Hotelier Middle East Power 50 List last year.

At Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, Makkah, Arkobi manages the three hotels; Makkah Clock Royal Tower — A Fairmont Hotel crowned as the best landmark hotel in the world, Raffles Makkah Palace awarded as the best all suite hotel and Swissotel Makkah that will open soon.

Arkobi said: “It is an honor for me to achieve this which is a result of endless efforts of our colleagues. Hence this puts us forth for yet another challenge to enhance the level of our services and I thank World Travel Awards and the entire committee working on it for acknowledging me with such a reputable award in the world of Hospitality industry.

Arkobi joined Fairmont Raffles Hotels International in 2007 as general manager before being positioned as vice president and managing director, where he is working deeply in developing a special collection of hospitality services that are offered by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International in Makkah working to make Makkah a distinguished hospitality sector globally.

Before joining Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, Makkah, Arkobi served as the area general manager of the Madinah Inter-Continental Hotel and a general manager of Dar Al Hijra InterContinental Madinah.

Prior to the said positions, Arkobi held a number of key positions within Dar Al Hijra InterContinental Madinah.

He was hotel manager, resident manager and executive asst. manager, in-charge of operations.