Tourism & Hospitality | Thursday 22 August, 2019 5:43 pm |

The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) announced the winners of awards for the best tourist accommodation in Taif Season, which runs through August. His Excellency Mr. Saad Bin Moqbel Al-Maimouni, the Governor of Taif, presented the awards to the winners today at the governorate headquarters in the presence of Noura Al-Akeel, Executive Director of Taif Season. 

Awaliv Hotel won the award for best hotel of the season, and the shield of honor was received by the general manager of the hotel Mohammed bin Khalid Al Ghamdi. Ramaj Apartments was named best hotel apartments, and the award was presented to director of apartments Professor Hind Mufti. The award for best tourist inn facility in Taif went to Hotel Araik, and was received by its manager Mohammed bin Ayed Al-Qahtan. The awards strengthen the facilities’ brand as they are issued by a government agency overseeing the sector. 

Al-Maimouni said in a press statement after the ceremony, "Such awards are an important catalyst for the accommodation sector as they come from the authorities responsible for the evaluation of this sector and for setting the standards that must be adhered to, to serve visitors and tourists. We hope that it will be a new beginning for better competition in this sector. This has resulted in a positive service for Taif visitors from abroad, noting in this regard the achievements of the first Taif Season, the keenness of the Tourism Authority to accept the Taif people, and the great interaction of all categories of visitors from across the Kingdom and neighboring countries.” 

For the award process, entries were reviewed after nomination closed to ensure that the conditions are met in accordance with the regulations. Confidential field visits were made to nominated bodies to ensure compliance with quality standards and fulfil the conditions of the competition.  

The Authority set a number of conditions for the awards, according to the views of experts specialized in the fields of tourism and hospitality, with the aim of raising the levels of services provided to visitors and tourists. One of the most prominent conditions is that the license issued by the Authority be valid, that the requirements and classification criteria be complied with and the quality of the service provided, an absence of complaints from guests, as well as the application of the identity of the Taif season and the evaluation of the establishment by the guests.