The Middle East & North Africa Leisure and Attraction Council (MENALAC) – the trade association for the Middle East and North African leisure market – honoured industry players at the Leisure, Entertainment & Attractions awards on March 26, 2019 at the Ritz Carlton DIFC, Dubai.
The awards honoured excellence across 21 categories in the MENA leisure and attraction industry. The winners include the following:
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 Programme – Ataa Al Hokair Group
Best Employees’ Engagement Initiative – Landmark Leisure
Best Customer Loyalty Programme – 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
Leisure and Entertainment Personality of the year – Mishal Al Hokair, Al Hokair Group
MENALAC Hall of Fame – Late Mohammed Salem Al-Mashad, erstwhile 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. These include:
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
Commenting on the awards, Prakash Vivekanand, MENALAC secretary general, said “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 centres 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 recognised and celebrated the innovativeness and uniqueness that is added with each new attraction. The esteemed awards acknowledge and reward exceptional achievements and initiatives of top centres as well as individuals setting a benchmark against global leisure and entertainment hubs simultaneously adding value to the operating standards in our region.”