The first RetailME Awards 2005 is being held under the patronage of Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Economy and Planning, organisers of the event announced. Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari Group have also confirmed their participation as the event’s title sponsor.
With the Middle East currently in the midst of the biggest increase in floor space, this is an exciting time for the retail industry. Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari Group, developers of the City of Arabia, recognising the need to award contributors to the growth of the sector have taken on the role of title sponsors for RetailME Awards 2005.
“Booming economic conditions, population growth, increase in the number of tourists, and investor-friendly market conditions, the regional boom in the retail sector seems set to continue unabated. The time is right to honour and recognise the contributions to the industry by regional players and we are proud to be part of the first-ever RetailME Awards,” said Mr. Mustafa Galadari, Vice Chairman of the Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari Group.
RetailME Awards 2005, which has been instituted to recognise retail excellence in the region and encourage retailers to match global standards, will be judged by an international panel of retail experts, each selected for his knowledge and experience of global and Middle East retail markets. The panel includes:
Walter Kleinschmit, Principal, Middle East Shopping Center Advisors, KSA: Mr. Kleinschmit is founder and active member of the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres and a member of the International Faculty of ICSC School of Professional Development.
John Stanley, Director, John Stanley Associates, Australia: A renowned international conference speaker and retail consultant, Mr. Stanley has authored several successful marketing and retail books including the best seller 'Just About Everything a Retail Manager Needs to Know'.
Ian Watt, Chairman, International Council of Shopping Centers, International Advisory Committee, South Africa: A trustee of the International Council of Shopping Centres, Mr. Watt was chairman of the 2005 ICSC Retail Real Estate World Summit. He is also a member of the board of governors of the Global Real Estate Institute and a member of the International Real Estate Federation, the Urban Land Institute and the International Association of Amusement Park Administrators.
Peter Walichnowski, Director, Skylan Properties, Seoul, Korea, (ex CEO of MAF Investments): Mr. Walichnowski has held senior positions in major property companies. During his three-year tenure with Majid Al Futtaim, he was responsible for the establishment of major retail development projects across the Middle East. Currently based in Seoul, Korea, he continues to work on a number of Middle East projects.
Colm McLoughlin, Managing Director, Dubai Duty Free, UAE: An Executive Board Member of the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), Mr. McLoughlin heads the duty free operation at Dubai International Airport, and is responsible for the management of the Aviation Club. He has been instrumental in helping to build one of the most successful duty free operations in the world.
Saeed Mohammed Al Nabouda, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS), UAE: As CEO, Mr. Al Nabouda has significantly contributed to the transformation of DSF and DSS into a major driver of tourism for Dubai and a world-class festival with truly global appeal. He has a wealth of knowledge and expertise related to creating, staging and managing large-scale festivals in Dubai.
Retailers from across the Middle East are taking part in the event due to be held at Emirates Towers Hotel, Godolphin Ballroom, Dubai, on February 26, 2006. The different categories of RetailME Awards 2005 are: Marketing Campaign of the Year, New Retail Brand of the Year, Customer Service Initiative of the Year, Store Design of the Year, Online Retailer of the Year, Rising Star of the Year, Business Excellence of the Year, Store Manager of the Year, Loyalty Programme of the Year, Mall of the Year, Grocer of the Year, Lifestyle Retailer of the Year, Local Retailer of the Year and International Retailer of the Year.
The final date for submission of entries is January 31, 2006. More information on RetailME Awards 2005 is available on the award’s website: www.retailmeawards.com
About RetailME
The RetailME Awards 2005 is an exclusive property of RetailME, the first B2B magazine in the Middle East dedicated to the retail industry. With clearly defined sections, RetailME focuses on local and international aspects of retail from sourcing and supply chain issues through logistics, merchandising, in-store design, category management, information technology, property issues and consumer behaviour.
Published by Concept Media in Dubai Media City, RetailME operates under license from emap Communications, UK’s second largest publishing house, and shares an exclusive relationship with their two leading titles – Retail Week and Retail World.
