Dezeen promotion: a hotel overlooking the Hajar Mountains in Oman and a Botswanan lodge located on a UNESCO World Heritage site are among the shortlisted projects for the inaugural AHEAD Middle East and Africa awards for hospitality experience and design.
The AHEAD Middle East and Africa (MEA) awards will recognise the region's best hospitality design and architecture completed between January 2016 and February 2017.
The Sofitel Tamuda Bay Beach & Spa in Morocco has been shortlisted in the Resort Hotel category
Projects are split across 15 different categories: Bar, Club or Lounge; Event Spaces; Guestrooms; Hotel Renovation & Restoration; Landscaping & Outdoor Spaces; Lobby & Public Spaces; Lodges & Tented Camps; Resort Hotel; Restaurant; Spa & Wellness; Suite; Urban Hotel; New Concept of the Year; and MEA Hotel of the Year. The La Ville Hotel & Suites City Walk in Dubai in nominated in the Urban Hotel category
Among the total 32 nominated hotels are projects in Kenya, Morocco, Turkey and Dubai ? where over half are located.
The Belmond Eagle Island Lodge in Botswana and the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort in Oman are joined on the shortlist by Six Senses Zil Pasyon ? a resort made up of 30 pool villas on a private island in the Seychelles. The Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town, which features an eye-catching pink facade, is also on the list.
Mövenpick Hotel Mansour Eddahbi & Palais des Congrès in Marrakech also got a nomina...