2018 a year gone by!

2018 – Year in Perspective

Season’s Greetings and wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy & Prosperous New Year 2019…

As another year comes to a conclusion – it is again time to look back at the moments gone by and to sincerely thank each of our clients, our stakeholders, our people and our industry colleagues from the bottom of my heart for standing with us through thick and thin.

It indeed has been a very exciting journey for me personally guiding Gates Hospitality, the owning company of well-known home-grown brands such as; Ultra Brasserie, the internationally acclaimed concept; Reform Social & Grill Dubai, The Lion by Nick & Scott, Bistro Des Arts, Folly by Nick & Scott, Publique, Via Veneto, as well as Six Senses Zighy Bay.

The year gone by, 2018, has again been a truly gratifying year as far as Gates Hospitality is concerned. Continuing the successful stride of Gates Hospitality’s portfolio 2018 we oversaw the launch of two new and vibrant brands one in London and another in Dubai. The famed Covent Garden location in London saw the grand launch of the first international venture of our group through RED FARM restaurant and bar. The end of the year saw the launch of Stokehouse Dining Terrace and Bar at the famous Trump International Golf Course at Damac Hills in Dubai.

The year also witnessed our brands win many accolades and awards once again. REFORM SOCIAL & GRILL Team won the Best Family Friendly Restaurant category and BISTRO DES ARTS Team won the Best Business Lunch category at the BBC GOOD FOOD Awards 2018. At the Leaders in F&B Awards 2018 event, ULTRA BRASSERIE Team won the Leading Fast Casual Restaurant / Cafécategory and Chef Nick Alvis and Chef Scott Price were Highly Commended in the Chef of the Year category. 

Folly by Nick and Scott led by Chef Nick Alvis and Chef Scott Price also won the titles at the Caterer Middle East Awards 2018 as well as Hozpitality’s Middle East Chef Excellence Awards 2018. 2018 also witnessed Folly by Nick & Scott win Best Luxury Restaurant with European Cuisine at the Luxury Lifestyle Awards 2018, as well as Time Out Dubai Awards 2018 under 2 categories : Best Bar with a View and Best European Cuisine restaurant.

The year ended on a high when Gates Hospitality won 3 out of the top 50 rankings of the year at the Caterer Middle East’s Power 50 List; I was ranked #6 under “Independent F&B Entrepreneurs” in the prestigious Caterer Middle East Power 50 List, and Chef Nick Alvis and Chef Scott ranked #2 under Chef’s Power 50 List, as well as Chef James Knight-Pacheco was ranked # 5 in the Hotel F&B Power 50 List ranking.

The year ahead looks very exciting too… The focus would entirely be on consolidation of the business brands and stride forward with enhanced energy and vigor. We do hope that 2019 would be a better year in terms of market environment and economic reality of the times. 

These are just some of the ways in which we are helping to address the issues that affect all of our futures. We feel a responsibility to lead by example, and to demonstrate that the hospitality business has an important role to play in addressing the industry challenges. We will continue to take our knowledge and experience and apply it every single day to Building a better culinary world and a responsible hospitality brand in the times ahead.

Thank you and Season’s Greetings once again.