Mr. Shakawath Hossain, a renowned professional in the hospitality & tourism industry in Bangladesh, was bestowed with the prestigious honour of ‘Best Hotelier of Bangladesh’ at the recent, 12th Edition of the HI-AIM (Hospitality Industry – Architecture, Interiors, and Management) Conference held at the Aloft Hotel Kathmandu, Nepal, on 1 February 2024, in association with Marriott International.
The event, which brings together leading professionals and experts from the hospitality sector across the South Asian region, recognised Mr. Shakawath Hossain for his proven outstanding and unparalleled contributions to the development and enhancement of Bangladesh’s hospitality landscape, making him the first Bangladeshi Hotelier to be honoured with such a prestigious award. During this event, five other luminaries including Mr. Rajeev Menon – President, Asia Pacific Excluding China (APEC) of Marriott International, Inc., Mr. Anoop Bali – Director & CFO, Tourism Finance Corporation of India Limited, Mr. Umar Khurshid Tramboo – MD, The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa, Mr. Rajiv Kaul – Former President, The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts Limited and Mr. Suresh Kumar – Former MD of Fortune Park hotels Limited. (Owned by ITC, India) were also honoured.
With a career spanning over 20 years, Mr. Shakawath Hossain has been a driving force in shaping the hospitality industry in Bangladesh. He is the only Bangladeshi Hotelier who is an industry practitioner, academician, and researcher who is pursuing a PhD in Tourism & Hospitality Management at the University of Dhaka and has been recognised with multiple national and international awards. He is also the only hotelier in Bangladesh who has started his career at scratch level, worked in different leadership capacities with Starwood International & Marriott International. Now, as a CEO of Unique Hotel & Resorts PLC., he looks after 3 operational and 4 upcoming international chain hotels.
The award ceremony, organised by HI-AIM, celebrated excellence in various categories, with a particular focus on recognising individuals who have demonstrated exemplary leadership, innovation, and commitment to the growth of the hospitality industry. He is also an advocate for social impact and collaborates with NGOs and the government to establish training programs for underprivileged and handicapped youth, providing them with opportunities to thrive in this industry.
The ‘Best Hotelier of Bangladesh’ award is a reflection of Mr. Shakawath Hossain’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in the field of hospitality. His leadership continues to inspire others in the industry to strive for excellence, setting a benchmark for the future of the hospitality industry in Bangladesh. Mr. Shakawath is also continuously dedicated towards adding value to the industry through sustainable business practices, mentoring junior executives onto management positions, and providing leadership strategy to the ownerships and management companies on socio-economic overview for the hospitality industry.
