Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina Closes 2025 on a High Note, with Sustainability and Culinary Honours

Recognition highlights the hotel’s efforts to embed sustainability into daily practice, elevate culinary craft and invest in hospitality leadership

Dubai, UAE (8th December 2025): Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina has closed out the year with a series of accolades recognising its sustainability initiatives, culinary credentials and leadership within Dubai’s hospitality scene.

The hotel was named winner of Best F&B Sustainable Practices at the Leaders in F&B Awards 2025, organised by Hotel and Catering. Judges noted its work in cutting food waste, phasing out single-use items and investing in energy-efficient kitchen systems, as well as partnerships with local producers to shorten supply chains and support home-grown businesses.

General Manager Raffi Torikian received the Mastermind Awards 2025 for Lifetime Achievement in Hospitality Leadership and Excellence at UAE’s Next Mastermind Awards. The recognition highlights his contribution to the region’s hotel sector and his role in building a people-focused, values-led culture at the property.

“Awards are encouraging, but the real achievement is the culture behind them,” said Raffi Torikian. “Sustainability and craft are not marketing lines for us, they are daily habits that come from the people working here. The challenge for 2026 is to build on that foundation with even more intention, and make responsible hospitality feel effortless for our guests.”

Charm Thai, the hotel’s signature Thai restaurant, was awarded the THAI Select certification, a programme administered by the Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand. The distinction celebrates restaurants that serve authentic Thai cuisine using recognised techniques, ingredients and recipes, supported by service that reflects Thai dining customs.

“The kitchen is a place where sustainability and creativity meet,” added Executive Chef Carl Moore. “We have spent the year refining techniques, reducing waste and working with local producers, not because it is fashionable, but because it makes the food taste better. It has been rewarding to see guests respond to comfort dishes with depth, authenticity and a bit of personality.”

Looking ahead to next year, Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina plans to set new targets around waste reduction, energy use and community engagement, alongside further training for its culinary and service teams. A broader calendar of CSR and cultural initiatives is also being developed to deepen the hotel’s connection with the local area.

Situated on the Dubai Marina waterfront, Crowne Plaza Dubai Marina continues to shape a distinct identity within the city’s hotel landscape, combining craft-driven dining, relaxed social spaces and a growing focus on responsible operations.

-ENDS-

Media Contact:
Benjamin Kershaw, Managing Director, Hivemind
ben@wearehivemind.com
+971 (0)50 158 0677

About Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts:

Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts is one of the fastest growing hotel brands globally. At Crowne Plaza® we’re all business, mostly, combining empowered service, always-on connectivity, innovative rooms and flexible co-working spaces, to enable guests to be productive, feel energised and build meaningful relationships with their clients and colleagues whist travelling for business.

Beautifully equipped rooms, signature Sleep Advantage® programme, 24-hour fitness facilities, healthy food and innovative partnerships deliver an experience that’s design-led, tech-enabled and culturally relevant to the world of modern business travel; meaning guests can recharge and be inspired to enhance their downtime and worktime.

For more information, visit https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/dubai/dxbmr/hoteldetail