The 2010 AHIC Leadership Award was today presented to Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon al Nahyan, Chairman of TDIC and Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Airlines.

Sheikh Sultan was chosen as the winner by the AHIC Advisory Board, which comprises over 40 of the most influential names in the Middle East hospitality industry, in recognition of his vital role in developing Abu Dhabi as one of the region’s leading tourism and cultural destinations.

The presenting of the Award was followed by a conversation with John Defterios, Host of CNN Marketplace Middle East, during which Sheikh Sultan talked about plans to expand its hotel classification system to recognise properties judged to exceed five-star requirements, saying “These refinements to our classification system will come into effect in the New Year and will further enhance Abu Dhabi’s destination credibility. We are committed to delivering quality across the entire tourism sector and are introducing these standards in collaboration with our stakeholders who are eager to accompany us on our road to excellence.”Leadership Award