Middle East Spa Awards Judges

Kathi Everden

Editorial consultant Kathi Everden has extensive experience in the hospitality sector in the Middle East, editing the region’s leading travel trade magazine for 10 years and contributing to both consumer and business publications ranging from the The Daily Telegraph and Business Traveller to the Ritz magazine.

Specialities include hotels, spa and cruise, and as well as feature and news writing, she has provided editorial consultancy for a number of clients including the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference; Arabian Travel Market; The Hotel Show; Le Meridien Hotels; Danat Hotels & Resorts; Sri Lankan Airlines; Leading Hotels of the World, Coral Hotels, World Travel Market and Seatrade Middle East Maritime.

Ebi Malekzadeh

Upon graduating in Bachelor of Applied Science – Project Management from RMIT, Ebi started working on several major developments in Melbourne. After several years he and a partner established a development company, creating boutique residential development for clients.

Given the opportunity to invest in a medical spa in Melbourne, he quickly moved to take managerial position and eventually full ownership. After several years of running a successful medi-spa and day spa, he established Kiousati Malek in Melbourne, specializing in Spa & Medi-Spa resurrections and expansions.

Seeking further opportunities and adventure Ebi established ESADORE International in UAE in 2008. Within a span of 2 years ESADORE International has over 10 projects GCC wide alone and is currently expanding outside of the region. Primary areas of responsibility include client management, Strategic concept design and design development. The key focus being team management and quality control as they are imperative to deliver projects on time and to produce a remarkable spa, whilst driving client expectations at the forefront.

Sonette Van Rensburg

Sonette van Rensburg is an Education Ambassador, certified International Assessor, seasoned Nail Technician and ITEC qualified Aesthetician—recognized for her strong technical abilities, innovative services and business skills.

Having been in the industry for 22 years, she has worked and educated with well known brands such as OPI, NSI, EZEE Flow, Essie, Creative Nail Design, Backscratchers, Visign – Visign Pro make-up, Su-do & Mist-air airbrush systems and also Justine, Environ, Reference skin and body care, Lilian Terry Aromeopathy, Lavashells self heating massage Therapy.

Sonette also directs the annual Beautyworld Middle East Nail & Make-up competition in Dubai, which she first introduced in 2006; the competition which has grown from strength to strength is now attracting international participation from around the world. She is also introduced the first annual Orchid Beauty Awards, to assist beauty establishments to set standards of excellence and professionalism in the industry

Theodora Kioussis

Theodora , graduated from University of Adelaide in Australia, with a Bachelor of Architecture. Once graduated Theodora moved to Melbourne to work with Grant Amon, a highly respected architect in Australia.

Her design experience encompasses spas & resorts, hotels, through to luxury villas, universities, corporate offices and religious buildings. Her creative work has been acknowledged in the regional design awards by the Royal Institute of Architects of Australia and Internationally.

Creativity is based on one's experiences and Theodora was inspired by all the places she visited. But after living in Melbourne for some time, her thirst for discovery grew. In 2008, she moved to Dubai to work for Design Worldwide Partnership, where she currently is holding the position of Design Director of Interiors. She is currently working on several high profile projects ranging from corporate, through to 5 star hotels.

Tiina-Maija Bergman

Tiina-Maija thrives on challenging herself continuously, to date 3 completed full Marathons and reaching the Uhuru Peak of Kilimanjaro are proof of this! Same drive and passion for results push Tiina-Maija to seek new c hallenges and achievements on the professional side as well.

Leading up to joining RMAL Hospitality in 2009, Tiina-Maija has in over 20 years, 15+ of those in the Middle East, gained international hotel industry experience in Finland, Switzerland, France, Africa, Egypt, UAE and throughout the Middle East region. She has worked with local and international companies including Arctia (now Scandic), Movenpick, Sonesta Hotels and Resorts, Accor and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG).

Tiina-Maija has experience in both F&B and Rooms side of operations, and has held senior management positions in Regional Corporate office environment, where majority of her tenure focused on leading 60+ hotels Revenue Management discipline for IHG in Middle East & Africa.

Her current role in the Corporate office of RMAL Hospitality focuses on leading business development building on the senior management team’s extensive hospitality experience. Current involvement include bespoke hospitality consultancy for Dubai Pearl project.

Latest News

120,000 hotel rooms in MENA construction pipeline

Project Data

Project update: Deyar Al Mafraq Hotel Staff Accommodation Development - Abu Dhabi