Cairo, Egypt, September 5, 2025 / TRAVELINDEX / In a festive night filled with pride and appreciation, the Afro-Asian Union for Tourism, Development, and Technology (AFASU) honored the Pickalbatros Hotels & Resorts Group, led by its Chairman Mr. Kamel Abu Ali, as well as his team and Mr. Mohamed Eid Soliman, the Regional Marketing and Events Manager. The ceremony was held to present the “AFASU Golden Award,” in the presence of high-profile figures from industry leaders, media professionals, and international experts.

Impactful Speeches Emphasize the Importance of the Award and Excellence
Dr. Hossam Darwish, President of the Afro-Asian Union (AFASU), opened the ceremony with a moving speech, stressing that the award is not just an honor but a powerful message that excellence and creativity are the foundation of the sector’s progress. He expressed his pride in the cooperation with the parent organization, the Afro-Asian Peoples’ Solidarity Organization (AAPSO), under the leadership of its President, His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed El-Orabi. He extended a special tribute to the Union’s Honorary President, Major General Dr. Khaled Fouda, confirming that his support has been crucial in achieving this global success.

His Excellency Major General Dr. Khaled Fouda, Advisor to the President of the Republic for Development and Heritage and the Union’s Honorary President, attended the ceremony. In his speech, he extended his warm congratulations to Mr. Kamel Abu Ali and the Pickalbatros team, praising their achievements that serve the tourism sector. He added that the Afro-Asian Union is taking wide and confident strides toward global prominence, affirming his great confidence in the Union’s vision and goals.

For his part, Major General Ashraf Abu Aish, the Union’s Secretary-General, praised the efforts of the International Judging Committee, which includes 45 experts from around the world, confirming that the award is granted based on highly rigorous criteria.

International tourism expert Bernard Metzger, Chairman of the Hotels Awards within the Union, spoke about the precision of the evaluation process, which ensures that every winner truly deserves this honor.

Dr. Jens Thraenhart, a member of the Supreme Judging Committee, shared his experience as a global tourism expert, noting that the awards represent a commitment to fundamental principles such as sustainable growth, inspirational leadership, and performance management.

International tourism and hospitality experts and fellow judging committee members, Yolanda Perdomo and Dr. Olga Stowell, added that this type of award is crucial, and the prestigious international AFASU Golden Award is an emblem of honor for everyone who receives it, especially since the criteria are very strict and the judging committee includes 45 of the world’s most prominent experts in the tourism, hotel, and sustainable development sectors.

Honorees Receive Awards Amid Widespread Acclaim
The ceremony witnessed emotional moments during the awards presentation to the winners, as their exceptional achievements were widely praised:

• Mr. Kamel Abu Ali, a hospitality icon in the Middle East and North Africa, received the award for “Man of the Year – The Inspirational Leader.” In his speech, he expressed his pride in this honor, considering it an incentive to continue working on developing the sector and offering unique tourism experiences.
• Pickalbatros Hotels & Resorts Group received the award for “Exceptional Excellence in Hotel Investment and Management.” The award is an acknowledgment of the scale of its investments and geographical expansion.
• Mr. Mohamed Eid Soliman, the Group’s Regional Marketing and Events Manager, received the award for “Best Outstanding Marketing Management.” In his speech, he thanked the Union for the honor and confirmed that this award is the result of a collective effort by a well-integrated team that is keen on innovation in every detail of its work under the leadership of the inspirational and exemplary captain, Mr. Kamel Abu Ali.

International Attendance Confirms the Award’s Stature
The ceremony was attended by a select group of prominent figures from various countries, led by the Union’s Honorary President, Major General Dr. Khaled Fouda, Advisor to the President for Development, and Ambassador Nizar Al-Khaled, President of the Afro-Asian Media Union. Also present were members of the Supreme Judging Committee, including Dr. Jens Thraenhart, Mr. Bernard Metzger, Dr. Olga Stowell, and Yolanda Perdomo, in addition to other distinguished guests from the tourism, investment, and media sectors, as well as the Red Sea Investors Association. All attendees praised the efforts made by the Afro-Asian Union (AFASU) in supporting excellence and honoring the figures who contribute to advancing the tourism and hospitality industry on the international stage.

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