Bank Sohar congratulates winners of 11th Oman Today Restaurant Awards

Dr. Mohammed Abdulaziz Kalmoor, CEO, Bank Sohar, commented on the association, "Tourism plays an increasingly vital role in the Oman economy as the Sultanate has increasingly become highly regarded tourism destination for visitors not only from the GCC, but from across the globe. To ensure that all customers - tourists or otherwise have a memorable experience, it is essential that the hospitality sector be well developed and mature. Oman's restaurants have risen to the occasion and with these awards have put up a strong competition - encouraging more participation and raising the bar in each successive year of the awards. The Oman Today Restaurant Awards really do represent the pinnacle of achievement for restaurants in the Sultanate and Bank Sohar is delighted to partner with them in this worthy endeavour."

The winners of the current edition were announced and congratulated through a gala dinner held at Shangri-La's Barr al Jissah Resort & Spa. The support to the event as the main sponsor is drawn from the Bank's resolve to honour the best restaurants in the Sultanate to encourage further excellence and enhance customer satisfaction.

"Bank Sohar strives to achieve excellence through every initiative it undertakes. This association cements our commitment to the hospitality sector and recognises the vital role it plays to the economy of Oman. We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the winners and hope that their success story will inspire others towards achieving the same," Dr. Mohammed Abdulaziz Kalmoor also added.

This year, as part of the competition, restaurants were asked to enter themselves into one of the categories between August and September 2012. The growing popularity of the awards also saw an addition of a new category - 'Restaurant Chain' where any restaurant with more than two outlets was eligible to enter in the category.

Public voting commenced on September 24 and continued until November 19, 2012. Between December and February 2013, judges anonymously visited all finalists - to sample their offerings, and experience the service and ambience. Upon conclusion of the visits the judges' votes were collated and winners were finalised.

In 2011, the awards received 370,000 public votes in three months, whereas, in this 2012 edition, over 394,000 votes were received in just two months. The voting forms give the general public the opportunity to choose the best food, service and ambience from all participating restaurants and guarantee a public voice in the decision of the best restaurants in the country.

The Oman Restaurant Awards, is an annual event that was first launched by Apex Press and Publishing in 2002 and is considered the ultimate recognition of the best and most popular restaurants in Oman. The awards are instituted to provide an opportunity for the public to recognise, appreciate and reward the best among the restaurateurs in the hospitality industry. These awards have since become a benchmark of excellence in the hospitality sector.