Eugene Ismael from the Burj Al Arab took home the Special Jury Award and the Outstanding Knowledge & Culture Award, while Ali Manauwar from The Palace – The Old Town was honoured for his Outstanding Knowledge of Attractions & Events. First Class Customer Care was scooped by Deodati Martinez from the Mina A`Salam, while the much-coveted Concierge of the Year 2011 Award went to Farrukh Akhmedov, also from the Mina A`Salam. Farrukh, who was rewarded with AED20,000 in prize money, will be jetting off to London to take part in the UK-based Concierge of the Year Competition in 2012.

The Concierge Team of the Year Award went to Mina A`Salam and the other winners included Anita Lottero from The Ritz-Carlton Dubai who bagged the Outstanding Knowledge of Shopping in Dubai Award and Ashwin Fernandez who was named Best Head Concierge.

The Concierge Competition, which is organised by DTCM and sponsored by BurJuman, Big Bus Tour and Concierge Magazine, is an annual contest designed to develop the hotel and hospitality services, while also honouring key players in the concierge world.

Raffaella Renai in Dubai

Raffaella Renai, the daughter of Annamaria Cammilli, is a regular visitor to Dubai and has seen many changes since her first stay in the city back in 2007.

“I like the traffic now!” she jokes, referring to the jams that clogged Dubai’s main arteries back in the heady days of the construction and economic boom.

Raffaella wears an intricate broach that is dark in colour and encrusted with stones. She explains that it is gold, true to the family’s status as goldsmiths.

“We are unique from other designers as we use several different types of gold,” says Raffaella. “There are six colours, from icy white to yellow bamboo, which is greener than yellow gold. We also use pink instead of red gold and also orange gold, which is our niche – we’re the only ones who use this colour in our designs.”

Renai explains some family background: “My mother was introduced to the jewellery business thanks to my father, as he was the fourth generation of the Renais – a family of goldsmiths. Mine is now the fifth generation of jewellery makers.

“My mother wasn’t originally in the jewellery business – she was a painter and sculptor. Originally, she married my father and had the name Renai, but my father sadly passed away when I was five. She started to make jewellery as customers were asking her for different styles, and she decided to return to her maiden name. She started to use the name Annamaria Cammilli Gioielli for her jewellery brand in 1982.”

Going back to the subject of Dubai, Renai enthuses: “Dubai is changing so quickly; every time I come back I find new things. I like this hotel [Jumeirah Zabeel Saray] as it has a really beautiful Arabic design. Yesterday night I went to Buddha bar and it was excellent. I love Japanese food too – I’ve been going there since I was 15 and it’s my second home. But I definitely plan on doing some shopping whilst I’m here.”

Annamaria Cammilli Gioielli jewellery is exclusively available from Levant boutiques.

You valet park your car and walk across the hot marble before immersing yourself in the air-conditioned glory of the luxe lobby. Another day, another world-class, five-star hotel to tick off the ‘been there’ list.

But I’m not here to enjoy the Talise spa or explore the fine dining options or uber-cool bars (sadly). I’m here to look at some watches. But not just any old watches.

I’m meeting the CEO of luxury Swiss brand Quinting – the only brand in the world to make transparent timepieces. Transparent? Yes. Ever since Cartier created his famous Mystery watch in 1913, watchmakers have been trying to perfect see-through wristwatch.

It took them 7 years, but the first Quinting masterpiece was unveiled in 1999.

Since then, the brand has adorned the wrists of world leaders like Bill Clinton, Vladimir Putin and Kofi Annan, as well as many Swiss presidents. French actor Gerard Depardieu is also a devotee, and no doubt puts the watch through more rigorous and unusual challenges…

So, that’s your 30-second cheat sheet on Quinting.

I met with the CEO Pascal Berclaz in the Levant (high jewellery and watches) store in Jumeirah Zabeel Saray. Pascal is a friendly and interesting man, and after discussing the brand’s history and forward trajectory, the important of the UAE market, the rise of China and brilliant counterfeits, Pascal delves into his bag and pulls out images of a brand new range that they are launching. Today. And I am the first to see them. They are even right here in the store.

So please allow me to introduce the Quinting Art Collection. Transparent watches with hand-painted enamel faces, with uniqueness as a main attraction.

The Moonlight

The Moonlight is another first for Quinting – the only moon phase watch to have the moon revolving around the earth, accurately showing its phases. As an extra touch, a comet flies around the planet every hour. Want more? The limited edition of 360 pieces represents the 360 degrees of the earth, and each piece has a different view of the planet from space, painted by hand.

Glowing Polo

We also got our hands on the Glowing Polo watch, sure to be a hit in equestrian circles. Why glowing? The rider and horse are in a special phosphorescent paint, meaning it glows in the dark.

The Cherry Blossom

The Koi Fish

Completing the set are The Cherry Blossom and The Koi Fish – the latter unashamedly aimed at the Far East market.

More on Quinting and their new watches in a future issue of Concierge magazine…

Just like its London counterpart, the restaurant itself is dark and moody with wood paneled walls and rich green furnishings. Besides the impeccable food, the strategically placed art is also a highlight, with sought-after pieces borrowed from many private collections.

The Ivy is excellent, even in a city awash with superb international eateries. This is one outlet we will definitely revisit.