Michael Kreiling Honored as Commended Executive Chef of the Year – Hotel at Middle East Chef Excellence Awards 2025

The Middle East hospitality industry celebrated one of its most versatile culinary talents as Michael Kreiling, Executive Chef at Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, received the Commended Award for Executive Chef of the Year – Hotel at the prestigious Chef Excellence Awards 2025. This recognition highlights Kreiling's exceptional leadership in managing seven distinct dining venues at the luxury property, showcasing his ability to deliver diverse culinary excellence across multiple concepts.

Currently serving as Culinary Master Chef at Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah since September 2023, Kreiling oversees an impressive portfolio of dining establishments including Azure Mediterranean Restaurant, Umi Japanese Restaurant, Lexington Grill & Bar steakhouse, Qasr al Bahar breakfast venue, and several other specialty outlets. His comprehensive responsibilities extend to in-house events and outside catering operations, demonstrating his versatility in both daily operations and large-scale culinary productions.

Kreiling's international culinary journey has taken him across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, where he has consistently elevated food and beverage offerings at luxury properties. Prior to his current role, he served as Director of Culinary at NUO Hotel Beijing in 2023, where he implemented refined dining concepts in China's competitive hospitality market.

His Middle Eastern experience includes a significant tenure as Executive Chef & Culinary Master Chef at Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas from 2021-2023. During this period, Kreiling managed seven diverse restaurants and implemented innovative concepts including Spice Spoon cooking classes and bespoke "Dine by Design" villa menus, showcasing his ability to create unique guest experiences.

The COVID-19 pandemic period revealed Kreiling's entrepreneurial spirit, when he supported a German business hotel and launched an authentic Italian gelato shop during his sabbatical year from 2020-2021. This demonstrated both his adaptability during challenging times and his commitment to keeping culinary traditions alive.

Kreiling's extensive background in luxury hotels includes a three-year tenure as Executive Chef at Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center from 2017-2020. There, he managed eight diverse food and beverage outlets and oversaw massive catering operations capable of serving up to 6,000 guests. His achievements included the successful relaunch of the property's all-day dining venue and maintenance of authentic culinary concepts ranging from Italian trattoria to German microbrewery fare.

A certified Master of Culinary Arts from F&U Heidelberg, Kreiling combines formal European training with decades of practical experience across global markets. His educational foundation in classic culinary techniques informs his approach to modern, multi-concept hospitality operations.

The Commended Award in the Executive Chef of the Year – Hotel category recognizes Kreiling's ability to maintain exceptional standards across multiple dining concepts while fostering culinary innovation. His current role at Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah represents the culmination of a career dedicated to excellence in luxury hotel dining, where he continues to set new benchmarks for culinary operations in the UAE's competitive hospitality landscape.

This recognition from the Middle East Chef Excellence Awards not only celebrates Kreiling's achievements but also highlights Waldorf Astoria's commitment to culinary excellence in the region. With his continued leadership, the property's diverse dining offerings promise to delight discerning guests while maintaining the highest standards of quality and innovation.