They’re off their trolleys!

The Crowne Plaza Hotel bellboys manoeuvred their way to victory with agile speed in the kingdom’s first charity fundraising Bell Boy Race, writes Mai Al Khatib-Camille.

Following the success of last year’s challenge between waiters, the creator of the event, Heinz Krähenbühl, Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain’s general manager, invited the island’s top hotels to compete in the one-of-a-kind challenge over the weekend staged in their parking lot.

Bellboys representing the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa, Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain, Sheraton Bahrain Hotel, Gulf Hotel, Radisson Blu Hotel, Spa and Residence, Crowne Plaza, Intercontinental Regency, Rotana Arjan and Sofitel Bahrain all battled to win the title, trophy and cash prizes.

Each hotel team included two members dressed in their working bellboy uniform with name tags, pushing decorated trolleys loaded with three different bags. In the bag, there were three shirts on hangers, two pairs of jeans or trousers and two jackets.

What came next was a trolley relay in which each team member had to push the apparatus through a maze-style obstacle course featuring a series of ramps and seesaws.

The race started with the first bellboy of the team packing the clothes from a hanger into a bag and then racing to the other end where he had to hang up the clothes. The contestant must then rush back to return the trolley to the second bellboy who had to push it through the course to collect the items on the hanger. Then the competitor had to rush back with the trolley to hang up all the items back where the action first started.

Bags had to remain secure on the trolley or else points were deducted.

After the qualification rounds and semi-finals, Crowne Plaza and Radisson Blu hotel went head-to-head in the final. While Radisson put up a good fight, Crowne Plaza’s dynamic duo clinched the medals and a prize of BD100 each.

Mohamed Javed and Digambar Vijay put on a gallant display of fast reflexes at every obstacle thrown at them, proving that experience trumps all.

Javed, 55, who has been working at Crowne Plaza for 23 years, said: “We trained at the Mövenpick premises to prepare for this tournament but I have to say we used our experience and knowledge to win.

“To be a good bellboy you must always know the needs of the guest, be ready to clear up when they check out and bring them their goods as quickly as possible.  The aim is to always make sure the guest is happy.”

His teammate, Vijay, 33, who has been with the hotel for five years, was also excited with the victory. He said: “This win has motivated me to continue improving. I have always liked to compete in different sports and I think we strategized well together in this event. Thank you Crowne Plaza for always supporting us.”

Crowne Plaza general manager, Pascal Eggerstedt, is proud of his team. He said: “They were absolutely fantastic and worked very hard. They took the competition very seriously. We are very pleased with the outcome and to be a part of such a fun charitable event.”

The event also featured the ‘best decorated’ trolley competition which Sofitel claimed as its own. Second place went to champions Crowne Plaza and third place to hosts, the Movenpick Hotel.
 
But the real winners of the day were The Palm Association. More than BD4,000 was raised in support of the non-profit organisation that helps Bahraini families with monthly food parcels, home sponsorships and educational partnerships.