Unique Hotel & Resorts CEO clinches Bangladesh Tourism Award 2026

Md Shakawath Hossain, chief executive officer of Unique Hotel & Resorts PLC, the owning company of the Westin Dhaka, Sheraton Dhaka and HANSA, a premium residence, has won the Best Sustainable Tourism Initiative of the Year Award at the Bangladesh Tourism Award 2026 on October 3.

He received the award for his copyrighted intellectual property, ‘Shakawath’s Six Control Points for Food Cost Optimization’.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat presented the award at a ceremony held on Saturday at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital.

The Bangladesh Tourism Board introduced the awards for the first time to recognise contributions to the development of the tourism sector, service quality, innovation and sustainability.

The Six Control Points framework was recognised for introducing a practical approach to food cost optimisation that reduces food wastage, delivers cost savings and promotes the responsible use of resources.

An original contribution by Shakawath, the framework bridges academic theory with practical application and has delivered proven results. Following a review, the judging panel deemed it a pioneering sustainable initiative worthy of national recognition.

The 2026 awards recognise individuals, businesses and organisations across tourism-related fields, including hotels, tour operators, entrepreneurs, tour guides, tourism content creation and MICE initiatives.