Bollywood actress Lara Dutta to host Maritime Standard Awards

The Maritime Standard Awards 2017 will have more than a touch of Bollywood glitz and glamor, as actress, model and former Miss Universe, Lara Dutta, will host the event.

The awards, which recognize excellence and achievement in the shipping, ports and related sectors, will be held on Oct. 23 at the Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai.

The Maritime Standard managing director, Trevor Pereira, said: “Lara is a true superstar and we are delighted that she has accepted our invitation to be master of ceremonies on the night. As she is the biggest personality we have had on stage since we launched the awards three years ago, her presence will help take the event to a whole new level, generating a huge amount of international media exposure for our award winners and sponsors.”

Since being crowned Miss Universe in 2000, Dutta has had a succession of box office hits and is now married to Indian tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi.

She is also well known in India for her health and fitness videos, which focus on yoga and meditation.

Launched three years ago, The Maritime Standard (TMS) Awards claim to be the region’s premiere shipping and maritime awards event.

The first three Maritime Standard Awards, held in November 2014 and 2015, and October 2016, all received the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum and were held at the Atlantis Ballroom on The Palm.

For the inaugural event in 2014, PR guru, journalist and writer Alastair Campbell was master of ceremonies, while in 2015 Dutch soccer legend Ruud Gullit compered the event.

Last year, former CNN news anchor Jim Clancy, was on stage to lead proceedings. On all three occasions, the awards attracted over 700 of the region’s elite decision makers including chairmen, chief executives and directors from leading shipping companies, ports, terminal operators and maritime companies and organizations.

Organizers said a host of leading companies from the region’s shipping and maritime and related industries have already confirmed their participation in the event.