Singapore prepares to welcome first “Travel Oscars”

The most successful travel brands in Asia, Australasia and the Indian Ocean are set to be acknowledged at a red-carpet ceremony hosted by World Travel Awards (WTA) in Singapore on 18th October 2012.

Key categories to watch at WTA’s Asia, Australasia & Indian Ceremony include “Asia’s Leading New Hotel” with Song Saa Private Island (Cambodia), Casa De La Flora (Thailand), The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel (Shanghai) and W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak (Indonesia) among the hot contenders.

Banyan Tree, Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Six Senses Resorts & Spas are all nominated for “Asia’s Leading Resort Brand”. Meanwhile Bali, India, Macau, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam will go head-to-head for the coveted title of “Asia’s Leading Destination”.

In Australasia, Palazzo Versace Golf Coast, Hyatt Regency Guam, Four Seasons Hotel Sydney and Sky City Grand Hotel Auckland are among those in the running for “Australasia’s Leading Hotel”.

Mauritius will be hoping to repeat last year’s success when it won “India Ocean’s Leading Destination”. However the paradise island must overcome competition from the Maldives, Seychelles, Madagascar, Reunion and Comoros if it is to retain its crown.

The leading travel decision-makers from across the region are scheduled to attend the gala evening, which is being held in partnership with TravelRave, Asia’s most influential travel trade festival.

The glitzy, must-attend ceremony, which will take place at the InterContinental Singapore, will include a gala dinner, top entertainment, as well as the presentation of the coveted awards.

The WTA organisers highlight the significance of hosting its first ever ceremony in Singapore.

Graham E. Cooke, President & Founder, WTA, says: “We are delighted to host our first ceremony in Singapore, a decision which reflects its standing as one of the most dynamic destinations in the world.”

He adds: “Our partnership with TravelRave is a perfect match. Since its debut in 2010, TravelRave has quickly established itself as the definitive platform for Asia’s travel leaders to maximise the tourism potential of the region. WTA will offer these senior decision-makers a unique opportunity to savour and celebrate their achievements of the past year with their industry peers. I look forward to finding out which organisations will make it on to the winner’s podium on 18th October.”

Singapore Tourism Board notes the added dimension this prestigious awards programme will bring to TravelRave’s mix.

Andrew Phua, Director, Exhibitions & Conferences, Singapore Tourism Board, says: “Singapore is honoured to partner World Travel Awards to host the prestigious Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony 2012. In recognising excellence in the travel and tourism industry, the Awards Ceremony sets off the spirit of TravelRave in sharing best practices, celebrating our successes, and motivating our travel partners to collaborate for the future.”

Other key events taking place under the TravelRave umbrella include ITB Asia, Asia Travel Leaders Summit, Web In Travel, Tourism Destination Investment Conference Asia, Hotel Technology Conference, Aviation Outlook Asia and the Singapore Experience Awards.

WTA’s Asia, Australasia & Indian Ocean Ceremony 2012 marks the final regional leg of WTA’s Grand Tour, a global search for the world’s leading travel brands, which also includes regional heats in Dubai, Singapore, Turks & Caicos and Portugal. The winners of these legs will then go head-to-head at WTA’s Grand Final, which takes place at The Oberoi, Gurgaon, New Delhi, India on 12 December 2012.