World
Travel Awards (WTA) has capped its year-long
search for the most popular travel
and tourism brands in the world with its
glittering Grand Final Gala Ceremony in New Delhi, India, on 12th
December 2012.
Organisations
including Jumeirah, Starwood Hotels, Lufthansa, Korean
Air, Royal
Caribbean International and Kuoni walked off
with top honours for their roles spearheading the global travel
and tourism recovery.
The
most important decision-makers in the industry attended the VIP
ceremony, which was officially supported by Ministry of Tourism,
Government of India, and hosted at The Oberoi, Gurgaon, New Delhi
Capital Region, the new business and commercial district of Delhi
NCR.
Etihad
Airways continued its meteoric rise by being voted “World’s
Leading Airline” and “World’s Leading Airline First Class”,
following a milestone year that saw the UAE flag-carrier continue its
journey as the fastest growing airline in history. Singapore
Airlines won “World’s Leading Airline
Business Class” and Lufthansa was named “World’s
Leading Airline Economy Class”.
Hospitality
categories included Dubai’s Burj al Arab (“World’s Leading
Hotel”), Italy’s Forte Village Resort (“World’s Leading
Resort”), InterContinental
Hotels & Resorts (“World’s Leading
Hotel Brand”), St. Regis Doha (“World’s Leading New Hotel”),
and Atlantis The Palm, Dubai (“World’s Leading Landmark Resort”).
It
was also an evening of celebration in India, with the nation seeing
off the likes of Dubai, London, Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro to win
the blue riband “World’s Leading Destination” award. Incredible
India was voted “World’s Leading Tourist Board” in recognition
of its part in raising international tourist arrivals.
The
pivotal role of the luxury hospitality sector in spearheading India’s
tourism revolution was acknowledged with Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
voted “World’s Leading
Luxury Hotel Brand”.
Meanwhile,
The Oberoi, Gurgaon consolidated its stature by being voted
“World’s Leading Luxury Hotel” for the second consecutive
year.
Destination
winners included the Maldives (“World’s Leading Island
Destination”), Mauritius (“World’s Leading Honeymoon
Destination”) and Jamaica (“World’s Leading Cruise
Destination”).
Other
top awards included Europcar (“World’s Leading Car Hire”)
Grosvenor House Dubai (“World’s Leading Business
Hotel & Apartments”), and Dnata (World’s
Leading Air
Travel Service Provider”).
Hailed
as “The Oscars of the Travel Industry” by the
Wall Street Journal, WTA is recognised worldwide as
the ultimate travel accolade. Its 2012 Grand Tour featured regional
heats in Dubai (UAE), Turks & Caicos Islands, The Algarve
(Portugal) and Singapore, with the winners from these competing
head-to-head at the Grand Final.
Graham
Cooke, President & Founder, World Travel Awards, says: “The
past year has continued to challenge every area of travel, tourism
and hospitality. However our Grand Final winners have all
demonstrated their world-class pedigree over this period, and are
currently spearheading the global recovery of travel and
tourism. In doing so they are also reinforcing our industry’s role
as one of the mainstays of the global economy.”
“India
in particular is playing a decisive role in generating new
opportunities in travel and tourism, hence the decision to host
our Grand Final in New Delhi. In less than a decade, the number of
international tourists
here
has more than doubled, reflecting how travel and tourism is
linked inextricably with the economic evolution of this new
superpower,” he adds.
Dr.
K. Chiranjeevi, Minister of State for Tourism, India, says: “It has
been a tremendous honour for our nation to host the Grand Final
of World Travel Awards, the highest accolade in travel and
tourism. Tourists from the world over can find their destination or
product of desire in India. We can proudly say that India is an
incredible destination with range of products like nowhere else.”
Established
19 years ago, World Travel Awards is committed to raising
the standards of customer service and overall business performance
throughout the international tourism industry.
World
Winners
