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World Travel Awards capped its year-long search for travel and tourism\u2019s finest with its glittering Grand Final 2010 Ceremony at London\u2019s Grosvenor House hotel.<\/b><\/p>\n
After a challenging year for the industry, organisations including American Express, Kuoni, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Europcar and Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority all demonstrated their world-class pedigree as they spearheaded the global travel and tourism recovery.<\/p>\n
Hailed as \u201cThe Oscars of the Travel Industry\u201d by the Wall Street Journal, the World Travel Awards is recognised worldwide as the ultimate travel accolade.<\/p>\n
London beat off the likes of New York, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro and Sydney to win \u201cWorld\u2019s Leading Destination\u201d in a year that saw tourist arrivals in the capital rise to 27 million as the excitement builds ahead of the 2012 Olympics.<\/p>\n
Etihad Airways continued its meteoric rise by picking up \u201cWorld\u2019s Leading Airline\u201d for the second year in succession, following a year that saw the UAE flag carrier launch five new routes and play a leading role in a resurgent year for aviation.<\/p>\n
A host of VIPs attended the gala ceremony, including His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia, who collected \u201cLeading Personality of the Year\u201d for his development of religious tourism in the Holy City of Makkah, and his pioneering philanthropic work for the King Faisal Foundation.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, German businesswoman Regine Sixt, President of Sixt, was voted \u201cWoman of the Year\u201d for her pivotal role within the organisation that has navigated its way through the downturn.<\/p>\n
Other VIP attendees included David Scowscill, President & CEO, WTTC; Sally Chatterjee, CEO, VisitLondon; H.E. Chumpol Silapa-Archa, Minister of Tourism & Sports, Thailand; Fiona Jeffery, Chairman, World Travel Market & Just a Drop; Alec Sanguinetti, CEO & Director General, CHTA; Josef Forstmayr, President, CHA; Tan Sri Dr.Mohd Munir bin Abdul Majid, Chairman, Malaysia Airlines; Dato’ Lee Choong Yan, President & COO, Resorts World Genting; Hon. Ed Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica and Adam Stewart, CEO, Sandals Resorts International.<\/p>\n
The WTA Grand Final marked the climax of a year-long search to find the very best travel companies in the world, and follows heats in Dubai, Johannesburg, Antalya, Delhi and Jamaica.<\/p>\n
WTA 2010 nominations featured 5,000 companies in 1,000 categories across 162 countries. The winners were selected by thousands of industry professionals and consumers worldwide who have been voting online.<\/p>\n
Graham Cooke, President and Founder, World Travel Awards, said: \u201cThis year, like the last, continues to challenge every strata of travel and tourism. However tonight\u2019s World Travel Awards winners see struggle not as sign of weakness or failure, but as an opportunity for growth and renewal, and a chance to put their business model through the ultimate test.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cBy combining flair and ambition with savvy business acumen, these organisations are spearheading the worldwide recovery of travel and tourism. In doing so they are also reinforcing our industry\u2019s role as one of the mainstays of the global economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Established 17 years ago, World Travel Awards is committed to raising the standards of customer service and overall business performance throughout the international industry.<\/p>\n
Consumers are increasingly using the list of winners as a reliable guide and means of reassurance when choosing their holiday. Companies and destinations that make it on to the winners\u2019 podium receive global coverage and commercial benefits.<\/p>\n