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UAE Bags 10 Awards at World Travel Awards
DUBAI — The UAE further bolstered its bid to become a major player in global tourism, bagging 10 major awards at the prestigious 16th World Travel Awards, with Etihad Airways, the country’s national airline, named as the world’s leading airline, while the Dubai international airport was named the world’s best airport.
Etihad was chosen as the top airline worldwide by more than 180,000 travel industry professionals from over 175 countries. Etihad, the first Middle Eastern airline to win this prestigious award, was cited for the excellence of its onboard product, luxurious airport lounges and strong service ethic.
The annual grand final ceremony, held in London last Sunday, saw 1000 travel and tourism-related companies nominated in 94 world categories, and in 14 travel technology categories.
Aside from Etihad and the Dubai International Airport, the following companies bested their competition from all over the world: leading beach resort - Le Meridien Beach Resort and Spa, Dubai; cruise port - Dubai; new hotel - InterContinental Residence Suites, Dubai Festival City; serviced hotel apartment - Grosvenor House, Dubai; suite - The Monarch Suite, Dubai; tourism board - Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority; travel management company - Dnata, and leading tourism development project - Yas Island, Aldar Properties,
Abu Dhabi.
The other big UAE winners which topped competitors in the Middle East included the Dubai World Trade Centre, the top choice for conference centre; Dubai Marina was the best marina, while Jumeirah Emirates Towers was the best business hotel.
Outside of UAE companies, the other world winners were Virgin Atlantic Airways, Visa, India Tourism, TUI Travel and Silversea Cruises.
The awards, described by the Wall Street Journal as the ‘Oscars’ of the global travel and tourism industry, revealed who are the ‘best of the best’ in the world. The ceremony in London concluded the 2009 regional tour which has taken the World Travel Awards to Dubai, South Africa, Mexico and Portugal.
A number of technology awards were also presented, with the Expedia.co.uk winning the world’s leading travel booking website, while Fairmont Hotels & Resorts scooped the world’s leading hotel brand website award. —rocel@khaleejtimes.com
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