Etihad, Burj al Arab, Emirates, Avis, Europcar, Qatar and Rotana were among the big names to emerge victorious at World
Travel Awards 2013 Middle East Ceremony, held at Le Royal Meridien Resort & Spa Dubai on 5 May 2013.
The industry’s elite, including CEOs and SVPs of leading travel companies, government ministers and tourist board chiefs, attended the glittering gala event hailed as “The Oscars of the Travel Industry”. World Travel Awards celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year and is acknowledged across the globe as the ultimate travel accolade, celebrating those brands that are pushing the boundaries of industry excellence in product and service.
Etihad Airways was one of the shining stars on the night, capturing Middle East’s Leading Airline, Middle East’s Leading Airline First Class, and Middle East’s Leading Cabin Crew. Not to be outshone, Emirates took Middle East’s Leading Airline Business Class, Middle East’s Leading Airline Awards Programme and Middle East’s Leading Airline Website.
Other Award winners from across the G.C.C., saw the award for Middle East’s Leading Business Travel Destination going to Doha, Qatar. Middle East’s Leading Villa went to Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Middle East’s Leading Spa: The Talise Ottoman Spa at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray and the award for Middle East’s Leading New Hotel went to JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai. A bevy of awards were won by Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai for Dubai’s Leading Resort, Dubai’s Leading Hotel Suite and Middle East’s Leading Resort.
Abu Dhabi’s continuing rise to tourism stardom was rewarded too, as it took home a host of top honours, including the award for the Middle East’s Leading Exhibition & Convention Centre: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre – ADNEC, the award for Middle East’s Leading Tourist Board: Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, Middle East’s Leading Beach Destination: Saadiyat beach, Abu Dhabi, and Middle East’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination.
W Hotel & Residences Qatar, La Cigale Qatar, Six Senses Zighy Bay Oman with Al Faisaliah Hotel, A Rosewood Hotel Saudi Arabia and Rosewood Corniche Saudi Arabia ensured the other nations in the region were well represented with awards. The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital was the recipient of Middle East’s Responsible Tourism Award.
“The Middle East was the perfect region to mark the start of the World Travel Awards 2013 Grand Tour, setting the highest possible bar for the rest of the world to raise the standards of excellence in travel and tourism,” said Graham E Cooke, President and Founder, World Travel Awards.
The next regional edition of the World Travel Awards will be the Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony, May 12 in the Maldives. The winners of the 20th World Travel Awards, voted by travel agents worldwide. The 2013 World Travel Award Winners for Middle East are:
Middle East’s Leading Airline Etihad Airways
Middle East’s Leading Airline Business Class Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Airline Economy Class Oman Air
Middle East’s Leading Airline First Class Etihad Airways
Middle East’s Leading Airline Lounge Doha – Qatar Airways
Middle East’s Leading Airline Rewards Program Emirates – Skywards
Middle East’s Leading Airline Website Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Airport Dubai International Airport
Middle East’s Leading Airport Hotel Millennium Airport Hotel Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading All Suite Hotel Burj Al Arab, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Beach Destination Saadiyat beach, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Beach Resort Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Boutique Hotel Al Mashreq Boutique Hotel, Saudi Arabia
Middle East’s Leading Business Car Rental Company Avis
Middle East’s Leading Business Hotel Grosvenor House Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Business Travel Agency Dnata, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Business Travel Destination Doha, Qatar
Middle East’s Leading Cabin Crew Etihad Airways
Middle East’s Leading Car Hire Europcar
Middle East’s Leading Chauffeur Company Al Farrad Car Rental Company
Middle East’s Leading City Hotel Al Bustan Rotana – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Conference Hotel Al Qasr Hotel, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Corporate Resort Beach Rotana, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Cruise Line Royal Caribbean International
Middle East’s Leading Cruise Port Port Rashid, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Desert Resort Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Desert Spa Resort Banyan Tree Al Wadi, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Destination Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Exhibition & Convention Centre Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre – ADNEC, United Arab
Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Family Resort Jebel Ali Golf Resort, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Golf Resort The Address Montgomerie Dubai
Middle East’s Leading Hospitality Development Company Emaar Hospitality Group
Middle East’s Leading Hotel Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Hotel Brand Rotana Hotels
Middle East’s Leading Hotel Dining & Entertainment Experience La Cigale Hotel, Qatar
Middle East’s Leading Hotel Residences W Doha Hotel & Residences, Qatar
Middle East’s Leading Hotel Suite Palace Suite at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Leisure Hotel Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates Dubai
Middle East’s Leading Lifestyle Hotel W Doha Hotel & Residences, Qatar
Middle East’s Leading Lifestyle Resort Rixos The Palm Dubai Hotel
Middle East’s Leading Low-Cost Airline flydubai
Middle East’s Leading Luxury City Hotel Al Faisaliah Hotel, A Rosewood Hotel, Saudi Arabia
Middle East’s Leading Luxury Hotel Raffles Makkah Palace
Middle East’s Leading Luxury Hotel Apartments Arjaan by Rotana Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading New Hotel JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Private Jet Charter Royal Jet
Middle East’s Leading Resort Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand Frasers Hospitality
Middle East’s Leading Serviced Apartments Oasis Beach Tower, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Spa Talise Ottoman Spa at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
Middle East’s Leading Spa Resort Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Sports Resort Meydan, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Tour Operator Dnata
Middle East’s Leading Tourism Development Project Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Tourist Attraction Yas Waterworld, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Tourist Board Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Leading Travel Agency Regency Travel & Tours, Qatar
Middle East’s Leading Travel Management Company FCm Travel Solutions
Middle East’s Leading Travel Technology Provider Illusions Online
Middle East’s Leading Villa Beach Royal Residences at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray
Middle East’s Most Romantic Resort One&Only The Palm, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Middle East’s Responsible Tourism Award Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, United Arab Emirates.
