AT the fifth annual MENA Travel Awards 81 winners from Middle East and North Africa’s growing travel industry were hailed.

“It is very important to recognise real talent and superior service in our industry to stimulate even higher standards and to applaud the effort made by so many,” said Dr Sam Saker, president of CHA (Consultants of Hospitality Administrators), the organisers of the annual awards.
“That is why we have very carefully designed the MENA Travel Awards to follow very specific procedures to ensure they are first class and have real merit.”
The best in their category or industry sector were deemed finalists, and adjudicators then revealed the top three outright winners - platinum, gold and silver, for each of the 18 categories.
HANCO (Al Tala’a Int’l Transportation), member of Bin Sulaiman Holdings, is a Saudi car rental, leasing and fleet maintenance company founded in 1976. This year HANCO was awarded a platinum shield by MENA in the category Best Rent A Car,Local Brand, Middle East & North Africa Region.
The company has consecutively won MENA awards from 2004 to 2007, with the gold award for Best Transportation Service Provider in the MENA region.
Offering competitive rates and exclusive service, HANCO has won several long terms and short term leasing contracts and is associated with renowned multinational, national, local firms and government sectors.
It is currently one of the largest grounds transportation solutions and logistics providers in the Kingdom, and the first company to introduced web based on line reservation in Saudi Arabia.
See page 37 for a full list of the MENA travel award winners.