A night of victories for Australasia’s travel industry

AS THE XIX Commonwealth Games drew to a close, the eyes of the tourism industry were also looking to India for this year’s World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia Ceremony held in Delhi on Thursday, October 14.

The industry’s elite – including CEOs and directors of leading travel companies, government ministers and tourist board chiefs – all gathered to see who would be crowned the ‘best of the best’ during the most important evening of the year in the Australasian and Asian travel and tourism calendar.

Despite the controversy surrounding the build-up to the Commonwealth Games, the night was a great success.

Much of the spotlight was on Australia, which scooped several awards on the night including ‘Australasia’s Leading Beach’ for the world-famous Bondi Beach. Other big wins included ‘Australasia’s Leading Business Hotel’ for The Westin, Sydney and ‘Australasia’s Leading Hotel’ which went to Palazzo Versace, Gold Coast, Australia.

Neighbouring New Zealand also had its time in the spotlight, taking away the title of ‘Australasia’s Leading Destination’ for Auckland. Other prestigious titles included ‘Australasia’s Leading New Hotel’ for Hilton Lake Taupo, New Zealand and ‘Australasia’s Leading Tourist Board’ for the New Zealand Tourist Board.

Air New Zealand saw off competition from the likes of Air Pacific and Qantas to pick up the blue riband award for ‘Australasia’s Leading Airline’.

Although a tough year for the whole industry, several key players shone at the ceremony including Europcar taking away the title of ‘Australasia’s Leading Car Hire’, InterContinental Wellington winning ‘New Zealand’s Leading Business Hotel’ and Sheraton on the Park voted ‘Australia’s Leading Hotel’.

Tourism Queensland won the award for ‘Australia’s Leading Tourist Board’, Pacific Resort Aitutaki received the trophy for ‘Cook Islands’ Leading Resort’ and Intercontinental Fiji Golf Resort and Spa won the award for ‘Fiji’s Leading Golf Resort’.

There were awards too for travel companies, organisations and destinations in more than 20 individual countries across Australasia and Asia.

India proved its credentials as a top travel destination, taking away the title of ‘Asia’s Leading Destination’ and other big wins for the region included ‘Asia’s Leading Hotel’ and ‘Asia’s Leading Luxury Hotel’ for the Trident Gurgaon, ‘Asia’s Leading Resort’ for The Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach Kerala, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts won the award for ‘Asia’s Leading Hotel Brand’ whilst India Tourism picked up ‘Asia’s Leading Tourist Board’.

With the region leading the world out of recession, several key brands were rewarded for their extraordinary efforts, including Malaysia Airlines, which was voted ‘Asia’s Leading Airline’ and ‘Asia’s Leading Airline Business Class’. Shanghai won the award for ‘Asia’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination’, Avis received the trophy for ‘Asia’s Leading Car Hire’, Cox & Kings was awarded ‘India’s Leading Destination Management Company’. The Pan Pacific Singapore won the trophy for ‘Asia’s Leading Business Hotel’, while Swissôtel was crowned ‘Asia’s Leading Business Hotel Brand’.

The arrival of several new properties over the past years has raised the Asian hospitality bar even higher. Of these, Sheraton Incheon Hotel, South Korea received the award for ‘Asia’s Leading New Hotel’ while Resorts World Sentosa picked up ‘Asia’s Leading New Resort’.

The luxury market also revealed some strong contenders, with China’s Fuchun Resort winning ‘Asia’s Leading Luxury Golf Resort’, while Raffles Group picked up ‘Asia’s Leading Luxury Hotel Brand’. Indonesia’s Ayana Resort and Spa Bali was voted ‘Asia’s Leading Luxury Resort’ and Ayana Villa won ‘Asia’s Leading Luxury Villa’.

Le Meridien Angkor won both ‘Cambodia’s Leading Hotel’ and ‘Cambodia’s Leading Spa Resort’. Swissôtel Grand Shanghai took away the trophy for ‘China’s Leading Business Hotel’, The Claridges Surajkund won ‘India’s Leading Business Hotel’ and Mandarin Oriental was awarded ‘Malaysia’s Leading Hotel’.

Graham Cooke, founder and president of World Travel Awards said: “The level of competition here in Australasia and Asia is exceptional and it is no wonder that the region is leading the world out of recession.

“As the Commonwealth Games draws to a climax, millions around the world have not merely enjoyed world-class action on the athletics track, they have witnessed India coming of age, with Delhi proving its credentials as a world-class sport tourism hub.”

Log on to www.worldtravelawards.com <https://worldawardslimited.createsend4.com/t/r/l/zliiyk/krcydvt/r>  for a complete list of winners for the Australasia  and Asia regions.

The World Travel Awards was launched in 1993 to acknowledge and recognise excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry.

Now celebrating its 17th Anniversary, the awards is regarded as the very highest achievement that a travel product could ever hope to receive.

Votes are cast by 183,000 travel professionals, including travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organizations in over 160 countries across the globe.

Votes are cast globally by fellow industry professionals in over 1,000 different categories.