THE best of the best in the Middle East travel sector will be crowned at the World Travel Awards (WTA), taking place in Dubai on May 2, and the nominations show many of the region’s favourites are up for the top spot in more than one category.
Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways and Oman Air are all nominated for leading airline, as well as leading first, economy and business class, while Air Arabia, Bahrain Air, flydubai and Jazeera Airways all feature in the best low-cost airline class and Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Erbil and Kuwait are vying for the title of leading airport.
There are 17 entries in the leading beach resort category, in cluding the One & Only Royal Mirage, Dubai, One & Only The Palm, Dubai, Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers, Abu Dhabi and The Chedi, Muscat, Oman.
An even larger field is entered for the leading business hotel category with 22 properties up for the title including Al Bustan Rotana, Dubai, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi, Grand Hyatt Amman, Jordan and the Ritz-Carlton Doha, Qatar.
Aqaba, Jordan, Bahrain, Dubai, UAE, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Muscat, Oman and Qatar are all in the running for the title of Middle East’s Leading Cruise Port.
And in the category of leading desert resort only the UAE is represented with Al Maha and Bab Al Shams in Dubai and Desert Island Resort and Spa, Qasr Al Sarab by Anantara and the Tilal Liwa Hotel, all in Abu Dhabi, competing for the top spot.
Sharjah appears on the list with a nod for leading exhibition centre for the Expo Centre Sharjah alongside Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Beirut International Exhibition and Leisure Centre, Dubai World Trade Centre and Kuwait International Fair.
Many of the region’s favourites are represented in the category of Middle East’s Leading Hotel including Al Faisaliah, A Rosewood Hotel, Saudi Arabia, Armani Hotel Dubai, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, InterContinental Dubai Festival City and Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman.
And those vying to be the leading hotel apartments include The Address Downtown Dubai, Raouche Arjaan, Lebanon, Oasis Beach Tower, Dubai and Le Mirage Executive Residence, Qatar.
In competition for the title of Middle East’s Leading New Hotel are Grand Millennium Al Wadha, Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Makkah Clock Royal Tower, One & Only The Palm, Dubai, Raffles Makkah Palace, Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre and Rose Rayhaan by Rotana.
And in tourism development projects The Wave, Muscat, Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, Cairo Festival City and The Meadows, Dubai are in the running for the top spot.
Aquaventure, Dolphin Bay, Ferrari World and Wild Wadi Waterpark are the contenders for top tourist attraction and there will also be awards for the leading travel management company, travel agency, tourist board and technology provider among many others.
Leading tourism providers from across the region will also be recognised in the country awards for Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Syria, Yemen and the emirates of the UAE.
Graham Cooke, founder and president of the World Travel Awards, said: “As the tension surrounding the regional ceremonies builds, we are looking forward to revealing the leading players and tracking their progress as they head to our Grand Final 2011.
“More companies than ever have put themselves forward for self nominations in 2011 and we have been equally overwhelmed by the number of multinational companies who have been spearheading their global marketing campaigns with their award victories.
“With the global recession affecting travellers and their budget, the ability to choose quality travel products is becoming increasingly important to both business and consumer travellers.
“2010 demonstrated how consumers are increasingly using the list of winners as a reliable guide and means of reassurance when choosing their holiday, which is why winning one of the World Travel Awards has become more hotly contended than ever.”