The industry’s elite gathered to attend the World Travel Awards (WTA) Middle East Ceremony, also hailed as the Oscars of the travel industry, at the Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort and Spa in Dubai, UAE, on May 5, 2013.WTA 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 took home the awards for Middle East’s Leading Airline, Middle East’s Leading Airline First Class, and Middle East’s Leading Cabin Crew. Seen here are (from left) show host Shereen Mitwalli, Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer, Etihad Airways and Graham Cooke, president and founder, World Travel Awards.
FOR the second year in a row, Mövenpick Hotel Beirut took home the title Lebanon’s Leading Resort at the World Travel Awards 2013. General manager Jan Bundgaard and Maha Bourachi pose with their award.
THE Al Faisaliah Hotel, A Rosewood Hotel, was honoured with the Saudi Arabia’s Leading Conference Hotel 2013, Saudi Arabia’s Leading Hotel Suite 2013 and Middle East’s Leading Luxury City Hotel 2013 at the World Travel Awards 2013. Alex Pichel, managing director, Al Faisaliah Hotel, A Rosewood Hotel and Abdulaziz Al Habib, acting CEO and managing director, Al Khozama Management Company (AKMC) collect their awards.
THE World Travel Awards 2013 has once again awarded Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara as the Leading Desert Resort in the UAE, for the third consecutive year. Accepting the award was Wael Soueid, general manager of the resort.
WINNING consecutively for four years, the Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman took home two awards at the World Travel Awards 2013 – Oman’s Leading Spa Resort and Oman’s Leading Resort. Collecting their awards are Monica Majors, PR and media coordinator and Axel Jarosch, general manager, Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman.
THE Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah has been awarded Sharjah’s Leading Hotel for the third time at World Travel Awards 2013. Collecting the award is Basel Talal (second from left) general manager of the Radisson Blu Resort Sharjah.
GROSVENOR House Dubai took home two awards at WTA 2013; the Middle East’s Leading Business Hotel and Dubai’s Leading Business Hotel. Seen are Pam Wilby, complex general manager of Grosvenor House Dubai and Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort and Spa with their awards.
DOHA, Qatar was awarded the title Middle East’s Leading Business Travel Destination 2013 for the second time at the World Travel Awards 2013. Abdulla Al Bader, director of Tourism at Qatar Tourism Authority poses with the award.
ROTANA has been recognised for successes by attaining 12 awards at the World Travel Awards 2013. For the seventh year in a row, Rotana has been voted as the ‘Middle East’s Leading Hotel Brand’. Its individual property awards included Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa, Al Aqah Beach for Middle East’s Leading Family Resort; Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi for Middle East’s Leading Corporate Resort; Arjaan by Rotana Dubai for Middle East’s Leading Luxury Hotel Apartments; Al Bustan Rotana Dubai for Middle East’s Leading City Hotel; Gefinor Rotana Beirut for Lebanon’s Leading Business Hotel, Amwaj Rotana Dubai for Dubai’s Leading City Hotel; Park Rotana Abu Dhabi for Abu Dhabi’s Leading Business Hotel; Erbil Rotana for Iraq’s Leading Hotel; Al Manshar Rotana Kuwait for Kuwait’s Leading Business Hotel; Al Ghurair Rayhaan by Rotana Dubai for UAE’s Leading New Hotel and Al Ghurair Arjaan by Rotana Dubai for UAE’s Leading Serviced Apartments.
EMIRATES Airlines was recognised as the Middle East’s Leading Airline Business Class, Middle East’s Leading Airline Awards Programme and Middle East’s Leading Airline Website. Kevin Griffiths, senior vice president, Cabin Crew collects the awards from Graham Cooke.
THE World Travel Awards 2013 honoured Sheraton Kuwait Hotel & Towers as Kuwait’s Leading Hotel for the third consecutive year. Mazen Al-Mhanna, director of sales at Sheraton Kuwait Hotel & Towers accepts the award.
THE Atlantis The Palm took home several honours at the World Travel Awards 2013 including the Middle East’s Leading Resort 2013, Dubai’s Leading Hotel Suite 2013 and Dubai’s Leading Resort 2013. Collecting the award was Serge Zaalof, president and managing director, Atlantis The Palm, and his winning team.
LA Cigale Hotel, Doha took home several laurels at the World Travel Awards 2013 including the Qatar’s Leading Hotel, Middle East’s Leading Hotel Dining and Entertainment Experience and Qatar’s Leading Hotel Dining and Entertainment Experience. Seen here are Victor Agha, owner, La Cigale Hotel, with his team.
THE InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut took home the title of Lebanon’s Leading Hotel at the World Travel Awards 2013. Seen here is Georg Weinlaender, general manager of InterContinental Phoenicia Beirut, with his award.
THE coveted Middle East’s Responsible Tourism Award 2013 was presented to Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, UAE, at the World Travel Awards 2013. Collecting the award was Dr. Margit Müller, director of Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital.
THE prestigious title of Middle East’s Leading Cruise Line 2013 was awarded to Royal Caribbean International (RCI), for the fourth consecutive time at World Travel Awards 2013. Seen are Helen Beck, regional director, RCI and Lakshmi Durai, executive director Middle East, RCI with their awards.
FOR the third consecutive year, World Travel Awards 2013 awarded the title of Bahrain’s Leading Hotel 2013 to The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa. Hassaan Abdoh, director of sales for The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa collects the award.
WORLD Travel Awards 2013 presented the Middle East’s Leading Hospitality Development Company award to Emaar Hospitality Group, for the second year. Collecting the award is Amit Arora, chief sales and marketing officer, Emaar Hospitality.
AL Khozama Management Company was awarded the title Saudi Arabia’s Leading Hospitality Company while Al Shohada took home the award for Makkah’s Leading Hotel at the World Travel Awards 2013. Receiving both the awards was Hussein Hatata, vice president-Hospitality Division.
JUMEIRAH at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi took home two awards at World Travel Awards 2013 – Abu Dhabi’s Leading Hotel 2013 and Middle East’s Leading Hotel 2013. Seen are Stefan Fuchs, hotel manager and Rebecca Nachanakian, director of conference and events with their awards.
