THE Emirates Group has been presented with one of 12 prestigious World Travel Market Global Awards.
Vic Sheppard, vice-president UK received the Award from World Travel Market’s chairman, Fiona Jeffery.
WTM’s Global Media Network, comprising key travel industry media around the world, were invited to nominate companies who have made a remarkable contribution to their region’s travel and tourism industry.
The Emirates Group was nominated by TTN Middle East, a WTM Global Media Partner. The nominee was chosen by former TTN editor Keith J Fernandez and publishing director Kim Thomson after much internal deliberation and consultation with travel partners.
Emirates emerged ahead from among several other regional businesses against a variety of criteria, including contribution to tourism industry growth, corporate social responsibility and company performance.
Much of the region’s tourism success has been driven by companies like The Emirates Group, and particularly its flagship airline Emirates Airline – the ninth largest airline in the world by passengers carried.
When the airline was founded over 20 years ago, few in the industry would have predicted that it would be placing the industry’s largest order for the world’s largest airliner – an order that is has announced plans to double.
Emirates Airline now flies to over 90 destinations with new spots in its network including Los Angeles, Houston, Toronto and San Paulo.
An integrated business model has helped the group capitalise on the airline’s success, with new hotels in Dubai, its congress solutions arm, travel agencies, education division and its security, GDS and tour companies.
Through the Emirates Foundation, the airline helps children from around the world in need. It has recently funded projects in Dhaka, Addis Ababa, Yogyakarta, Gampola in Sri Lanka and remote areas of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Other Global Award winners were Jasper National Park; Santa Susanna Tourism Foundation; Daniel Winteler, chairman and CEO Alpitour Group; Sho Dozono, CEO, Azumano Travel; Walt Disney World; Ascent Travel; Kingfisher Airlines; Macau Special Administrative Region; Miguel Ko, president, Asia Pacific, Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts; Tap Airlines; Paulo Senise, executive director Rio Convention Centre and Visitors Bureau.