The 2013 World Travel Awards Grand Final was hosted at a glittering ceremony at La Cigale Hotel in Doha, Qatar on 30th November 2013.
The industry’s elite – including CEOs of leading travel companies, government ministers and tourism board chiefs – travelled from around the globe to join guests of honour HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums Authority and Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulaziz al-Thani to celebrate the very best travel and tourism brands. Guests of the gala event, hosted by Turkish broadcaster Ece Vahapoglu, were treated to exclusive live performances from Lebanese artiste Maya Diab, dance group Enana and electric violinist Micah.
World Travel Awards celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year and is acknowledged across the globe as the ultimate travel accolade, celebrating those companies, organisations and brands that are pushing the boundaries of industry excellence in product and service.
Winners on the night included Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts who were voted “World’s Leading Hotel Brand” whilst JW Marriott Marquis Dubai was named “World’s Leading New Hotel” and “World’s Leading Hotel” went to Burj Al Arab. “World’s Leading Spa Resort” was awarded to Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Dubai.
In the destination categories, Kenya triumphed with “World’s Leading Safari Destination”, “World’s Leading Culinary Destination” was captured by Peru with “World’s Leading Golf Destination” was awarded to Portugal. Dubai won the coveted “World’s Leading Destination” trophy in a week which saw the destination chosen as the first Middle Eastern city to host of the 2020 World Expo trade convention.
Voters from around the world selected Etihad Airways as “World’s Leading Airline” whilst AirAsia was voted “World’s Leading Low-Cost Airline”.
From the Travel Technology sector, highlights included Expedia who were voted “World’s Leading Online Travel Agency Website” and Marriott Hotels & Resorts who were awarded “World’s Leading Hotel Brand Website”.
It was also an evening of celebration for Qatar with Doha being named “World’s Leading Business Travel Destination” for the third year running. The St. Regis Doha was named “World’s Leading Business Hotel” while “World’s Leading Hotel Residences” was awarded to W Doha Hotel & Residences. “World’s Leading Travel Agency” went to Regency Travel & Tours, “World’s Excellence in Service Award” to La Cigale Hotel and “World’s Leading Villa” to the Royal Villa at Sharq Village & Spa.
Graham E. Cooke, President and Founder, World Travel Awards said: “We are proud to have held these Awards in Doha, showing our continued support for innovative development of tourism in this region. The Grand Final is a very competitive evening for our World Travel Awards nominees from all over the world, and these particular winners continue to serve as an example of the most luxurious and innovative brands with unique hospitality products and services. Tonight’s recipients strive to set the highest possible bar to raise the standards of excellence in travel and tourism and they carry these accolades into 2014 with pride and passion”.
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World’s Excellence In Service Award La Cigale Hotel, Qatar
World’s Leading Adventure Tour Operator Mantis Extreme
World’s Leading Air Travel Service Provider dnata
World’s Leading Airline Etihad Airways
World’s Leading Airline – Business Class Virgin Atlantic Airways
World’s Leading Airline – Economy Class Hainan Airlines
World’s Leading Airline – First Class Etihad Airways
World’s Leading Airline Alliance Oneworld
World’s Leading Airline Lounge – Business Class Virgin Atlantic ClubHouse – London Heathrow Airport, UK
World’s Leading Airline Lounge – First Class Emirates First Class Lounge – Emirates Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport, UAE
World’s Leading Airline Rewards Programme Emirates – Skywards
World’s Leading Airport Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore
World’s Leading Airport Hotel Airways Hotel Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
World’s Leading Airport Resort Hulhule Island Hotel, Maldives
World’s Leading All Inclusive Company Sandals Resorts International
World’s Leading All Inclusive Family Resort Brand Beaches Resorts
World’s Leading All Inclusive Resort Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island, The Bahamas
World’s Leading All Suite Hotel Burj Al Arab, Dubai, UAE
World’s Leading All Suite Hotel & Spa Hotel Les Ottomans, Turkey
World’s Leading Apartment Hotel The Regent, South Africa
World’s Leading Beach Destination Grace Bay Beach (Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands)
World’s Leading Beach Resort Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai, UAE
World’s Leading Boutique Cruise Zambezi Queen
World’s Leading Boutique Hotel Saxon Boutique Hotel, Villas & Spa, South Africa
World’s Leading Boutique Hotel Brand Small Luxury Hotels of the World
World’s Leading Boutique Resort Vila Joya, Portugal
World’s Leading Boutique Villa Resort Eagles Nest, New Zealand
World’s Leading Business Car Rental Company Sixt
World’s Leading Business Hotel The St. Regis Doha, Qatar
World’s Leading Business Hotel & Apartments Grosvenor House Dubai, UAE
World’s Leading Business Hotel Brand Rotana Hotels
World’s Leading Business Travel Agency Carlson Wagonlit Travel
World’s Leading Business Travel Destination Doha, Qatar
World’s Leading Cabin Crew Etihad Airways
World’s Leading Car Hire Avis
World’s Leading Caribbean Attraction Company Island Routes Caribbean Adventures
World’s Leading Casino Resort MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, USA
World’s Leading Charter Airline Tui Fly
World’s Leading City Break Destination Paris, France
World’s Leading City Hotel Banyan Tree Bangkok, Thailand
World’s Leading Classic Hotel Dukes Hotel, England
World’s Leading Conference Hotel Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi, UAE
World’s Leading Conservation Company Parques de Sintra – Monte da Lua, Portugal
World’s Leading Corporate Resort Beach Rotana, Abu Dhabi, UAE
World’s Leading Cruise Brand Royal Caribbean International
World’s Leading Cruise Destination Jamaica
World’s Leading Cruise Line Royal Caribbean International
World’s Leading Cruise Port Port Rashid, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
World’s Leading Cruise Travel Agent Cruise.co.uk
World’s Leading Culinary Destination Peru
World’s Leading Desert Resort Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, UAE
World’s Leading Design Hotel The Vine Hotel, Portugal
World’s Leading Destination Dubai, United Arab Emirates
World’s Leading Destination Management Company Kuoni Destination Management
World’s Leading Dive Destination Seychelles
World’s Leading Dive Resort Royal Savoy Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
World’s Leading Eco-Lodge Shamwari Game Reserve – Eagles Crag Lodge, South Africa
World’s Leading Emerging Luxury Hotel Brand Shaza Hotels
World’s Leading Extreme Adventure Bear Grylls Survival Academy
World’s Leading Family Hotel Angel’s Peninsula, Turkey
World’s Leading Family Resort Jebel Ali Golf Resort, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
World’s Leading Ferry Operator DFDS Seaways
World’s Leading Fully Integrated Resort Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa, Turkey
World’s Leading Golf Destination Portugal
World’s Leading Golf Resort Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic
World’s Leading Golf Resort & Spa Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa, Turkey
World’s Leading Green Cruise Line Star Clippers
World’s Leading Green Destination Ecuador
World’s Leading Green Hotel Conrad Macao, Cotai Central, China
World’s Leading Green Resort Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa, Thailand
World’s Leading Green Tour Operator Explorandes, Peru
World’s Leading Green Transport Solution Company Europcar
World’s Leading Heritage Hotel The Raj Palace, India
World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination Mauritius
World’s Leading Honeymoon Resort Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa, Antigua
World’s Leading Hospitality Company Katara Hospitality
World’s Leading Hotel Burj Al Arab, Dubai, UAE
World’s Leading Hotel Alliance Leading Hotels of the World
World’s Leading Hotel Brand InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
World’s Leading Hotel Dining & Entertainment Experience La Cigale Hotel, Qatar
World’s Leading Hotel Loyalty Programme Starwood Preferred Guest
World’s Leading Hotel Penthouses The One Penthouse @ One&Only Cape Town, South Africa
World’s Leading Hotel Residences W Doha Hotel & Residences, Qatar
World’s Leading Hotel Spa The Regent Palms. Turks & Caicos
World’s Leading Hotel Suite Palace Suite at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
World’s Leading Ice Hotel ICEHOTEL, Sweden
World’s Leading Island Destination Maldives
World’s Leading Island Resort Pullman Timi Ama Sardegna, Italy
World’s Leading Island Villas Baros Maldives
World’s Leading Landmark Hotel Armani Hotel Dubai, UAE
World’s Leading Landmark Resort Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, UAE
World’s Leading Large Ship Cruise Line Norwegian Cruise Line
World’s Leading Lifestyle Hotel Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi, UAE
World’s Leading Lifestyle Resort Rixos The Palm Dubai Hotel, UAE
World’s Leading Low-Cost Airline AirAsia
World’s Leading Luxury All Suite Hotel Tower Club at lebua
World’s Leading Luxury Beach Resort Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, UAE
World’s Leading Luxury Business Hotel Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow, Russia
World’s Leading Luxury Car Hire Avis Prestige
World’s Leading Luxury Chauffeur Service Sixt Limousine Service
World’s Leading Luxury Hotel The Oberoi Gurgaon, India
World’s Leading Luxury Hotel Brand Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
World’s Leading Luxury Island Resort Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa, Mauritius
World’s Leading Luxury Leisure Resort & Spa Conrad Algarve, Portugal
World’s Leading Luxury Lodge Thanda Private Game Reserve, South Africa
World’s Leading Luxury Resort InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort, Thailand
World’s Leading Luxury Safari Company &Beyond
World’s Leading Luxury Sailing Cruise Company Star Clippers
World’s Leading Luxury Sharia Compliant Hotel Angel’s Peninsula, Turkey
World’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator Kuoni Group
World’s Leading Luxury Train Maharajas’ Express
World’s Leading Luxury Villa Resort Raffles Praslin, Seychelles
World’s Leading Marketing Campaign Welcome To Yorkshire
World’s Leading Medical Wellness & Spa Operator VAMED Vitality World
World’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAE
World’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
World’s Leading MICE Hotel Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE
World’s Leading New Hotel JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, United Arab Emirates
World’s Leading New Resort Anantara Dubai The Palm Resort & Spa, UAE
World’s Leading Palace Hotel The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
World’s Leading Polar Expedition Operator Quark Expeditions
World’s Leading Private Game Reserve Shambala Private Reserve, South Africa
World’s Leading Private Island Resort Necker Island
World’s Leading Private Jet Charter Royal Jet
World’s Leading Resort Forte Village Resort, Italy
World’s Leading River Cruise Company American Cruise Lines
World’s Leading Safari Destination Kenya
World’s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand The Ascott Limited
World’s Leading Serviced Apartment Hotel Oasis Beach Tower, Dubai, UAE
World’s Leading Serviced Apartments Fraser Suites Le Claridge Champs-Elysees, France
World’s Leading Small Ships Cruise Line American Cruise Lines
World’s Leading Spa Resort Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Dubai, UAE
World’s Leading Specialist Cruise Line Swan Hellenic
World’s Leading Sports Academy Forte Village Resort, Italy
World’s Leading Sports Resort Meydan, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
World’s Leading Thalasso Resort Aldemar Royal Mare, Greece
World’s Leading Themed Resort Universal Orlando Resort, Florida, USA
World’s Leading Tour Operator TUI Travel PLC
World’s Leading Tourist Board Incredible India
World’s Leading Travel Agency Regency Travel & Tours
World’s Leading Travel Club DreamTrips by Rovia
World’s Leading Travel Management Company FCm Travel Solutions
World’s Leading Villa Royal Villa, Sharq Village & Spa, Qatar
World’s Leading Villa Resort Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Jamaica
World’s Leading Water Villa Resort Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Maldives
World’s Leading Wellness Hotel Grand Hotel Lienz, Austria
World’s Most Innovative Airline Korean Air
World’s Most Romantic Resort Baros Maldives
World’s Responsible Tourism Award National Ferries Company
