The finest travel brands from across Asia and Oceania were recognised at World Travel Awards (WTA) Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony 2023 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The red carpet evening at the GEM Center marked the second leg of WTA’s landmark 30th anniversary Grand Tour 2023 – a global search for the finest travel and tourism organisations.

Natural wonders and world-class hospitality helped Vietnam win the vote for ‘Asia’s Leading Destination’; the Ha Giang province was named ‘Asia’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination; capital Hanoi claimed the new category for ‘Asia’s Leading City Destination’; and Ho Chi Minh City won ‘Asia’s Leading Business Travel Destination’.

The Philippines was rrecognised as ‘Asia’s Leading Dive Destination’ and Indonesia collected ‘Asia’s Leading Beach Destination’.

Australia secured ‘Oceania’s Leading Destination’, whilst Melbourne won ‘Oceania’s Leading City Destination’.

Fiji Tourism lifted the trophy for ‘Oceania’s Leading Tourist Board’.

Graham Cooke, Founder, World Travel Awards, says: “It has been a privilege to continue our 30th anniversary celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City, which has hosted a magnificent ceremony featuring the leading lights of travel from Asia and Oceania. Our winners are stellar examples of tourism excellence, and I congratulate each and every one for helping to raise the collective benchmark”.

Hospitality winners included Shilla Monogram Quangnam Danang, named ‘Asia’s Leading Lifestyle Resort’.

The timelessly elegant Raffles Singapore claimed the hospitality award for ‘Asia’s Leading Hotel’.

The beguiling blend of French Indochine haute couture helped Hotel de la Coupole MGallery to win‘Asia’s Leading Design Hotel’ award.

SOJO Hotel won ‘Asia’s Leading Lifestyle Hotel Brand’, and ‘Asia’s Leading Sustainable Resort’ went to China’s Spring City Golf & Lake Resort.

In the Oceania region, The Residence @ The George Christchurch bagged ‘Oceania’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa’ and Millbrook Resort, New Zealand was declared ‘Oceania’s Leading Hotel’.

In the newcomer categories, Singapore's Pacific Orchard picked up ‘Asia’s Leading New Hotel’; Ana Mandara Cam Ranh was named ‘Asia’s Leading New Resort’; and The Langham, Gold Coast collected ‘Oceania's Leading New Hotel’.

In the aviation sector, Singapore Airlines was named ‘Asia’s Leading Airline’ whilst Vietnam Airlines earned the accolade for ‘Asia’s Leading Airline – Economy Class’.

AirAsia collected ‘Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline’ and ‘Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew’.

Vietjetair.com took the new category for ‘Asia's Leading Airline - Customer Experience’.

Hong Kong International Airport was hailed ‘Asia’s Leading Airport’.

Oceania winners included Air New Zealand (‘Oceania’s Leading Airline’) and Melbourne Airport (‘Oceania’s Leading Airport’).

Travel provider winners included Vietravel (‘Asia’s Leading Tour Operator’), Abercrombie & Kent (‘Oceania’s Leading Tour Operator’) and Sun Group (‘Asia’s Leading Integrated Tourism Group’). – TradeArabia News Service