World Travel Awards (WTA), the most prestigious awards in the travel industry, honoured the most popular travel and tourism brands in the world at its glittering Grand Final Gala Ceremony in New Delhi yesterday.

Organisations including Jumeirah, Starwood Hotels, Lufthansa, Korean Air, Royal Caribbean International and Kuoni walked off with top honours for their roles spearheading the global travel and tourism recovery.

The most important decision-makers in the industry attended the VIP ceremony, which was officially supported by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and hosted at The Oberoi, Gurgaon, New Delhi Capital Region.

Etihad Airways continued its meteoric rise by being voted “World’s Leading Airline” and “World’s Leading Airline First Class”, while Singapore Airlines won “World’s Leading Airline Business Class” and Lufthansa was named “World’s Leading Airline Economy Class”.

Hospitality categories included Dubai’s Burj al Arab (“World’s Leading Hotel”), Italy’s Forte Village Resort (“World’s Leading Resort”), InterContinental Hotels & Resorts (“World’s Leading Hotel Brand”), St. Regis Doha (“World’s Leading New Hotel”), and Atlantis The Palm, Dubai (“World’s Leading Landmark Resort”).

It was also an evening of celebration in India, with the nation seeing off the likes of Dubai, London, Cape Town and Rio de Janeiro to win the blue riband “World’s Leading Destination” award. Incredible India was voted “World’s Leading Tourist Board” in recognition of its part in raising international tourist arrivals.

The pivotal role of the luxury hospitality sector in spearheading India’s tourism revolution was acknowledged with Oberoi Hotels & Resorts voted “World’s Leading Luxury Hotel Brand”.

Meanwhile, The Oberoi, Gurgaon consolidated its stature by being voted “World’s Leading Luxury Hotel” for the second consecutive year.

Destination winners included the Maldives (“World’s Leading Island Destination”), Mauritius (“World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination”) and Jamaica (“World’s Leading Cruise Destination”).

Other top awards included Europcar (“World’s Leading Car Hire”) Grosvenor House Dubai (“World’s Leading Business Hotel & Apartments”), and Dnata (World’s Leading Air Travel Service Provider”).

Hailed as “The Oscars of the Travel Industry” by the Wall Street Journal, WTA is recognised worldwide as the ultimate travel accolade.

Its 2012 Grand Tour featured regional heats in Dubai (UAE), Turks & Caicos Islands, The Algarve (Portugal) and Singapore, with the winners from these competing head-to-head at the Grand Final.

Graham Cooke, president & founder, World Travel Awards, said: “The past year has continued to challenge every area of travel, tourism and hospitality.

“However our Grand Final winners have all demonstrated their world-class pedigree over this period, and are currently spearheading the global recovery of travel and tourism. In doing so they are also reinforcing our industry’s role as one of the mainstays of the global economy.”

“India in particular is playing a decisive role in generating new opportunities in travel and tourism, hence the decision to host our Grand Final in New Delhi. In less than a decade, the number of international tourists here has more than doubled, reflecting how travel and tourism is linked inextricably with the economic evolution of this new superpower,” he added.

Dr K Chiranjeevi, Minister of State for Tourism, India, said: “It has been a tremendous honour for our nation to host the Grand Final of World Travel Awards, the highest accolade in travel and tourism. Tourists from the world over can find their destination or product of desire in India. We can proudly say that India is an incredible destination with range of products like nowhere else.” – TradeArabia News Service