The lucky 14 winners of the first International Travel & Tourism Awards, presented by WTM London, were revealed at a glittering awards ceremony in London on November 6.

The award winners were honoured in front of an audience of more than 500 senior industry professionals at the Grade I-listed Tobacco Dock, near WTM London’s ExCeL venue.

Judged by an independent panel of experts from around the world, the 14 awards showcase the best in class of the global travel and tourism industry.

Nick Pilbeam, divisional director at WTM London’s parent company, Reed Exhibitions, led the judging panel alongside UNWTO’s director of communications, Marcelo Risi.

ITTA’s co-founder Paul Nelson said; “We have been delighted with the response from the industry to the ITTAs and blown away by both the quantity and the qualities of the entries."

“All the finalists represent what these awards are about: celebrating the success of national, regional and city tourist boards and recognising outstanding private sector companies and individuals."

ITTA’s co-founder Charlotte Alderslade added: “The ITTAs awards ceremony was a celebration of the best in the class for the travel and hospitality industry. It was a great night. And I look forward to seeing more creativity and outside-the-box thinking for 2019.”

The Winners

Best National Tourism Board / DMO Campaign
Sponsored by National Geographic
Gold: Turismo do Centro de Portugal – To Visit and To Stay is To Help!
Highly Commended: Visit Estonia, Zavod BBDO and BBDO Berlin – The Estonian Stress Buster

Most Innovative Use of Technology within a Destination
Gold: South African Tourism and Drive South Africa – Google Trekker South Africa
Silver: Hong Kong uCloudlink Network Technology Ltd – Global Pocket WiFi
Highly Commended: Kyiv City Tourist and Information Centre – Kyiv City Guide
Highly Commended: Walks and City Connect - Walk On Walk Off - Flexible Tour Pass

Best Tourism Marketing Agency
Gold: made Tourism Marketing on behalf of Littlestar Services - MAMMA MIA! The Musical - Tourism Marketing Campaign Jan 2016 – Dec 2017
Silver: Inova Hospitality Management – The Unique Inova Approach
Highly Commended: AM+A Marketing and Media Relations – Supporting Slovenia Tourism Board's World Bee Day: Introducing Api Tourism to the World
Highly Commended: Brighter Group, A Finn Partners Company - ExtraJordanary – Reinvigorating Tourism to Jordan

Best Regional / City Campaign
Sponsored by World Tourism Cities Federation
Gold: VisitFlanders – The Mud Soldier
Silver: Marketing Manchester – Come Together Campaign
Highly Commended: DEC BBDO on behalf of Canary Islands
Tourism – After-Rain Ads
Highly Commended: Tourism Toronto – The Views Are Different Here Campaign

Best PR Campaign
Gold: DEC BBDO on behalf of Canary Islands Tourism – #StopBlueMonday
Silver: Visit Orlando – Orlando’s BIG Thank You
Highly Commended: Visit Faroe Islands and Atlantic Airways – Faroes Islands Translate
Highly Commended: The Puerto Rico Tourism Company and Ketchum – From “Come Back” to Comeback: How Puerto Rico Tourism Defied Two Hurricanes and Major Misconceptions

Best Digital Campaign in Tourism
Sponsored by Ink
Gold: DEC BBDO on behalf of Canary Islands Tourism – The 7 Islands That Became 47
Silver: AirAsia Malaysia and WE ARE KIX – Adventure Live
Highly Commended: Visit Faroe Islands and Atlantic Airways – Faroe Islands Translate

Best Digital Influencer in the Industry
Sponsored by Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Gold: Viajar Verde – Sustainable Tourism Blog
Silver: Vagabrothers Productions Ltd - Vagabrothers

Best in Wellness Tourism
Gold: Slovenian Tourist Board – Healthy Waters

Best in Responsible Tourism
Sponsored by Rovia
Gold: Kerala Tourism – Kerala
Silver: Cinnamon Hotels Management Ltd – The Cinnamon Elephant Project
Silver: Yayasan Karang Lestari Pemuteran Bali (Coral Reef Restoration Foundation) – Coral Reef Revival

Best in Adventure
Gold: Experience Jordan – The Jordan Bike Trail
Silver: G Adventures – Adventure With Purpose
Highly Commended: The Tuk Tuk Club – Putting the ‘Adventure’ Back into Adventure Travel in Northern Thailand

Best Food Destination
Gold: Food NI Ltd – Northern Ireland’s Year of Food and Drink 2016
Silver: Gipuzkoa Provincial Council – TXOTX!

Best in Luxury
Gold: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority and Hills Balfour Silver: Caldera Yachting – Santorini Luxury Cruises - The Experience of a Lifetime

Outstanding Contribution
Air Canada. - TradeArabia News Service