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28 March 2024

12-12-12: UAE sparkles at world ‘Travel Oscars’

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By Vicky Kapur

The UAE emerged with flying colours last night, winning a whole lot of awards and accolades at the World Travel Awards 2012, also known as the Oscars of the travel world.

World Travel Awards (WTA) capped its year-long search for the most popular travel and tourism brands in the world with a glittering ceremony in New Delhi, India, on 12th December 2012.

The most important decision-makers in the industry attended the VIP ceremony, where the UAE’s crown jewel Dubai was named the World’s Leading Cruise Port as well as the World’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination.

In addition, a number of prestigious UAE organisations reinforced their positions as global leaders, winning a number of awards.

Dubai-based travel specialist Dnata was named the World’s Leading Air Travel Service Provider while the Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways was crowned, for the fourth consecutive time, the World’s Leading Airline, World’s Leading Airline to the Middle East, as well as the World’s Leading Airline – First Class.

Dubai’s Emirates bagged the World’s Leading Airline Rewards Program for its popular Skywards programme, while the Dubai-based Jumeirah Group’s Burj Al Arab hotel property bagged three awards for the World’s Leading Hotel, the World’s Leading All Suite Hotel, and the World’s Leading Luxury All Suite Hotel.

Among the other winners from the UAE were:

• Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai – World’s Leading Beach Resort

•  Grosvenor House Dubai – World’s Leading Business Hotel & Apartments

•  Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers, Abu Dhabi – World’s Leading Corporate Resort

•  Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa – World’s Leading Desert Resort

• Jebel Ali Golf Resort, Dubai – World’s Leading Family Resort

•  The Address Montgomerie Dubai – World’s Leading Golf Hotel

• Penthouses @ Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah, Dubai – World’s Leading Hotel Penthouses

•  Armani Hotel Dubai – World’s Leading Landmark Hotel

•  Atlantis The Palm, Dubai – World’s Leading Landmark Resort

• Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah – World’s Leading Lifestyle Residences

•  Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre (ADNEC) – World’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre

• Jumeirah at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi – World’s Leading Meetings & Conference Hotel

•  Palace Suite, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi – World’s Leading Presidential Suite

• Oasis Beach Tower, Dubai – World’s Leading Serviced Apartment Hotel

• Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Dubai – World’s Leading Spa & Wellness Resort

• Meydan, Dubai – World’s Leading Sports Resort

• Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority – World’s Responsible Tourism Award

According to a media statement by the organisers, “Etihad Airways continued its meteoric rise by being voted ‘World’s Leading Airline’ and ‘World’s Leading Airline First Class’, following a milestone year that saw the UAE flag-carrier continue its journey as the fastest growing airline in history.”

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).

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.

“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,” said Graham Cooke, President & Founder, WTA.

“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.”

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