Asia’s night of tourism triumph

As the XIX Commonwealth Games drew to a close, India also stole the show at this year’s World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia Ceremony held in Delhi on Thursday 14 October.

The industry’s elite – including CEOs and directors of leading travel companies, government ministers and tourist board chiefs – all gathered to see who would be crowned the ‘best of the best’ during the most important evening of the year in the Asian travel and tourism calendar.

Despite the controversy surrounding the build-up to the Commonwealth Games, India has proven its credentials as a top travel destination, taking away the title of “Asia’s Leading Destination” at the World Travel Awards Ceremony.

Other big wins for the region include “Asia’s Leading Hotel” and “Asia’s Leading Luxury Hotel” for the Trident Gurgaon; “Asia’s Leading Resort” for The Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach Kerala, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts won the award for “Asia’s Leading Hotel Brand”; whilst India Tourism picked up “Asia’s Leading Tourist Board”.

With Asia leading the world out of recession, several key brands were rewarded for their extraordinary efforts, including Malaysia Airlines, which was voted “Asia’s Leading Airline” and “Asia’s Leading Airline Business Class”.

Shanghai won the award for “Asia’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination”, Avis received the trophy for “Asia’s Leading Car Hire”, Cox & Kings were awarded “India’s Leading Destination Management Company”. The Pan Pacific Singapore won the trophy for “Asia’s Leading Business Hotel”, while Swissôtel was crowned “Asia’s Leading Business Hotel Brand”.

The arrival of several new properties over the past years has raised the Asian hospitality bar even higher. Of these, Sheraton Incheon Hotel, South Korea received the award for “Asia’s Leading New Hotel” while Resorts World Sentosa picked up “Asia’s Leading New Resort”.

The luxury market also revealed some strong contenders, with China’s Fuchun Resort winning “Asia’s Leading Luxury Golf Resort”, while Raffles Group picked up “Asia’s Leading Luxury Hotel Brand”. Indonesia’s Ayana Resort and Spa Bali was voted “Asia’s Leading Luxury Resort” and Ayana Villa won “Asia’s Leading Luxury Villa”.

There were awards too for travel companies, organisations and destinations in over 20 individual countries across Asia.

Le Meridien Angkor won both “Cambodia’s Leading Hotel” and “Cambodia’s Leading Spa Resort”. Swissôtel Grand Shanghai took away the trophy for “China’s Leading Business Hotel”, The Claridges Surajkund won “India’s Leading Business Hotel” and Mandarin Oriental was awarded “Malaysia’s Leading Hotel”.

The winners were selected by thousands of industry professionals and consumers worldwide who have been voting online.

Graham E. Cooke, Founder and President of World Travel Awards said: “The level of competition here in Asia is exceptional, and it is no wonder that the region is leading the world out of recession.”

“As the Commonwealth Games draws to a climax, millions around the world have not merely enjoyed world-class action on the athletics track, they have witnessed India coming of age, with Delhi proving its credentials as a world-class sport tourism hub,” he added.

Established 17 years ago, World Travel Awards is committed to raising the standards of customer service and overall business performance throughout the international industry.

Winners of the regional ceremony will now go on to compete in World Travel Awards 2010 Grand Final in London, immediately before World Travel Market on Sunday 7 November.

The World Travel Awards was launched in 1993 to acknowledge and recognise excellence in the world’s travel and tourism industry.

Now celebrating its 17th Anniversary, the awards is regarded as the very highest achievement that a travel product could ever hope to receive.

Votes are cast by 183,000 travel professionals, including travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organisations in over 160 countries across the globe.

Votes are cast globally by fellow industry professionals in over 1,000 different categories.

Attended by senior executives from major travel companies, operators and destinations, WTA events are universally respected as providing established, top level networking opportunities, regionally and globally.

The World Travel Award’s official list of worldwide media partners includes: ABTA Magazine, ASTA Network Magazine, BBC World News, eTurboNews, Breaking Travel News, CNBC Arabiya, Khaleej Times, L’Agenzia di Viaggi, Trav Talk, Trade Arabia, TTN, Travel Daily News International, Focus on Travel News, New Focus Travel Magazine, Tourism Review, JAX FAX, Travel & Leisure China, Travel & Leisure Golf China, Xenios & Xenios World.

Asia winners of world  Travel Awards held in new Delhi last week

Asia’s Leading Airline

Malaysia Airlines

Asia’s Leading Airline Business Class

Malaysia Airlines

Asia’s Leading Airline First Class

Korean Air Nominee Winner

Asia’s Leading Airport

Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore

Asia’s Leading Airport Hotel

Radisson Hotel, Delhi, India

Asia’s Leading Beach Resort

Samaya Seminyak, Indonesia

Asia’s Leading Boutique Hotel

Casa Del Mar Langkawi, Malaysia

Asia’s Leading Business Hotel

Pan Pacific Singapore

Asia’s Leading Business Hotel Brand

Swissotel

Asia’s Leading Casino Resort

Resorts World Genting, Malaysia

Asia’s Leading City Hotel

Swissotel The Stamford

Asia’s Leading City Resort

Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, China

Asia’s Leading Cruise Line

Costa Cruises

Asia’s Leading Cruise Port

Shanghai - China (port)

Asia’s Leading Design Hotel

Indigo Pearl, Thailand

Asia’s Leading Destination

India

Asia’s Leading Family Resort

Resorts World Genting, Malaysia

Asia’s Leading Golf Resort

Mission Hills Resort, China

Asia’s Leading Green Hotel

Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Sabah, Malaysia

Asia’s Leading Honeymoon Resort

Six Senses Hideaway, Samui, Thailand

Asia’s Leading Hotel

Trident Gurgaon, India

Asia’s Leading Hotel Brand

Oberoi Hotels and Resorts

Asia’s Leading Inward Tourism Development Company

Aydeniz Group

Asia’s Leading Lifestyle Hotel

Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, China

Asia’s Leading luxury Golf Resort

Fuchun Resort, China

Asia’s Leading Luxury Hotel

Trident Gurgaon, India

Asia’s Leading Luxury Hotel Brand

Raffles Group

Asia’s Leading Luxury Resort

AYANA Resort and Spa Bali, Indonesia

Asia’s Leading Luxury Villa

Ayana Villa, Ayana Resort and Spa Bali, Indonesia

Asia’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre

Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Singapore

Asia’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination

Shanghai

Asia’s Leading Meetings & Conference Hotel

Taj Palace Hotel New Delhi, India

Asia’s Leading New Hotel

Sheraton Incheon Hotel, South Korea

Asia’s Leading New Resort

Resorts World Sentosa

Asia’s Leading Resort

The Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach Kerala, India

Asia’s Leading Resort Brand

Six Senses Resorts & Spas

Asia’s Leading Spa Resort

The Andaman Langkawi, Malaysia

Asia’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination

Singapore

Asia’s Leading Suite

Maharajah’s Pavilion, The Raj Palace, India

Asia’s Leading Themed Resort

Orange County Coorg Resort, India

Asia’s Leading Tourist Board

Incredible India

Asia’s Leading Travel Agency

Diethelm Travel Group

Asia’s Leading Travel Exhibition

Asia Luxury Travel Market

Asia’s Leading Villa

Fuchun Villa, Fuchun Resort, China

Asia’s Responsible Tourism Award

Orange County Resorts