The following is the main portion of a press release issued by the organisers of World Travel Awards:
Etihad Airways has successfully defended its title as the World’s Leading Airline at theWorld Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2014 in Anguilla.
CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa welcomed 300 international hospitality industry leaders to the sunshine island to witness the Abu Dhabi flag-carrier take the title for the sixth consecutive year.
After touring the globe in search of the world’s best hospitality organisations over the past year, World Travel Awards celebrated its 21st year by hosting the crème de la crème of the industry in Anguilla for the first time.
Other winners on the night included Sandals Resorts International, which was recognised as the World’s Leading All-Inclusive Company, while Katara Hospitality of Qatar took the title of World’s Leading Hospitality Company.
World Travel Awards voters also selected Anguilla as the World’s Leading Luxury Island Destination.
Award-winning actress Vivica Fox hosted the hotly anticipated Gala Ceremony, which also saw leading entertainers from Anguilla and across the Caribbean take to the stage.
World Travel Awards President Graham Cooke said: “It has been a privilege to welcome the leaders of international hospitality here to CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa and to the island of Anguilla. Tonight has been nothing short of sensational and my heartfelt thanks go out to all those who have made our Grand Final 2014 such a success.”
He added: “Congratulations to all of our winners; this is the recognition you so richly deserve.”
Joining those honoured with awards were hundreds of dignitaries, luminaries and international media, as well as government and industry leaders who continue to set the standard of excellence in travel.
“Hosting the World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony is a very exciting milestone for Anguilla,” said Haydn Hughes, Anguilla Parliamentary Secretary with responsibility for Tourism and Sports.
“Tourism is a vital part of our economy, and we have been working closely with the local and international businesses community to implement a number of ground breaking initiatives over the last two years to generate tourism growth.
“I am pleased to say that our hard work is bearing fruit with a solid increase in the number of tourists visiting Anguilla over this period. To welcome the World Travel Awards cements our commitment and further provides us with reason to celebrate.”
Also celebrating was Frasers Hospitality, which took the title of World’s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand, while Ecuador was recognised by World Travel Awards voters as the World’s Leading Green Destination, and Rovia took the title of World’s Leading Online Travel Agency.
This year has been one of the most successful to date for World Travel Awards, with the annual Grand Tour beginning with the Middle East Gala Ceremony, which took place at the JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai in May.
This was followed by the Europe Gala Ceremony at Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso, in Athens, Greece, before the organisation was welcomed to Quito, capital of Ecuador, for the South & Central America Gala Ceremony in August.
Most recently World Travel Awards visited The Oberoi, New Delhi, in India, for the Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony, completing the regional events for the year.
The multi-award winning CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa harbours an exceptional setting for the World Travel Awards Gala Ceremony.
Situated in the crescent curve of Rendezvous Bay, CuisinArt offers luxurious suites and villas, an exceptional range of fine dining experiences, the highly revered Venus Spa, and a thrilling challenge for golf aficionados at the resort’s stunning 18-hole Greg Norman Signature Design Championship Course.
The World Travel Awards Gala Ceremonies are widely regarded as the most celebrated event in the travel industry, a venue for government and industry leaders to connect with international print and broadcast media.
Winning a World Travel Award has a proven track record of significantly raising a company’s profile, and escalating profitability and recognition.
