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The prestigious travel award ceremony recognised the world’s top travel brands and held its annual prize-giving Grand Final Gala Ceremony at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.
The best travel brands in the world have been announced at the World Travel Awards (WTA) Grand Final Gala Ceremony in 2023. Tourism royalty gathered at Dubai’s Burj Al Arab to find out who had been voted the best of the best. The red-carpet celebration marked the conclusion of WTA’s landmark 30th anniversary of celebrating travel excellence.
The Maldives emerged as one of the evening’s stars, earning the ultimate distinction of ‘World’s Leading Destination’, with Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) selected ‘World’s Leading Tourist Board’.
The gorgeous beaches and reefs of the Philippines were acknowledged with accolades for ‘World’s Leading Dive Destination’ and ‘World’s Leading Beach Destination’. Madeira’s untamed beauty proved a winner with voters, as the Atlantic archipelago claimed ‘World’s Leading Island Destination’. Cannes was dubbed ‘World’s Leading Festival & Event Destination’ with its timeless elegance and world-class facilities.
The Caribbean enjoyed a strong showing, with the beautiful island of Saint Lucia selected as ‘World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination’. Jamaica further confirmed its reputation as a tourist powerhouse by receiving ‘World’s Leading Family Destination’ and ‘World’s Leading Cruise Destination’.
The opulent beachside retreat, Jumeirah Al Naseem, UAE, claimed ‘World’s Leading Hotel’, whilst Sardinia’s Forte Village Resort took ‘World’s Leading Resort’.
The strength of Arabian aviation was highlighted with big wins for Qatar Airways (‘World’s Leading Airline’ and ‘World’s Leading Airline – Business Class’); Etihad Airways (‘World’s Leading Airline – Economy Class’ and ‘World’s Leading Airline – Customer Experience’); and Emirates (‘World’s Leading Airline – First Class’).
Qatar Airways was recognised with various accolades, including “World’s Leading Airline”, “World’s Leading Airline – Business Class”, and “World’s Leading Airline Lounge – Business Class: Al Mourjan Business Lounge”.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said: Qatar Airways is committed to pushing the boundaries of excellence and is proud of the recognition we have received at the World Travel Awards. These accolades reinforce our dedication to delivering nothing short of exceptional services to our passengers at each touchpoint.”
World Travel Awards Founder Graham E. Cooke said: “Qatar Airways continues to soar to new heights, and I am delighted that both the industry and the general public have acknowledged this unrivalled excellence”.
Qatar’s robust tourist sector has led to an array of awards. Doha was named the ‘World’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination’ following the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 success.
It was also dubbed the ‘World’s Leading Business Travel Destination’. Qatar Tourism was awarded the title ‘World’s Leading Marketing Campaign’.
In the category of newcomers, Dubai’s celebrated Atlantis The Royal stood up to its marketing as the ‘World’s Leading New Resort,’ as it claimed. Raffles Doha, Qatar’s latest architectural masterpiece, was named the “World’s Leading New Hotel.” The growing popularity of Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector was recognised with the award of ‘World’s Leading New Airport’ to Red Sea International Airport.
The Burj Al Arab Jumeirah was the ideal setting for the event. The hotel, an emblem of Arabian luxury, was instrumental in putting Dubai on the worldwide luxury tourism map.
“It has been a privilege to host our 30th-anniversary celebrations at Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai, for an incredible evening that will last long in everyone’s memory,” said Graham Cooke, Founder of WTA. Our World winners represent the pinnacle of tourist excellence, and I congratulate everyone for helping to raise the collective benchmark to even greater heights”.
World Travel Awards 2023 Biggest Winners are:
- World’s Leading Airline 2023: Qatar Airways
- World’s Leading Airline – Business Class 2023: Qatar Airways
- World’s Leading Airline – Customer Experience 2023: Etihad Airways
- World’s Leading Airline – Economy Class 2023: Etihad Airways
- World’s Leading Airline – First Class 2023: Emirates
- World’s Leading Airline Brand 2023: Emirates
- World’s Leading Airline – Premium Economy Class 2023: ANA (ALL Nippon Airlines)
- World’s Leading Airline GSA 2023: dnata Representation Services
- World’s Leading Airline Inflight Entertainment 2023: Emirates
- World’s Leading Airline Lounge – Business Class 2023: Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Business Lounge @ Hamad International Airport
- World’s Leading Airline Lounge – First Class 2023: Etihad Airways First Class Lounge & Spa @ Abu Dhabi International Airport
- World’s Leading Airline Rewards Programme 2023: Emirates – Skywards
- World’s Leading Airline Alliance 2023 – Star Alliance
- World’s Leading Airline Brand 2023 Emirates
- World’s Leading Airline Rewards Programme 2023 Emirates – Skywards
- World’s Leading Airline to Africa 2023 TAP Air Portugal
- World’s Leading Airline to Asia 2023 Singapore Airlines
- World’s Leading Airline to Europe 2023 Air France
- World’s Leading Airline to North America 2023 Delta Air Lines
- World’s Leading Airline to South America 2023 TAP Air Portugal
- World’s Leading Airline to the Indian Ocean 2023 Air Seychelles
- World’s Leading Airline to the Middle East 2023 Emirates
- World’s Leading Airport 2023 Dubai International Airport, UAE
- World’s Leading Airport – Customer Experience 2023 Muscat International Airport, Oman
- World’s Leading Airport Duty Free Operator 2023 Dubai Duty Free
- World’s Leading Airport Hotel 2023 Hilton London Heathrow Airport, England
- World’s Leading Airport Lounge 2023 Club Aspire Lounge at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 3
- World’s Leading Beach Destination 2023 Philippines
- World’s Leading Boutique Villa Resort 2023 Eagles Nest, New Zealand
- World’s Leading Budget Hotel Brand 2023 Holiday Inn
- World’s Leading Business Hotel Brand 2023 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
- World’s Leading Cabin Crew 2023 Royal Brunei Airlines
- World’s Leading Car Rental Company 2023 Avis
- World’s Leading Charter Airline 2023 TUI fly
- World’s Leading City Destination 2023 Manila, Philippines
- World’s Leading City Hotel 2023 JW Marriott Grosvenor House London, England
- World’s Leading City Tourist Board 2023 Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority
- World’s Leading Cruise Destination 2023 Jamaica
- World’s Leading Cruise Line 2023 Norwegian Cruise Line
- World’s Leading Cultural Airline 2023 Vietnam Airlines
- World’s Leading Cultural City Destination 2023 Athens, Greece
- World’s Leading Cultural Destination 2023 Peru
- World’s Leading Destination 2023 Maldives
- World’s Leading Hotel Brand 2023 Marriott Hotels
- World’s Leading Iconic Hotel 2023 Raffles Singapore
- World’s Leading Inflight Magazine 2023 Kia Ora Magazine (Air New Zealand)
- World’s Leading Polar Expedition Operator 2023 Aurora Expeditions
- World’s Leading Theme Park 2023 Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, UAE
- World’s Leading Theme Park Destination 2023 Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE
- World’s Leading Theme Park Resort 2023 Walt Disney World, Florida, USA
- World’s Leading Themed Hotel 2023 Hotel Football, England
