World Travel Awards celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year and is acknowledged across the globe as the ultimate travel accolade, celebrating those companies, organizations and brands that are pushing the boundaries of industry excellence in product and service.
Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts, Air New Zealand, Conrad, and Malaysia Airlines were among the top brands to emerge victorious from the World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony. The event was hosted by Anantara Dubai The Palm Resort & Spa, and marked the upscale Asian operator’s first property opening in Dubai.
In the Asia section of the event, Intercontinental Asiana Saigon Hotel was one of the big winners, taking the title of Asia’s Leading Hotel, Leading Conference Hotel and Leading Business Hotel. The title of Asia’s Leading Airline went to Malaysian Airlines, while the title of Asia’s Leading Hotel Brand went to Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts. Voters from around the world selected Singapore as Asia’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination. Asia’s Leading New Resort went to InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, Vietnam and Conrad Seoul walked away with Asia’s Leading New Hotel, South Korea’s Leading Hotel and South Korea’s Leading Hotel Suite. Asia’s Leading Beach Resort went to Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, Thailand and the title of Asia’s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand was awarded to Ascott. Special praise was reserved for William Heinecke CEO of Minor International Plc, one of the largest hospitality and leisure companies in the Asia Pacific region. The company’s hotels and resorts are operated under the Four Seasons, Marriott Resort & Spa, Anantara and other brands in Thailand, Vietnam, the Maldives, the Middle East and Indonesia. Mr. Heinecke was presented with a special awards as Asia’s Leading Travel Personality 2013.
Headline winners in the Australasia section included, Air New Zealand as Australasia’s Leading Airline, together with Leading Airline Lounge for the Koru Lounge, Christchurch. FCm Travel Solutions who had collected Asia’s Leading Travel Management Company, went on to pick up the same award for Australasia, whilst sister company Flight Centre picked up Australasia’s Leading Travel Agency. In the hospitality categories top honors went to Melbourne who picked up the accolade for Australasia’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination whilst honors also went to InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto, Australia, Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa, Australia, Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Cook Islands, and Eagles Nest, New Zealand.
Graham E. Cooke, President and Founder, World Travel Awards said: “These are hotly contested regions for our World Travel Awards, and these winners continue to serve as an example of the most luxurious and innovative brands with unique hospitality products and services. Tonight’s recipients strive to set the highest possible bar to raise the standards of excellence in travel and tourism and it has been an honor to hold our ceremony here in Dubai, regarded as the gateway to and from the East.”
