July 7, 2010 in Events
South Africa swept the board at the World Travel Awards Africa&Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony in Johannesburg on Wednesday, July 7, attended by 1,200 senior industry leaders.
It was a night of elation – and some disappointment – as the travel and tourism industry’s “great and good" watched South Africa take the spotlight, winning many of the region’s overall categories.
CEOs, directors of leading travel companies, government ministers, heads of tourism departments and destinations, industry association leaders, and celebrities gathered for Africa’s most important industry evening.
VIPs included: Hon. Tokozile Xasa, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Tourism; Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, the Hon. Commissioner, Lagos State Delegation; Mr. Kenneth Racombo, First Secretary at the Seychelles High Commission; Mr. Mansoor Mohamed, Executive Director of the City of Cape Town; and Ms. Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, CEO of Cape Town Tourism.
South African Airways was voted Africa’s Leading Airline, and 1Time Airline, the budget carrier from Johannesburg operating low-cost flights to airports within South Africa and Zanzibar, took the titles of both Africa’s Leading Low-Cost Airline and Africa’s Leading Online Tour Operator.
The Hilton Durban took Africa’s Leading Business Hotel; the elegant five-star decadence of The Palazzo Montecasino in Johannesburg won the title Africa’s Leading Casino Resort; and Cape Town walked off with Africa’s Leading Destination.
The internationally-renowned Sun City Resort, South Africa, won Africa’s Leading Family Resort, while Starwood Hotels&Resorts took the title of Africa’s Leading Hotel Group. Arabella Western Cape Hotel&Spa at Hermanus, South Africa, took Africa’s Leading Luxury Hotel, and The Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays, South Africa, triumphed as Africa’s Leading Meetings&Conference Hotel; Sandton Sun, one of Johannesburg’s top landmarks was Africa’s Leading Convention Hotel.
Kenya’s luxury getaway resort of The Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa in Mombasa was Africa’s Leading Beach Resort from top 6 nominations.
Morocco’s Palmeraie Golf Palace was voted Africa’s Leading Golf Resort.
THOUSANDS VOTED
The winners were selected with the help of thousands of industry professionals worldwide who have been voting online.
Graham E. Cooke, founder and president of World Travel Awards, said that in addition to the prestige for their respective companies and destinations, the winners gain considerable commercial benefit from their deserved success.
“Because of their global reach and reputation, World Travel Awards are unique and regularly referred to as the ‘Oscars’ of travel and tourism,” said Cooke.
“This means that consumers are increasingly using our portfolio of winners as a reliable and independent guide when booking their vacation.”
The awards, established 17 years ago, are committed to raising the standards of customer service and overall business performance throughout the international industry.
“Customer care and professionalism of African tourism has come a long way in the years since the World Travel Awards was first started”, added Cooke.
“What is so encouraging for Africa is that unlike much of the world, the region has determinedly bucked the trend, notably with the sub-Saharan destinations, which are doing particularly well.”
The world-acclaimed theatre production AFRICA UMOJA and Kewela Tebza provided spectacular entertainment at the ceremony and the instrumental pop super group Sterling EQ were the stage band.
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