Abu Dhabi bags 7 awards at Middle East Travel

Abu Dhabi has once again proved its position as a leading leisure and business tourism destination as five of the sector's stakeholders scooped a total of seven awards at the Middle East World Travel Awards.

Awarded for excellence and for continually raising the standards of their product and service offerings, a plethora of Abu Dhabi's hotels, attractions, destinations and transportation companies were nominated, with the winners thrust into the spotlight as the destination was recognised for its expanding range of quality experiences following an online poll, which gathered votes from both industry professionals and the general public.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, TCA Abu Dhabi, the authority that manages the emirate's tourism sector, Saadiyat Island's pristine, nine-kilometre beachfront was awarded Middle East's Leading Beach Destination, while two of the emirate's leading five-star resort hotels bagged awards, with the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort and Spa by Anantara taking the award for the Leading Desert Spa Resort while the UAE capital's iconic Emirates Palace hotel once again took home the Middle East's Leading Hotel Suite accolade for its luxurious Palace Suite.

Abu Dhabi also took the Middle East's Leading Meetings and Conference Destination honour for the third consecutive year, an achievement that reflects the emirate's growing MICE appeal and diversity of experience for visiting delegates.

"Abu Dhabi's success in the 22nd World Travel Award is testament to the travel industry's efforts to constantly improve their quality of products, experiences, facilities and level of service as the emirate's tourism proposition has grown. Our award-winners will now represent Abu Dhabi in the global awards, competing against some of the world's best brands and most popular visitor destinations," said Mubarak Al Shamisi, Director of the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, a division of TCA Abu Dhabi.

"We know that business and leisure visitors now have considerably more choice from more destinations across the region, and are confident that the diversity of product represented by all nominated stakeholders will ensure Abu Dhabi continues to compete with the best in the world," added Al Shamisi.

The regional winners will compete against other regional award-winners in their category at a lavish World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony to be held in Marrakech, Morocco later in the year.

Meanwhile, Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, bagged the awards for Middle East's Leading Airline, Middle East's Leading Cabin Crew and Middle East's Leading Airline Best First Class, following the introduction of the airline's The Residence by Etihad, billed as the world's most luxurious living space in the air.
Source: WAM