Jamaica volvió a brillar en la Gala Mundial de los World Travel Awards 2011
Luego de ser la sede exitosa y ganadora en la etapa regional caribeña de los World Travel Awards, Jamaica volvió a brillar en la Gala Mundial de los premios, celebrada en Doha, Catar, al obtener los galardones al Destino de Cruceros Líder en el mundo, Mejor Proyecto de Desarrollo Turístico (Puerto de Falmouth), Mejor Hotel-Villas (Round Hill Hotel & Villas) y Mejor Destino de Lunas de Miel.
En otros premios relacionados con la región Américas-Caribe, Sandals Resort International fue elegida como Compañía Líder Todo Incluido, Copa Airlines fue la Mejor Aerolínea en Centroamérica, Virgin Atlantic la Mejor Aerolínea que vuela al Caribe, Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa (Antigua) el Resort Más Romántico del Mundo, y Casa de Campo, en República Dominicana, el Mejor Resort de Golf.
La organización de los World Travel Awards (WTA), considerados los “Oscares” de la industria global del turismo, cerró el pasado 11 de enero en Doha el tour mundial 2011 de los Premios, que tuvieron etapas regionales en Montego Bay, Dubai (EAU); Antalya, Turquía; Sharm El Sheikh, Egipto, y Bangkok, Tailandia.
En esas etapas se entregaron los premios regionales con base en los votos de más de 210 mil profesionales del turismo en todo el mundo, agencias de viajes, operadores y empresas de transporte, entre otras organizaciones de más de 160 países. Los premiados compitieron por los galardones globales entregados en la capital catarí.
Importantes ejecutivos de la industria turística internacional asistieron a la Gala en el moderno complejo de exposiciones Katara Cultural Village, en Doha, organizada por los WTA en colaboración con la Autoridad de Turismo de Catar.
India dejó atrás a centros mundiales claves como Londres, Nueva York, Ciudad del Cabo, Río de Janeiro y Sídney para coronarse como Mejor Destino Mundial en un año en el que los arribos turísticos internacionales a nivel global quedaron muy cerca de los mil millones, un récord que se esperaba para 2016.
En la ceremonia fueron premiadas, además, organizaciones líderes como Royal Caribbean Cruise Line (Mejor Marca de cruceros y Mejor Línea de Cruceros), Etihad Airways (Mejor Aerolínea del Mundo), Oneworld (Mejor Alianza de Aerolíneas), Aeropuerto Changi-Singapur (Mejor Aeropuerto) y Easyjet (Mejor Aerolínea de Bajo Costo).
Fue también una noche de celebraciones para Catar. Doha fue elegida como Mejor Destino para Viajes de Negocios, Qatar Airways se quedó con el premio a Mejor Business Class y Regency Travel & Tours obtuvo el galardón como Mejor Agencia de Viajes.
Entretanto, Aspire Zone fue nombrada como el Mejor Proyecto de Desarrollo de Turismo y Deportes, un reconocimiento a las credenciales mostradas por Catar como un destino con grandes proyectos deportivos orientados a estimular el turismo y la economía.
Según informes de las autoridades cataríes, más de 100 mil millones de dólares están presupuestados en obras de infraestructura de cara a la Copa del Mundo de Fútbol 2022.
Al comentar sobre el World Travel Awards tour 2011, Graham Cooke, presidente y fundador de la organización, afirmó que “el año recién concluido ha sido también un reto para cada estrato de la industria de viajes y turismo, Sin embargo, los ganadores de nuestra Gran Final han mostrado su clase mundial en este período y lideran hoy la recuperación global en este sector. Al hacerlo, refuerzan el papel del turismo como uno de los pilares de la economía internacional”.
Establecidos en 1993, los World Travel Awards están destinados a impulsar el desarrollo de los estándares de servicios y negocios en la industria turística mundial. Las nominaciones para los Premios alcanzaron en 2011 a 5.000 compañías en mil categorías en 162 países.
La red global de medios de comunicación asociados con la organización de los WTA tiene una audiencia mundial mensual de 1,2 millones de lectores y 90 millones de telespectadores.
Los ganadores mundiales de los World Travel Awards en 2011:
World's Excellence In Service Award Jumeirah
World's Leading Air Miles Program Lufthansa
World's Leading Airline Etihad Airways
World's Leading Airline Alliance Oneworld
World's Leading Airline Business Class Qatar Airways
World's Leading Airline Economy Class Cathay Pacific Airways
World's Leading Airline First Class Etihad Airways
World's Leading Airline Inflight Entertainment Virgin Atlantic Airways
World's Leading Airline Lounge: Business Class Qatar Airways
World's Leading Airline Lounge: First Class British Airways
World's Leading Airline to Africa TAP Portugal
World's Leading Airline to Asia Malaysia Airlines
World's Leading Airline to Central America Copa Airlines
World's Leading Airline to Europe Lufthansa
World's Leading Airline to North America Virgin Atlantic Airways
World's Leading Airline to South America TAP Portugal
World's Leading Airline to The Caribbean Virgin Atlantic Airways
World's Leading Airline to the Middle East Etihad Airways
World's Leading Airline Website American Airlines
World's Leading Airport Singapore Changi Airport
World's Leading Airport Hotel Airways Hotel Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
World's Leading All Suite Hotel & Spa Hotel Les Ottomans, Turkey
World's Leading All-Inclusive Company Sandals Resorts International
World's Leading All-Suite Hotel Burj Al Arab, Dubai
World's Leading Beach Destination Mauritius - Trou Aux Biches
World's Leading Beach Resort Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai
World's Leading Boutique Golf Resort Fairplay Golf Hotel & Spa, Spain
World's Leading Boutique Hotel Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa, South Africa
World's Leading Boutique Hotel Group Island Outpost
World's Leading Boutique Island Resort Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Cook Islands
World's Leading Boutique Resort Vila Joya, Portugal
World's Leading Budget Hotel Brand Premier Inn
World's Leading Business Car Rental Company Avis
World's Leading Business Hotel Grosvenor House Dubai, United Arab Emirates
World's Leading Business Hotel Group InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
World's Leading Business Travel Agency American Express
World's Leading Business Travel Destination Doha
World's Leading Car Hire Europcar
World's Leading Caribbean Attraction Company Island Routes
World's Leading City Hotel Pan Pacific Singapore
World's Leading Conservation Company Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa
World's Leading Cruise Brand Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
World's Leading Cruise Destination Jamaica
World's Leading Cruise Line Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
World's Leading Cruise Port Dubai, United Arab Emirates
World's Leading Cruise Travel Agent cruise.co.uk
World's Leading CSR Programme Starwood Hotels
World's Leading Design Hotel Adam & Eve at Belek, Turkey
World's Leading Designer Hotel Armani Hotel Dubai
World's Leading Destination India
World's Leading Destination Management Company Kuoni Destination Management
World's Leading Destination Marketing Campaign Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority
World's Leading Dive Destination Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
World's Leading Dive Resort The Royal Savoy Sharm El Sheikh
World's Leading Eco Resort & Spa Soneva Kiri by Six Senses Thailand
World's Leading Eco-Lodge Sanbona Wildlife Reserve - Dwyka Tented Lodge, South Africa
World's Leading Family All-Inclusive Beaches Resorts
World's Leading Family Resort Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, United Arab Emirates
World's Leading Ferry Operator DFDS Seaways
World's Leading Fully Integrated Resort Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa, Turkey
World's Leading Golf Resort Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic
World's Leading Green Cruise Line Star Clippers
World's Leading Green Destination Cousine Island, Seychelles
World's Leading Green Resort Forte Village Resort, Italy
World's Leading Green Tour Operator Kuoni Group, Switzerland
World's Leading Green Transport Solution Company Europcar
World's Leading Heritage Hotel The Raj Palace
World's Leading Honeymoon Destination Jamaica
World's Leading Hotel Burj Al Arab, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
World's Leading Hotel & Residences W Doha Hotel and Residences
World's Leading Hotel Alliance Leading Hotels of the World
World's Leading Hotel Brand InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
World's Leading Hotel Loyalty Programme Starwood Preferred Guest
World's Leading Hotel Spa Mardan Spa, Mardan Palace, Antalya, Turkey
World's Leading Hotel Villas Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Jamaica
World's Leading Island Destination Mauritius
World's Leading Island Resort Pullman Timi Ama Sardegna
World's Leading Island Villas Te Manava Luxury Villas & Spa, Cook Islands
World's Leading Landmark Hotel Makkah Clock Royal Tower – A Fairmont Hotel, Saudi Arabia
World's Leading Large Ship Cruise Line Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
World's Leading Leisure Car Rental Company Europcar
World's Leading Leisure Hotel Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates Dubai
World's Leading Lifestyle Hotel Hilton Beijing Wangfujing, China
World's Leading Low-Cost Airline Easyjet
World's Leading Luxury All Suite Hotel Raffles Makkah Palace, Saudi Arabia
World's Leading Luxury Business Hotel Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow
World's Leading Luxury Car Rental Avis Prestige
World's Leading Luxury City Hotel Leopolis Hotel, Ukraine
World's Leading Luxury Cruise Line The Yachts of Seabourn
World's Leading Luxury Historic Hotel Hotel Adlon Kempinski, Germany
World's Leading Luxury Hotel The Oberoi Gurgaon, India
World's Leading Luxury Hotel Brand The Luxury Collection
World's Leading Luxury Island Resort Maradiva Villas Resort and Spa, Mauritius
World's Leading Luxury Lodge Thanda Private Game Reserve, South Africa
World's Leading Luxury Resort Mardan Palace, Turkey
World's Leading Luxury Resort Brand Amanresorts
World's Leading Luxury Sailing Cruise Company Star Clippers
World's Leading Luxury Tour Operator Abercrombie & Kent
World's Leading Luxury Train The Blue Train
World's Leading Luxury Travel Product of the Year Silversea Cruises
World's Leading Marketing Campaign Welcome To Yorkshire
World's Leading Marketing Innovation Sixt
World's Leading Medical / Wellness Spa Grand Hotel Lienz, Austria
World's Leading Medical Wellness & Spa Operator Vitality World
World's Leading Meetings & Conference Centre Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre - ADNEC
World's Leading Meetings & Conference Hotel Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
World's Leading Meetings Hotel Swissotel Krasnye Holmy, Moscow, Russia
World's Leading New Hotel Jumeirah at Etihad Towers
World's Leading New Resort One&Only The Palm, Dubai
World's Leading New Villa Resort Ayada Maldives
World's Leading Palace Hotel The Ritz- Carlton, Riyadh
World's Leading Polar Expedition Operator Oceanwide Expeditions
World's Leading Presidential Suite Palace Suite, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
World's Leading Private Island Cousine Island, Seychelles
World's Leading Private Island Resort Necker Island, British Virgin Islands
World's Leading Private Jet Charter Royal Jet Group
World's Leading Rail Service Eurostar
World's Leading Residential Apartments The Regent, South Africa
World's Leading Resort Forte Village Resort, Italy
World's Leading River Cruise Operator Viking River Cruises
World's Leading Safari & Game Reserve Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa
World's Leading Serviced Apartment Hotel Grosvenor House Dubai, United Arab Emirates
World's Leading Shopping Centre Hotel Kempinski Mall of Emirates, Dubai
World's Leading Ski Resort Gstaad Palace, Switzerland
World's Leading Small Ships Cruise Line Star Clippers
World's Leading Spa Resort Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Dubai
World's Leading Specialist Cruise Line Swan Hellenic
World's Leading Sports Tour Operator TUI Travel PLC’s Specialist & Activity Sector
World's Leading Sports Tourism Destination South Africa
World's Leading Sports Tourism Development Project Aspire Zone, Qatar
World's Leading Thalasso & Spa Resort Aldemar Royal Mare Village, Greece
World's Leading Theme Resort Universal Orlando, Florida, USA
World's Leading Tourism Development Project Port Authority of Jamaica - Port of Falmouth
World's Leading Tourism Property Development Company Emaar Hospitality Group
World's Leading Tourist Board Incredible India
World's Leading Travel Agency Regency Travel & Tours, Qatar
World's Leading Travel Experience by Train Rocky Mountaineer - GoldLeaf Service
World's Leading Travel Management Company FCm Travel Solutions
World's Leading Villa Resort & Spa Soneva Gili by Six Senses, Maldives
World's Leading Watervilla Baros Maldives
World's Luxury Boutique Hotels Collection Mantis Collection
World's Most Innovative Airline Korean Air
World's Most Romantic Destination Maldives
World's Most Romantic Resort Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa, Antigua
World's Responsible Tourism Award Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority
World's Ultimate Service Award in Hospitality Dukes Hotel, London