Winners at the World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony were celebrating this evening following a spectacular show at the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai.
With guest of honour HH Sheikh Juma Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum in attendance, Etihad Airways successfully defended its title of Middle East’s Leading Airline, while Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing took the titles of Middle East’s Leading Destination and Middle East’s Leading Tourist Board.
HH Sheikh Juma Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoum was also honoured during the ceremony, being welcomed to the World Travel Awards Academy alongside the leadership elite of the global tourism industry.
World Travel Awards President Graham Cooke said: “Dubai has come back to reclaim its place at the forefront of global tourism in 2014 and I am delighted World Travel Awards has returned this year to share in its success. Having been selected to host Expo 2020 in six years time, the future is certainly bright for the destination.”
He added: “We have welcomed some fantastic winners this year, and I look forward to seeiing them all in Morocco for the Grand Final at the end of 2014.”
The Gala Ceremony was hosted by Mark Lloyd and Lucy Taylor, presenters of ‘The Travel Show’, a two-hour live programme on Dubai Eye 103.8FM, and welcomed entertainment from Music Hall stars Sabreen Staples, Hayke and Veronique.
In a special presentation, Ali Hamad Lakhraim Alzaabi, Founder, President and Chief Executive of Millennium & Copthorne, Middle East & Africa was awarded the prestigious title of Middle East’s Leading Travel Personality.
Other winners included Rotana Hotels, which took the title of Middle East’s Leading Hotel Brand, Dubai International, which won Middle East’s Leading Airport, and Royal Jet, which walked away with the title of Middle East’s Leading Private Jet Charter.
Hosts JW Marriott Marquis Dubai were also proud to take the title of Middle East’s Leading MICE Hotel.
World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.
Today, the WTA brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.
