World Travel Awards Partner With Global Names Marking The 15th Anniversary Grand Tour
World Travel Awards (WTA) today announced that Eurostar, the high-speed passenger train service that links the UK and mainland Europe via the Channel Tunnel, has signed a major sponsorship deal for WTA’s 15th Anniversary Grand Tour. The commitment includes sponsorship of the 2008 Asia Awards as well as the North America Awards, with the view to develop a long-term business relationship.
Having operated to and from Waterloo station, London, for 13 years, Eurostar launched services from its new central London station, the magnificently restored St Pancras International, on 14 November 2007, and now offers even faster and greener rail travel as well as shorter travel times between the UK, France and Belgium. The organisation has been at the leading edge of innovation in the travel industry and prides itself on being the world’s first train operator to offer carbon neutral journeys, at no extra cost to travellers.
“Eurostar is a pioneering enterprise,” commented WTA’s Executive Vice President Manon Han. “Partnering with a big name like Eurostar allows us the use of qualitative synergies of two thriving brands that both prioritize excellence in the travel industry. This sponsorship pact is a milestone and gives us the possibility to further strengthen our position as one of the most reputable awards schemes in the tourism trade.”
Michael Davies, Eurostar’s Head of International Sales, said: “As time becomes more precious, it is essential when people travel – whether it be for business or for leisure – that the whole experience is as seamless and as enjoyable as possible. We need to encourage organisations involved in the travel industry to set the bar as high as possible, to deliver excellent customer service, attractive and competitive pricing and of course, quality. The World Travel Awards are at the heart of this impetus and we are delighted to have become a key sponsor. The partnership with the World Travel Awards will be a central part of our strategy of becoming a globally recognised brand.”
Another significant brand sponsoring the World Travel Awards 15th Anniversary Grand Tour is BBC World. The global broadcaster has been WTA’s official media partner for three years and recently extended the sponsorship pact by one year. With a total distribution of 269.2 million homes and a reach of 26% of international travellers, BBC World is seen as the perfect channel for the award’s media efforts.
“We are now on the lookout for further influential partners in the tourism industry that will play an active role in this year’s World Travel Awards Grand Tour,” explained Han. “The key benefits for our sponsors include both worldwide exposure and the opportunity to create and enhance local as well as global business relationships through our awards ceremonies.”
To enquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Chris Frost:
Dates and locations of the 15th Anniversary Grand Tour will be revealed shortly.
The World Travel Awards were conceived in 1993 to acknowledge and recognize excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry. Now celebrating its 15th Anniversary, the award is regarded as the very best endorsement that a travel product could hope to receive. With thousands of votes cast by travel professionals from 167,000 travel agencies, tour & transport companies and tourism organizations in over 160 countries across the globe, winning a World Travel Award has become one of the highest accolades in the industry. The votes are cast globally by fellow professionals in over 1,000 different categories. Attended by top executives of winning companies, the WTA events are well-established as a forum that brings together all areas of travel and tourism in recognition of their achievements.
- Eurostar is the high-speed train service linking St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International, Paris, Brussels, Lille, Calais, Disneyland Resort Paris, Avignon and the French Alps.
- St Pancras International is connected with seven mainline rail services at St Pancras, King’s Cross and Euston; and six London Underground lines.
- Under its ‘Tread Lightly’ initiative, Eurostar has set a target of reducing its carbon dioxide emissions by 25% per traveller journey by 2012. Independent research has already shown that a Eurostar journey between London and Paris / Brussels generates one-tenth of the carbon dioxide produced by an equivalent flight.
- Eurostar and Friends of the Earth are official partners in Britain, and collaborate on the development of Eurostar’s ‘Tread Lightly’ initiative, and Friends of the Earth’s ‘The Big Ask’ campaign.
- Eurostar is a founder member of Railteam, a partnership between Europe’s leading high-speed train operators that is developing simpler ways to book and travel on the fast-expanding, European high-speed rail network.
- Eurostar and Eurotunnel are entirely separate companies. Eurostar operates high-speed passenger trains, while Eurotunnel operates a vehicle shuttle service and the Channel tunnel itself. Eurostar is Eurotunnel’s biggest customer.
Nadine Wenn
+44 (0)20 7925 0000
World Travel Awards
