Europe’s leading travel brands scooped the world’s highest global honours at the World Travel Awards final in Turks & Caicos on 2 December
Lufthansa took the title of World’s Leading Economy Class Airline and Air Berlin was awarded World’s Leading Budget/No Frills Airline.
Berlin’s Internationales Congress Centrum (ICC Berlin) took the World’s Leading Conference & Convention Centre while the ultra-modern five-star Adam & Eve Hotel at Belek in Turkey won the World’s Leading Design Hotel.
European carriers in also did well. Eurostar was the World’s Leading Rail Service and Brittany Ferries took the title of World’s Leading Ferry Operator. Avis were the World’s Leading Business Car Rental Company and Europcar, the World’s Leading Leisure Car Rental Company.
The European winners walked away with the accolades at the final of the renowned World Travel Awards – described by the Wall Street Journal as the ‘Oscars’ of the travel industry.
The award presentation was the culmination of the 2008 World Travel Awards Grand Tour of regional ceremonies which have taken place during the year in Australia, Africa, Central America, China, North America, Europe, China and Middle East.
“Nothing can compare with winning one of the World Travel Awards”, said Graham E. Cooke, president and founder. “Its quite simply the highest accolade any location or travel company can ever hope to achieve and says more about them than any brochure can communicate, any picture can mirror, any personal testimonial can express.
“Some of the European winners have enjoyed success before, demonstrating their total commitment to excellence in every aspect of their offering. They are a true example to the international travel industry, a leader on a world stage.
Cooke explained that winning a World Travel Award had direct commercial benefits for recipients. “Consumers are more sophisticated and well travelled than ever before”, he said. “They are demanding, discerning and have high expectations.
“Growing numbers of vacationers around the world seeking good value and quality are now making a point of checking to see who has won the World Travel Awards before making their own holiday choice.”
Voting came from 167,000 travel professionals worldwide, including Europe. Aim of World Travel Awards, established 15 years ago, is to ensure that brands exceed expectations in many ways.
“There are a number of key factors that transform a well-run company into an excellent one and these are recognised, encouraged and underlined in the World Travel Awards”, said Cooke.
Winners are judged on their ability, for example, to understand visitor needs and expectations; maximise business performance; value personnel; undertake enterprising product expansion and development; foster innovation and creativity as well as work together as a team externally and internally.
Log on to for a full list of winners.
Jane Larcombe
+44 (0)1892 785071
World Travel Awards
