DUBAI wins Prestigious world travel awards

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) picked up two major awards at the 8th World Travel Awards ceremony, held in Kuala Lumpur on April 10, 2001.

The DTCM was the proud winner in the categories Middle East’s Leading Destination and Middle East’s Leading Tourist and Convention Bureau at the widely anticipated annual event, which was held in Asia for the first time in its history.

The World Travel Awards were set up in 1993 to celebrate excellence in the world’s travel and tourism industry. In the years since then, dedicated travel professionals and their clients have come to regard the World Travel Awards as the best endorsement that any travel product could receive.

This year’s voting campaign entailed the e-mailed distribution of voting forms to 100,000 travel agents worldwide and attracted a record-breaking number of voters. Over 25,000 travel agencies from 182 countries participated in the on-line voting, further enhancing the value of the awards as the professional’s choice. The World Travel Awards is the world’s most comprehensive ceremony, with trophies awarded in 152 categories.

In addition to DTCM, several other Dubai organizations picked up major awards. Dubai International Airport was voted the Middle East’s Leading Airport, whereas the Dubai World Trade Centre won the award for Middle East’s Leading Conference Centre. Jumeirah International, one of the emirate’s most prestigious hotel groups, scooped no less than five awards for its first-class properties, including World’s Leading All-Suite Hotel for Burj Al Arab, the world’s tallest hotel, World’s Leading Business Hotel and Middle East’s Leading Conference Hotel for Emirates Towers Hotel, and Middle East’s Leading Resort and Middle East’s Leading Spa Resort for The Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

Dubai’s flag carrier Emirates Airline won two awards in the categories World’s Leading First Class and Middle East’s Leading Airline.

“Winning the awards is a clear sign of recognition for the Dubai Government and the private sector, which have put great efforts into developing Dubai as a premier tourist destination,” said Jane Salomons, Manager of the DTCM Far East office who received the awards on behalf of DTCM. “The vote of confidence from fellow tourism professionals from around the world provides a tremendous boost for our promotional activities”, Ms. Salomons added.