Travel Oscars announces London Grand Final
The ‘Oscars’ of the travel and tourism industry – the World Travel Awards – will finish spectacularly with its Grand Final in London on the eve of WTM 2010.
The glittering ceremony at Mayfair’s Grosvenor House on 7 November will reveal the very best travel brands in the world.
Attended by more than one thousand tourism ministers, CEOs and directors as well as association heads gathering for World Travel Market week, the final represents the culmination of World Travel Awards Grand Tour 2010 – a search of six continents with regional ceremonies taking place throughout the year.
The World Travel Awards was established 17 years ago to improve standards of customer service and overall business performance of travel and tourism.
Graham E. Cooke, Founder and President, said the evening will represent a sea change for the industry.
“In a world where time is judged not in days and weeks but minutes and even seconds, where consumers are under more pressure and stress than ever before, travel and tourism has also had to change,” he explained.
“It is no longer just an industry that sells dreams, but one that has had to adapt to a new kind of working with instant access and instant answers. Consumer service and a more flexible approach are the keys to everything we do.”
“World Travel Awards is a champion of universal good practice across the world. But this means increasing the level of high standards across the board, helping others to be inspired and uplifted by example.
“That’s why the World Travel Awards Grand Tour and the subsequent Grand Final are fundamental if the industry is to continue improving quality.”
The Middle East Ceremony took place last month in Dubai. It was attended by 600 captains of industry from the region, and Prince Bandar, Chairman of Al Khozama Management Company, was the evening’s Guest of Honour.
Other ceremonies scheduled are: Africa & Indian Ocean (Johannesburg, 7 July); North & Central America & Caribbean (Orlando, 11 September); Europe (Antalya, Turkey, 1 October); Asia & Australasia (New Delhi, India, 14 October); and South America (Rio de Janeiro, 20 October).
“Increasingly, consumers are using World Travel Award winners as an assurance guide of high quality, giving them peace of mind when they make their holiday choice,” added Cooke.
“Only the very best will succeed at the final but the commercial benefits are worth fighting for. Nominees are now actively canvassing for support with their business contacts.”
Thousands of professionals are expected to vote during the year by logging on to www.worldtravelawards.com/vote.
Deadlines for voting are:
Africa – 6 June
Indian Ocean – 6 June
North America – 6 August
Caribbean – 6 August
Central America – 6 August
Europe – 10 September
Australasia – 17 September
Asia – 17 September
South America – 24 September
