WORLD Travel Awards, “the Oscars of the travel industry”, has unveiled the regional nominees for its 2012 programme. Regional organisations in contention include Etihad Airways, FlyDubai, Qatar Tourism Authority, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers and Rotana Hotels. All will now go head to head at WTA’s Middle East Ceremony, which is set to take place at Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, Dubai on April 30, 2012.
The number of organisations self nominating in 2012 has increased by 17 per cent year-on-year, reflecting the growing awareness of the global coverage and commercial benefits that accompany WTA success. Online voting has now opened and WTA is urging both the travel trade and the public to vote for their favourite travel brands.
Graham E. Cooke, founder & president, WTA, says: “As the tension surrounding the regional ceremonies builds, we are looking forward to revealing the leading players and tracking their progress as they head to our Grand Final 2012 in December.”
More than 5,000 organisations from 162 countries will compete in travel and tourism’s most influential awards programme. More than 900 categories cover all aspects of the industry from airlines and cruise ships to ski resorts and new luxury hotels.
WTA’s 2012 Grand Tour includes regional legs in Dubai (Middle East Ceremony), Turks & Caicos (Caribbean & The Americas Ceremony), Nairobi, Kenya (Africa & Indian Ocean Ceremony), The Algarve, Portugal (Europe Ceremony) and Singapore (Asia & Australasia Ceremony). The winners of these regional heats will progress to the Grand Final, which will take place at The Oberoi, Gurgaon, New Delhi, India in December.