Dubai named world's top travel spot

Just days after being chosen to host the 2020 World Expo convention, Dubai was named the world’s leading destination at a gala ceremony held in Doha over the weekend.

According to the world’s travel elite — CEOs of travel agencies, travel experts, tourism board officers and executives — the city is also now home to the world’s leading hotel, leading new hotel, beach resort, spa resort and new resort.

Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, took the title of world’s leading airline for the fifth consecutive year in a row, cementing its status as the gold standard in airline service.

Here’s a list of the some of the major winners at the 20th edition of the World Travel Awards:

World’s leading airline: Etihad Airways

Leading airport: Singapore Changi Airport

Leading beach destination: Grace Bay Beach, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands

Leading beach resort: Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai

Leading cabin crew: Etihad Airways

Leading casino resort: MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas

Leading cruise line: Royal Caribbean International

Leading culinary destination: Peru

Leading destination: Dubai

Leading golf destination: Portugal

Leading honeymoon destination: Mauritius

Leading hotel: Burj Al Arab, Dubai

Leading island destination: Maldives

Leading low-cost airline: AirAsia

Leading luxury hotel: The Oberoi Gurgaon, India

Leading luxury resort: InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort, Thailand

Leading luxury train: Maharajas’ Express

Leading new hotel: JW Marriott Marquis Dubai

Leading safari destination: Kenya

Leading spa resort: Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Dubai

Leading themed resort: Universal Orlando Resort, Florida

Leading wellness hotel: Grand Hotel Lienz, Austria

Most innovative airline: Korean Air

Most romantic resort: Baros Maldives