The glittering city of Dubai and Etihad Airways emerged the big winners at the 20th edition of the World Travel Awards, an event known as the Oscars of the travel industry.
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
