shakers’ who will vie for World Travel Awards scheduled to take place on July 7, this year at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. “This is Africa’s finest night for tourism,” said Graham E. Cooke, Founder and President of World Two Tanzanian hotels based in Zanzibar will be among twelve hundred of Africa’s key ‘movers and Travel Awards. Presentation of the awards is scheduled to take place at 5pm – but guests will not miss out on the crucial match! A giant screen will show the FIFA World Cup Semi Final immediately after the ceremony, it says. Elaborating on Africa nominees, he said African nominations include the ‘crème de la crème’ of the region’s travel and tourism. South Africa Airways, Air Namibia, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, and Royal Air Maroc are fighting it out to take the title of Africa’s leading airline. In the running for Africa’s leading beach hotel Camps Bay Retreat; Diaz 15 in South Africa; La Gemma Dell’Est Zanzibar in Tanzania; Lagoon Beach Hotel, South Africa; Peponi Hotel Lamu Island in Kenya; The Bay Hotel, South Africa and The Z Hotel Zanzibar in Tanzania are among those contesting, he said. The fight for Africa’s leading business hotel title is also going to be a knuckle-biting affair, he said adding that nominations range from Alexandria, Four Seasons, Conrad Cairo, Mena House Oberoi and Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza in Egypt; Hilton in Durban, Sandton Sun and The West in Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays in South Africa. As the fastest growing industry sector, there is also keen interest in cruising and Africa’s leading cruise line category: African Safari Club; Discover Egypt Nile Cruises; Sakkara Travel Group; Silverseas Cruises; Sonesta Nile Cruises and Travel Dynamics International are among the listed businesses. The biggest struggle though will be among the 12 leading hotels anxious to win the coveted title of Africa’s leading hotel. Nominees for this much sought after category are: Camps Bay Retreat and Cape Grace of South Africa; Four Seasons Hotel at the First Residence, Mena House Oberoi Hotel & Casino, Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the Nile Plaza and Grand Hyatt Cairo of Egypt; Kasbah Tamadot, Marrakech, Morocco; Mount Nelson Hotel, Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa, The Palace of the Lost City and The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa of South Africa. In addition to overall Africa categories, there are awards for Botswana, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. A report issued by the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB) on Wednesday said that the gathering for the Africa and Indian Ocean countries ceremony will include chief executive officers and directors of some of the region’s leading travel firms, government officials as well as industry association leaders. Many will have their fingers crossed – hoping they are among the elite to sweep off one of the prestigious world travel awards, described as the ‘Oscars’ of travel and tourism, a the report quotes one tourism official as saying. According to the report, “It’s a once-a-year opportunity to recognise the exceptional quality, creativity and leading edge performance of Africa’s top operators.” During the past few months, industry professionals have been voting worldwide for the African companies and brands that they believe deserve the honours, it says, noting that voting was closed on June 7. In the World Travel Award, African nominees are among 5,000 nominated companies spread across 1,000 categories, including airlines, cruise companies, destinations, resorts and hotels in 162 countries. World Travel Awards, established 17 years ago, is the only global organisation encouraging improvement and development of travel and tourism with consumers using the awards as a benchmark of quality and winners receiving significant commercial benefits from the honour.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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