Six distinctions were won by an equal number of Greek companies – four hotels, Aegean Airlines and HotelBrain – at the World Travel Awards Europe Gala Ceremony 2016 which was held at Forte Village Resort in Sardinia, Italy last weekend.
The event took place alongside the World Spa Awards Gala Ceremony 2016, which visits Europe for the first time after debuting in Vietnam last year.
Both events took place on the evening of September 4th at the world-class resort, welcoming hundreds of hospitality leaders from across the region and around the world.
Europe’s Leading Destination
Saint Petersburg has been recognised as Europe’s Leading Destination for the second year in succession by the World Travel Awards, with Saint Petersburg Committee for Tourism Development Chairman, Andrey Mushkarev, collecting the trophy at a glittering ceremony in Italy.
Also receiving top titles during the Europe Gala Ceremony 2016 at Forte Village Resort in Sardinia were Europcar, taking the trophy for Europe’s Leading Car Rental Company, and the Madeira Islands, which took the title of Europe’s Leading Island Destination.
French tourism capital Lyon was also celebrating after being recognised as Europe’s Leading City Break Destination while Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, was presented with the trophy for Europe’s Leading Luxury City Resort.
In the aviation sector, Lufthansa defended its title of Europe’s Leading Airline.
Best in European hospitality
World Travel Awards President Graham Cooke said: “It has been a pleasure to recognise some of the best in European hospitality here at Forte Village Resort this evening.
“Our Voters have selected the best-of-the-best in this exceedingly competitive market and I offer my sincere congratulations to our winners following their success this evening.”
World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.
World Spa Awards is a dynamic awards programme, launched in 2015, and is designed to drive up standards within spa and wellness tourism by rewarding the organisations that are the leaders in the field.
This year’s complete list of winners includes:
EUROPE – WINNERS FROM GREECE
Europe’s Leading Hotel Management Company | HotelBrain
Europe’s Leading Luxury Wedding Resort | Grand Resort Lagonissi, Greece
Europe’s Leading Regional Airline | Aegean Airlines
Europe’s Leading Resort Villas | Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas, Greece
Europe’s Leading Seafront Resort | Elounda Bay Palace, Greece
Europe’s Leading Villa Resort | Porto Zante Villas & Spa, Greece
GREECE
Greece’s Leading All Suite Hotel | Astra Suites Santorini
Greece’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort | Atrium Palace Thalasso Spa Resort & Villas
Greece’s Leading Boutique Hotel | Iconic Santorini, a boutique cave hotel
Greece’s Leading Business Hotel | Hilton Athens
Greece’s Leading Conference Hotel | InterContinental Athenaeum Athens
Greece’s Leading Destination Management Company | Mideast Travel Worldwide
Greece’s Leading Family Resort | Porto Carras Grand Resort
Greece’s Leading Hotel Hotel | Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens
Greece’s Leading Hotel Management Company | HotelBrain
Greece’s Leading Hotel Residences | Diamond Residences at the Elounda Peninsula All Suite Hotel, Crete-Greece
Greece’s Leading Hotel Suite | Presidential Suite @ Hotel Grande Bretagne, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Athens
Greece’s Leading Luxury All Suite Hotel | Domes of Elounda
Greece’s Leading Luxury Boutique Hotel | Grace Santorini
Greece’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa | Royal Blue Mansion @ Mykonos Blu Grecotel Exclusive Resort
Greece’s Leading Luxury Private Villa | Conte Marino Villas
Greece’s Leading Resort | Porto Carras Grand Resort
Greece’s Leading Spa Resort | Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso
Greece’s Leading Villa Resort | Porto Zante Villas & Spa
EUROPE
Europe’s Leading Airline – Business Class | Swiss International Air LinesEurope’s Leading Airline | Lufthansa
Europe’s Leading Airline – Economy Class | Lufthansa
Europe’s Leading Airline – First Class | British Airways First
Europe’s Leading Airline to Africa | TAP Portugal
Europe’s Leading Airline to Asia | British Airways
Europe’s Leading Airline to North America | Virgin Atlantic Airways
Europe’s Leading Airline to South America | TAP Portugal
Europe’s Leading Airport | Zurich Airport, Switzerland
Europe’s Leading Airport Hotel | Hilton London Heathrow Airport, England
Europe’s Leading Airport Lounge | Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse @ London Heathrow Airport
Europe’s Leading All Suite Hotel | Hotel Les Ottomans, Turkey
Europe’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort | Pestana Porto Santo All Inclusive & Spa Beach Resort, Portugal
Europe’s Leading Beach Destination | The Algarve, Portugal
Europe’s Leading Beach Hotel | Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, France
Europe’s Leading Beach Resort | Hotel Quinta do Lago, Portugal
Europe’s Leading Boutique Hotel | Vila Joya, Portugal
Europe’s Leading Boutique Resort | Choupana Hills Resort & Spa, Portugal
Europe’s Leading Business Car Rental Company | Hertz
Europe’s Leading Business Hotel | Myriad by SANA Hotels, Portugal
Europe’s Leading Car Rental Company | Europcar
Europe’s Leading Casino Resort | Lopesan Costa Meloneras, Spain
Europe’s Leading Charter Airline | Thomas Cook Airlines
Europe’s Leading Chauffeur Company | Sixt Limousine Service
Europe’s Leading City Break Destination | Lyon, France
Europe’s Leading City Hotel | The Ritz Paris, France
Europe’s Leading City Tourist Board | Visit London
Europe’s Leading Conference Hotel | Hilton Molino Stucky Venice, Italy
Europe’s Leading Cruise Destination | Lisbon, Portugal
Europe’s Leading Cruise Line | Norwegian Cruise Line
Europe’s Leading Cruise Port | Porto de Lisboa, Portugal
Europe’s Leading Cruise Travel Agent | Cruise.co.uk
Europe’s Leading Design Hotel | Altis Belém Hotel & Spa, Portugal
Europe’s Leading Destination | Saint-Petersburg, Russia
Europe’s Leading Destination Management Company | Kuoni Destination Management
Europe’s Leading Entertainment Hotel | Rixos Sungate, Turkey
Europe’s Leading Family Resort | Pine Cliffs Resort, a Luxury Collection Resort, Portugal
Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator | DFDS Seaways
Europe’s Leading Ferry Website | The Travel Gateway Ltd (aferry.com)
Europe’s Leading Fully Integrated Resort | Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa, Turkey
Europe’s Leading Green Hotel | Leitlhof Dolomiten, Italy
Europe’s Leading Green Resort | Gradonna Mountain Resort Châlets & Hotel, Austria
Europe’s Leading Group Tour Operator | H&H Touristik
Europe’s Leading Hotel | Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, Turkey
Europe’s Leading Hotel & Spa | Pullman Timi Ama Sardegna, Italy
Europe’s Leading Hotel Booking Solutions Provider | Roiback – Backhotel
Europe’s Leading Hotel Brand | Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Europe’s Leading Hotel Management Company | HotelBrain
Europe’s Leading Hotel Residences | Grosvenor House Suites by Jumeirah Living, England
Europe’s Leading Hotel Suite | The Katara Suite @ Excelsior Hotel Gallia, Italy
Europe’s Leading Hotel Villas | Private Villas at Vila Vita Parc, Portugal
Europe’s Leading Incentive & Incoming Agency | DE&HA Tourism
Europe’s Leading Inflight Magazine | Up Magazine (TAP Portugal)
Europe’s Leading Island Destination | Madeira Islands
Europe’s Leading Island Hotel & Spa | The Vine Hotel, Portugal
Europe’s Leading Island Resort | Pullman Timi Ama Sardegna, Italy
Europe’s Leading Landmark Hotel | Bairro Alto Hotel, Portugal
Europe’s Leading Leisure Resort | Mriya Resort & Spa
Europe’s Leading Lifestyle Hotel | Rixos Premium Göcek Suites & Villas, Turkey
Europe’s Leading Lifestyle Resort | Geinberg5 Private Spa Villas, Austria
Europe’s Leading Low-Cost Airline | Norwegian
Europe’s Leading Luxury All Suite Resort | Columbia Beach Resort Pissouri, Cyprus
Europe’s Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort | Concorde De Luxe Resort, Turkey
Europe’s Leading Luxury Beach Resort | Forte Village Resort, Italy
Europe’s Leading Luxury Business Hotel | Jumeirah Carlton Tower, England
Europe’s Leading Luxury Car Rental Company | Sixt Luxury Cars
Europe’s Leading Luxury City Resort | Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Italy
Europe’s Leading Luxury Family Resort | Forte Village Resort, Italy
Europe’s Leading Luxury Hotel | The Peninsula Paris, France
Europe’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa | Villa Aurora @ Forte Village Resort, Italy
Europe’s Leading Luxury Island Resort | JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, Italy
Europe’s Leading Luxury Resort | Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa, Turkey
Europe’s Leading Luxury Resort & Spa | Conrad Algarve, Portugal
Europe’s Leading Luxury Train | Venice Simplon Orient-Express
Europe’s Leading Luxury Wedding Resort | Grand Resort Lagonissi, Greece
Europe’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre | ExCeL London, England
Europe’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination | Paris, France
Europe’s Leading MICE Hotel | EPIC SANA Algarve Hotel, Portugal
Europe’s Leading New Hotel | InterContinental London – The O2, England
Europe’s Leading New Resort | Pine Cliffs Ocean Suites, a Luxury Collection Resort
Europe’s Leading Online Travel Agency | Booking.com
Europe’s Leading Passenger Rail Operator | Eurostar
Europe’s Leading Private Jet Charter | NetJets Europe
Europe’s Leading Regional Airline | Aegean Airlines
Europe’s Leading Resort | Forte Village Resort, Italy
Europe’s Leading Resort | Villas Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas, Greece
Europe’s Leading River Cruise Company | DouroAzul
Europe’s Leading Safari Tour Operator | Yellow Zebra Safaris
Europe’s Leading Seafront Resort | Elounda Bay Palace, Greece
Europe’s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand | Citadines Apart’hotel
Europe’s Leading Serviced Apartments | Fraser Suites Kensington, England
Europe’s Leading Spa & Wellness Resort | Sianji Wellbeing Resort,Turkey
Europe’s Leading Spa Resort | Evian Resort, France
Europe’s Leading Sports Resort | Forte Village Resort, Italy
Europe’s Leading Theme Park Hotel | The Land of Legends Theme Park, Turkey
Europe’s Leading Themed Resort
