Madeira’s VIP Event Shines Spotlight On World Travel Innovators – Travel And Tour World

Global travel leaders gather in Madeira to celebrate innovation at the World Travel Awards VIP reception.

At the World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2024 held in Funchal, Madeira, global tourism leaders gathered to honor the most innovative and excellent travel organizations.

The Maldives received the accolade for World’s Leading Destination. Braga, a historic city in Portugal, was distinguished as the World’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination. Saint Lucia secured the title of World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination and Tanzania was celebrated as the World’s Leading Safari Destination. The award for World’s Leading Cruise Destination went to Jamaica, and Cannes was recognized for its sophisticated charm and superior facilities as the World’s Leading Festival & Event Destination. The Philippines earned recognition for its untouched reefs with the World’s Leading Dive Destination award.

Dubai’s Jumeirah Al Naseem was named World’s Leading Hotel, while Forte Village in Sardinia received the honor of World’s Leading Resort.

In the category of new establishments, Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay triumphed as the World’s Leading New Hotel. Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort was awarded World’s Leading New Resort and Seville’s Casa Palacio Don Ramón was celebrated as the World’s Leading New Boutique Hotel.

Arabian aviation was a major highlight with Qatar Airways winning World’s Leading Airline and World’s Leading Airline – Business Class. Etihad Airways took home awards for World’s Leading Airline – Economy Class, World’s Leading Airline – Customer Experience, and World’s Leading Airline Lounge – First Class. Emirates was honored with World’s Leading Airline – First Class and World’s Leading Airline Brand.

AirAsia was recognized twice, as the World’s Leading Low-Cost Airline and World’s Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew. TAP Air Portugal was awarded World’s Leading Airline to Africa and World’s Leading Airline to South America, while interCaribbean Airways was acknowledged as World’s Leading Regional Airline.

Graham Cooke, Founder, World Travel Awards, says: “It has been a privilege to welcome our winners from every corner of the globe to celebrate in enchanting Madeira. The incredible evening will live long in everyone’s memory. Our winners represent the pinnacle of tourism excellence, and I congratulate each of them for raising the benchmark of the global tourism economy.”

Madeira was named the World’s Leading Island Destination, celebrated for its lush, subtropical environment and unique biodiversity, making it an ideal destination throughout the year.

Eduardo Jesus, Regional Secretary for Economy, Tourism, and Culture and President of Madeira Promotion Bureau, comments: “The award for ‘World’s Leading Island Destination, which Madeira has received consecutively since 2015, is a recognition of the efforts made by the entire sector to strengthen its international positioning as a unique, year-round destination for everyone.”

He adds: “It is an honour and a great satisfaction to receive this award at a gala held in Funchal, attended by many local guests and representatives from entities and institutions that work tirelessly throughout the year to achieve such prestigious recognition from the World Travel Awards.”

Other notable winners included Madrid (World’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination), Kaizen Hoteles (World’s Leading Independent Hotel Group), Booking.com (World’s Leading Online Travel Agency), and Satguru (World’s Leading Leisure Travel Agency).