Johannesburg to Host 2010 World Travel Awards
While most people have taken cheap flights to South Africa this month to enjoy the spectacle of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, travel industry bigwigs are gathering in Johannesburg ahead of the tournament final to honour some of the sector’s top names.
The World Cup final takes place on Friday, but tonight will see the prestigious World Travel Awards host the Africa & Indian Ocean section of the event at the city’s Sandton Convention Centre. Some 1,200 guest will attend the swanky affair, all of whom are hoping to be one of the lucky award winners.
Among those at the ceremony will be leading figures from the African and Indian Ocean travel firms and those government ministers who oversee South Africa holidays. World Travel Awards president Graham Cooke commented: “This is a once-a-year opportunity to recognise the exceptional quality, creativity and leading edge performance of both regions’ top operators.”
Professionals throughout the travel industry have been voting for the last few months and tonight will be moment of truth for some 5,000 companies representing over 1,000 categories.
African nominees will include safari and cruise firms, such as Discover Egypt Nile Cruises, African Safari Club, Sonesta Nile Cruises and Travel Dynamics International. When it comes to Africa holidays, safaris and cruises are the fastest growing parts of the sector.
Indian Ocean nominees are characterised by the rivalry among hoteliers all hoping to win the award for the Indian Ocean’s Leading Hotel. Banyan Tree Seychelles, Baros Maldives, the Belle Mare Plage Resort in Mauritius; and The Fortress in Sri Lanka are all among the hopefuls.
When it’s all over the winners and losers will be able to celebrate or commiserate by enjoying their South Africa holidays amid the excitement of Sunday’s World Cup final.
Travel Industry News posted by 
on 07 July 2010
