The Europe Gala of the World Travel Awards (WTA) took place in Berlin on the evening of 6 March, kicking off the year long search for the world’s best travel and tourism organisations.
Established in 1993, the WTA reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. Each year, WTA covers the globe with its Grand Tour – a series of regional gala ceremonies to recognise excellence within each continent, culminating with the winners going head-to-head in a Grand Final at the end of the year.
“It has been a privilege to host the opening ceremony of our 2024 Grand Tour in Berlin for an incredible evening acknowledging the pinnacle of Europe’s travel and tourism economy”, said WTA Founder Graham Cooke. “I congratulate each and every one of our winners for helping to raise the collective benchmark to even greater heights.”
At the first Gala of the year, Greece was named “Europe’s Leading Destination”, but it was Portugal that basketed more awards. The Atlantic archipelago of Madeira won “Europe’s Leading Island Destination”, Braga was named “Europe’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination” and Azores got “Europe’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination”.
In the newcomer categories, the Peninsula London was acknowledged as “Europe’s Leading New Hotel”. The coastal hideaway of One&Only Aesthesis, Athens, was hailed “Europe’s Leading New Resort”, Spain’s Casa Palacio Don Ramón took “Europe’s Leading New Boutique Hotel” and Berlin’s Deutschlandmuseum – an immersive journey through 2,000 years of German history – was voted “Europe’s Leading New Tourist Attraction”.
Hospitality sector winners include Istanbul’s Çırağan Palace Kempinski, voted “Europe’s Leading Hotel” and Sardinia’s Forte Village, which took “Europe’s Leading Resort”. Seven Visions Resort & Places, The Dvin, a new attraction in the heart of Armenia’s capital of Yerevan, was declared “Europe’s Leading Entertainment Hotel”, while the Savoy Palace in Madeira, won “Europe’s Leading Luxury Hotel”.
The Convention Centre Dublin claimed “Europe’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre”. Meanwhile, brand winners include Citadines (“Europe’s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand”), Kaizen Hoteles (“Europe’s Leading Independent Hotel Group”) and Delphina Hotels & Resorts (“Europe’s Leading Green Independent Hotel Group”).
In the aviation section, Lufthansa collected “Europe’s Leading Airline”, while British Airways claimed “Europe’s Leading Airline – Business Class”, Turkish Airlines won “Europe’s Leading Airline – Economy Class” and TAP Air Portugal took “Europe’s Leading Airline to South America”. Zurich Airport was voted “Europe’s Leading Airport”, while “Europe’s Leading Airline Lounge” went to The Loft by Brussels Airlines and Lexus at Brussels Airport.
Other winners include La Clef Champs-Elysées Paris (“Europe’s Leading Serviced Apartments”), The View Lugano (“Switzerland’s Leading Design Hotel”) and Johnnie Walker Princes Street (“Europe’s Leading Spirit Tourism Experience”).
