Greek Tourism Stands Out at World Travel Awards 2022 Grand Final Event

The Winners’ picture at the WTA Grand final Gala Ceremony. Photo source: WTA.

Greek tourism was recognized as one of the world’s strongest travel brands at this year’s World Travel Awards (WTA) Grand Final Ceremony.

The World Travel Awards, considered globally as the ultimate hallmark of the industry’s excellence, announced its 2022 World winners at its Grand Final Gala Ceremony held in Muscat, Oman last week.

Continuing last year’s winning streak, Greece won a number of honors this year, with the Region of Attica named the ‘World’s Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination’ and Athens winning the  ‘World’s Leading Cultural City Destination’ award.

Athens, Greece . Photo source: This Is Athens – Thomas Gravanis.

Attica Governor Giorgos Patoulis thanked all people who voted for the region at the WTA adding that this recognition “is proof that hard work and perseverance pays back”.

Commenting on Athens’ win, the city’s Mayor Kostas Bakoyiannis said that “Athens is developing in an international tourism brand. Our strategic marketing has reintroduced it to foreign markets as a cultural destination that out won cities like New York and London at the WTA this year”.

Epaminondas Mousios, CEO of Athens Development and Destination Management Agency with Graham Cooke, Founder of WTA. Photo source: WTA.

In the hospitality sector, Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa won the ‘World’s Leading Boutique Resort’ for the 4th consecutive year, the Grand Forest Mectsovo was chosen as the ‘World’s Leading Landmark Hotel’ whilst Aristi Mountain Resort & Villas was named ‘World’s Leading Eco-Lodge’ for 2022, its 5th honor in this category in the last 6 years.

Photo source: @Santo Maris Oia Luxury Suites & Spa

This year, the Sani Resort won three awards: ‘World’s Leading Family & Beach Resort 2022’, ‘World’s Leading Luxury Green Resort 2022’ and ‘World’s Leading Cultural Destination Resort 2022’ becoming one of the night’s multiple awards winners. Furthermore, Domes Resorts was named ‘World’s Leading Luxury Resort Brand 2022’.

Greece’s Mideast Travel Worldwide took the title of ‘World’s Leading Destination Management Company’ for the 5th consecutive time; Greek company AllinBlusive was honored as the ‘World’s Leading Private Cruises Company’ for the 5th time in a row.

Greek hotel management and consulting group HotelBrain Group was once again recognized as the ‘World’s Leading Hotel Management Company’.

Sani Resort, Halkidiki, Greece.

The Grand Final Gala Ceremony marked the climax of the WTA 29th anniversary Grand Tour – an annual search for the finest travel and tourism organizations in the world, with the winners of WTA’s regional ceremonies going head-to-head for the coveted World titles.

“Our winners have been recognized by our global voting audience as the leaders of tourism excellence. Their commitment to becoming the very best will in turn serve to drive up standards across the industry and will raise the collective benchmark.” said WTA Founder, Graham Cooke commenting on the Grand Final winners.

In the aviation sector, Qatar Airways capped a memorable year by winning ‘World’s Leading Airline’. Emirates took the title of ‘World’s Leading Airline Brand’ along with ‘World’s Leading Airline to the Middle East’, ‘World’s Leading Inflight Entertainment’ and ‘World’s Leading Airlines Rewards Programme’.

The evening marked a year like no other for Maldives tourism. In its 50th anniversary since first welcoming visitors to its shores, Maldives claimed the ultimate honour of ‘World’s Leading Destination’ with Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) taking the title of ‘World’s Leading Tourist Board’ .

Maldives.

Vietnam also claimed the headlines winning five major honours. ‘World’s Leading City Break Destination’ went to Hanoi, ‘World’s Leading Nature Island Destination’ was presented to Phu Quoc, ‘World’s Leading Town Destination’ was won by Tam Đảo, ‘World’s Leading Regional Nature Destination’ was awarded to Moc Chau, with Vietnam winning ‘World’s Leading Heritage Destination’.

Greece and Greek travel and tourism businesses were also honored in a number of categories at the 29th WTA Europe event that took place in October.

WTA was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.