Khaleej Times: Khaleej Times

The Emirates Palace has once again emerged as the bright star at the 19th World Travel Awards, the travel, tourism and hospitality industry’s most coveted international recognition, winning six awards: Middle East’s Leading Luxury Resort, Middle East’s Leading Meetings & Conference Resort, Middle East’s Leading Suite, UAE’s Leading Resort, Abu Dhabi’s Leading Meetings & Conference Hotel and Abu Dhabi’s Leading Resort.

The global accolades were presented to General Manager of Emirates Palace, Bugra Berberoglu, at a glittering gala ceremony staged by the organizers, the World Travel Awards, at the Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa in Dubai yesterday in the presence of a myriad industry leaders and senior professionals from the travel, tourism and hospitality along with other award winners and nominees.

Commenting on the remarkable achievement, the Emirates Palace General Manager Bugra Berberoglu said: ‘We are extremely delighted to be recognized as the undisputed leader in so many award categories at this important industry event. The Emirates Palace is a palace in the truest sense of the word, offering the finest hospitality to all who walk through its doors. Heads of state, business leaders, luxury travelers, as well as the Abu Dhabi community, come to the iconic Emirates Palace to enjoy world-class performances, attend industry conferences and sporting events, dine in our award winning restaurants, and to relax in the majestic surroundings of the best hotel in the world. The awards we’ve won tonight come as a vote of confidence in our hotel’s powerful brand’

According to Berberoglu, the Emirates Palace has maintained its leading position despite the challenges the world travel and tourism industries have been experiencing over the few past years. By working in close partnership with ADTA and Etihad airways to promote Abu Dhabi as a world-class destination, the Emirates Palace has already started to see a significant increase in business from new markets such as China, India, Brazil, and Scandinavia. While business from the UK and GCC, its main source markets, continues to bolster steady growth, reflected in increased room revenues and occupancies during the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period last year.