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World Travel Awards has acknowledge Peru as the Leading Culinary Destination in South America. The country beat stiff competition from the likes of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela for the accolade. The award was presented at the Caribbean and The Americas ceremony.

The World Travel Awards was established to recognise, celebrate and reward excellence in every sector of the travel industry and next year will be the 20th anniversary for the brand. Each year the awards covers the world with regional gala ceremonies that acknowledge individual and collective successes in each region. Travel experts choose the nominees, and consumers vote for the winners. The Grand Tour is regarded as a series of milestone events attended by the key decision makers in the industry, key figureheads, and top trade and consumer media. The winners in each region then compete against each other to find out who’s the best in the world during a final ceremony in December.

Peruvian food is increasing in popularity on the gastronomic stage, with health enthusiasts using quinoa as a staple. Quinoa is a grain-like crop that grows in South America and is primarily used for its seeds. It’s very high in protein, but not as high as legumes and most beans. It’s also a good source of phosphorus, dietary fiber, calcium and is high in iron and magnesium. Quinoa is considered easy to digest and is gluten-free. All of these are reasons why health enthusiasts like it so much.

Peru has a long history in the culinary department, and there’s a gastronomic tradition that matches each landscape. In the north coastal regions, people eat a lot of rice, goat and fowl dishes. In the Andes, locals eat a lot of guinea pig, sweetcorn, potatoes and chilli peppers. Influences from Spanish, Italian, Chinese, African and Arab cooking have infused in recipes to shape the country’s style of cooking.

Peruvian chef Virgilio Martinez opened the Lima London restaurant in Fitzrovia (a central London neighbourhood) this summer, while his Peruvian native friend Gastón Acurio has opened restaurants in several capitals across South America. Martinez said in an interview that he thinks Peruvian restaurants are opening everywhere. However, he’s found that there is little contact in terms of culture, arts and food between Londoners and Peruvians. The food revolution in Lima, the capital of Peru, is rising, he added, and some noise needs to be made about it.

So far in the World Travel Awards, Peru has really made a name for itself. In South America, the Lima Jorge Chavez International Airport was voted Leading Airport for the fourth consecutive year; Ramada Costa Del Sole Lima Airport was voted Leading Airport Hotel for the second time; JW Marriott Hotel Lima was voted Leading Business Hotel; Sheraton Lima Hotel & Convention Centre was voted Leading Meetings & Conference Centre; The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center was voted Leading New Hotel; PromPeru – Peruvian Tourism Board was voted Leading Tourist Board for the third time.

The World Travel Awards has also acknowledged the best hotels and resorts in Peru. These include: Sonesta Posadas del Inca Sacred Valley for Leading Boutique Hotel for the second year; Swissôtel Lima for Leading Business Hotel for the second time and Leading Hotel; and Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge for Leading Resort for the second year.