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The World Travel Awards (WTA) Europe Gala Ceremony is taking place in October - but the fight is just beginning to make it on to the coveted winners’ platform.

Described as the ultimate achievement for any European company. Voting has opened, and nominees are now campaigning hard with agents and industry executives to win support.

Regional winners will go forward to compete in the World Travel Awards 2010 Grand Final in London, when they will be up against some of the finest travel operators in the world, consistently demonstrating excellence in every aspect of their business.

World Travel Awards, now in its 17th year, is a major driver of supreme quality standards within the global travel and tourism industry, encouraging excellence in everything from product innovation, creativity, and staff training, to customer service, and overall performance.

Graham E. Cooke, founder and president, World Travel Awards, said: "We have been overwhelmed with the tremendous response to self nominations this year, which have grown a phenomenal 50 percent on 2009.

“Europe in particular is always highly contested. After a rigorous selection procedure, successful nominees must now continue to demonstrate what exactly it is that sets them apart from the rest.

“Nominees will now focus on a hard-fought campaign, canvassing industry professionals for their support. Success at World Travel Awards is proven to bring considerable honors, prestige, and significant commercial benefits, so let battle commence!!”

Europcar, Adam & Eve Hotels, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, and Virgin Atlantic Airways were among the companies who triumphed during the World Travel Awards European regional ceremony last year.

In the Europe categories, Lufthansa won the award for Europe’s Leading Airline and Marriott Hotels Resorts & Suites took the coveted title of Europe’s Leading Hotel Brand. Meanwhile, Europe’s Leading Destination went to Lisbon, Portugal. Carlson Wagonlit Travel was also successful, presented with Europe’s Leading Travel Management Company, while Viajes Iberia won the title of Europe’s Leading Travel Agency. Virgin Atlantic Airways won Europe’s Leading Marketing Campaign for their "25 Years Still Red Hot" campaign. A number of national category awards were also presented throughout the evening.

Winners of this years Europe Ceremony will be announced at the the Rixos Premium Belek, located in Antalya, Turkey – the pearl of the Mediterranean on Friday, October 1. The exclusive all-inclusive luxury beach resort guarantees the very highest standards and has resulted in the resort being nominated for Europe's Leading Resort, Turkey's Leading Beach Resort, and Leading Hotel in this year’s World Travel Awards.

To vote online, log on to: http://www.worldtravelawards.com/vote

ABOUT WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

The World Travel Awards was launched in 1993 to acknowledge and recognize excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry.

Now celebrating its 17th anniversary, the awards are regarded as the very highest achievement that a travel product could ever hope to receive.

Attended by senior executives from major travel companies, operators, and destinations, WTA events are universally respected as providing established, top-level networking opportunities, regionally and globally.

The World Travel Award’s official list of worldwide media partners includes: BBC World News, eTurboNews, Breaking Travel News, CNBC Arabiya, Khaleej Times, Trav Talk, Trade Arabia, TTN, L'Agenzia di Viaggi, Travel Daily News International, Focus on Travel News, New Focus Travel Magazine, Tourism Review, JAX FAX, Travel & Leisure, Travel & Leisure Golf, Xenios, and Xenios World.