Ibrahim Hassan Al-Asmakh wins WTA “Travel Personality of the Year”

6 February 2012 - Doha, Qatar

Ibrahim Hassan Al-Asmakh, President of Regency Group Holdings, has been named “Travel Personality of the Year” by World Travel Awards (WTA).

Mr. Al-Asmakh was honoured for his exceptional contribution to the travel and tourism industry, and his role of transforming Qatar into a world-class tourism destination.

Born and raised in Doha, Mr. Al-Asmakh was one of the first entrepreneurs to spot his country’s tourism potential long before it won hosting rights to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In 1987, he set up Regency Travel & Tours, which has played a pivotal role in boosting inbound tourism to Qatar.

Meanwhile the Qatari businessman’s name has been behind many of the ground-breaking development projects in Doha, including the Katara Cultural Village and the Planet Hollywood Hotel. His Regency Group currently employs more than 2,600 people from 34 different nations.

Mr. Al-Asmakh also served as the first vice-chairman of Qatar Tourism Authority, and his initiatives included relaxing visa regulations and encouraging the world’s leading hotel chains to tap into Doha’s burgeoning popularity.

Graham E. Cooke, President and Founder, World Travel Awards said, “On behalf of World Travel Awards, I am delighted to honour a true industry leader, renowned for his services to travel and tourism and for transforming Doha into the world-class destination for leisure, culture and sport.”

The “Travel Personality of the Year” is the highest honour an individual can receive in WTA’s awards programme. Previous winners include HRH Prince Khalid Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic, the Hon. Gordon “Butch” Stewart of Sandals, and Akbar Al Baker of Qatar Airways.

The announcement was made at WTA’s Grand Final Gala Ceremony, held in Doha, Qatar on 11th January 2012.

The WTA Grand Final 2011 marked the culmination of a year-long search for the very best travel and tourism brands in the world, and featured the winners from WTA’s five 2011 regional heats competing head to head.

Other Qatari winners at the awards included Doha (“World’s Leading Business Travel Destination”), Qatar Airways (“World’s Leading Airline Business Class”), Regency Travel & Tours (“World’s Leading Travel Agency”) and Aspire Zone (“World’s Leading Sports Tourism Development Project”).

International winners on the night included American Express, Starwood Hotels, Lufthansa, Abercrombie & Kent, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Europcar and Incredible India.

- ENDS -

About World Travel Awards


World Travel Awards was launched in 1993 to acknowledge and recognise excellence in the global travel and tourism industry. Now celebrating its 19th anniversary, it is regarded as the very highest achievement that a travel product could hope to receive.

Main sponsors include Qatar Tourism Authority, BBC World News, the Jamaica Tourist Board, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa, Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority, Conrad Hotels, World.mobi, Armani Hotel Dubai, Emaar Hospitality Group, Dusit Thani Bangkok, Sandals Resorts, Savoy Sharm el Sheikh and WeClickMedia.

WTA’s global media partner network includes: ABTA Magazine, ASTA Network, Breaking Travel News, CNBC Arabiya, Khaleej Times, Trav Talk, Trade Arabia, TTN, Travel Daily News International, Focus on Travel News, Vox Africa, New Focus Travel Magazine, Tourism Review, JAX FAX, Passport Magazine, Travel & Leisure China and National Geographic Traveller.

WTA partnered with tourism marketing firm Phenomena to bring the ceremony to Qatar.

This global media partner network has a monthly readership of 1.2 million and a TV audience reach of 90 million.

To download WTA logos visit: www.worldtravelawards.com/logo

For further press information contact Anton Santos:
t: +44 (0)20 7925 0000;
e: [email protected];
w: www.worldtravelawards.com

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