Amazing Atlantis Sets The Scene

World Travel Awards Middle East Ceremony

The $1.5 billion resort development of Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai, opening at the end of September, is the extraordinary location of this year's World Travel Awards Middle East Ceremony on Tuesday 28 October.

"We are seeking inspirational winners who command total respect in everything they do, from customer experience to exceeding business performance", said Graham E Cooke, president and founder of World Travel Awards.

"Nothing could therefore be more appropriate this year than taking the awards to the latest Dubai development, the truly inspiring Atlantis, the Palm."

More than 500 Middle East travel and tourism companies and organisations from across the region, representing every industry sector, have been nominated with 26 overall Middle East categories.

There are categories too for Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, Yemen, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah and Sharjah.

Emirates, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, MEA, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian Airline and Saudi Arabian Airlines are all up for the coveted title of Middle East Leading Airline.

As expected, the award for Middle East's Leading Beach Resort is also hotly contended. Nominations include Al Hamra Fort Hotel and Beach Resort, UAE; Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers and the Danat Resort Jebel Dhanna, both in Abu Dhabi; Intercontinental Al Bustan Palace, Oman; Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, The Jumeirah Beach Hotel and One & Only Royal Mirage, all in Dubai; Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa; Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort , Fujairah; Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort, Oman; and the Sheraton Coral Beach Hotel & Resort, Lebanon.

Eleven development projects are in line for Middle East's Leading Tourism Development Project: Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, Dubai Towers - Sama Dubai, Dubai Waterfront – Nakheel, Dubailand - Dubai Land, Nujoom Islands Project, Sharjah - Al Hanoo Holding, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), Salam - Bahrain Beach Resort & Spa - Sama Dubai, The Palm Jumeirah – Nakheel, The Pearl - Qatar - United Development Company, The Wave Muscat – MAFI and Yas Island – Aldar.

"The eyes of the world are undoubtedly on the Middle East because the current expert forecast is that the industry will grow at a significantly faster rate than other competing global destinations", continued Cooke.

"This means that the winners of the World Travel Awards Middle East Ceremony have the opportunity to lead the way, pushing the boundaries in every aspect of business activity, creativity and customer satisfaction, competing at the very highest level and showing the world how it is done."

Winners are decided by votes received from agents and travel professionals in the Middle East and throughout the world.

World Travel Awards, established 15 years ago, encourages greater quality, value and, above all, exceptional customer experience spanning every sector and region worldwide.

Last year the ceremony took place in Abu Dhabi.

The event is part of World Travel Awards Grand Tour, culminating with the final in December, which this year is being held in Turks & Caicos.

Overall Middle East Category Nominations

Middle East's Leading Airline
Emirates
Etihad Airways
Gulf Air
Kuwait Airways
MEA - Middle East Airlines
Qatar Airways
Royal Jordanian Airlines
Saudi Arabian Airlines

Middle East's Leading Airport
Abu Dhabi International Airport, United Arab Emirates
Bahrain Muharraq International Airport
Doha International Airport
Dubai International Airport
Kuwait International Airport

Middle East's Leading Beach Resort
Al Hamra Fort Hotel and Beach Resort, United Arab Emirates
Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers, Abu Dhabi
Danat Resort Jebel Dhanna, Abu Dhabi
InterContinental Al Bustan Palace Muscat, Oman
Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, Dubai
Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Fujairah
One & Only Royal Mirage, Dubai
Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort, Oman
Sheraton Coral Beach Hotel & Resort, Lebanon
The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai

Middle East's Leading Car Hire
Avis
Budget
Europcar
Hertz
Holiday Autos

Middle East's Leading Conference Centre
Abu Dhabi Conference and Exhibition Centre, United Arab Emirates
Dubai World Trade Centre
Gulf International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Bahrain
Sheraton Doha Convention Centre, Qatar

Middle East's Leading Cruise Line
Amadeus Waterways
Costa Cruises
Cunard Line
Princess Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Silversea Cruises

Middle East's Leading Destination
Abu Dhabi
Bahrain
Dubai
Oman
Qatar

Middle East's Leading Hotel
Al Faisaliah Hotel, A Rosewood Hotel
Al Qasr at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
Burj Al Arab, Dubai
Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
Four Seasons Hotel Amman, Jordan
Four Seasons Hotel Doha, Qatar
InterContinental Abu Dhabi
InterContinental Al Bustan Palace Muscat, Oman
Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai
Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai
Madina Oberoi, Saudi Arabia
Millennium Hotel Abu Dhabi
One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai
Taj Palace Hotel Dubai
The Chedi Muscat, Oman
The Fairmont Dubai
The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai
The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa
The Ritz-Carlton Doha, Qatar

Middle East's Leading Hotel Brand
Hilton Hotels
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Jumeirah
Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts
Rotana Hotels

Middle East's Leading Private Jet Charter
ExecuJet Middle East
Grand Aviation Dubai
Prestige Jet
Royal Jet

Middle East's Leading Resort
Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai
Desert Palm Dubai
Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi
Hilton Fujairah Resort
Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa, Dubai
Kempinski Hotel Ajman, UAE
Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai
Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai
Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort, Oman
Sheraton Abu Dhabi Resort & Towers, Abu Dhabi
Sheraton Coral Beach Hotel & Resort, Lebanon
Sheraton Doha Hotel & Resort, Qatar
The Chedi Muscat, Oman
The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai
The Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel & Spa

Middle East's Leading Tourism Development Project
Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi
Dubai Towers - Sama Dubai
Dubai Waterfront - Nakheel
Dubailand - Dubai Land
Nujoom Islands Project, Sharjah - Al Hanoo Holding
Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC)
Salam - Bahrain Beach Resort & Spa - Sama Dubai
The Palm Jumeirah - Nakheel
The Pearl - Qatar - United Development Company
The Wave Muscat - MAFI
Yas Island - Aldar

Middle East's Leading Travel Agency
Al Rais Travel
Alshamel, Dubai
Amiral Tours & Travel, Jordan
Dnata, Dubai
Regency Travel & Tours, Qatar
Salem Travel Agency, Abu Dhabi
Sharaftravel
SNTTA - Sharjah National Travel & Tourist Agency


All nominations for the World Travel Awards Middle East Ceremony 2008 can be found by logging on to www.worldtravelawards.com.

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For further press information please contact Jane Larcombe at:
T: +44 (0)1892 785071
E: [email protected]