World Travel Awards recognises the best of Latin America tourism

Riviera Maya has been hailed Mexico & Central America's Leading Beach Destination, while Cancun has been recognised as Mexico & Central America's Leading Meetings & Conference Destination at the World Travel Awards Latin America Ceremony 2017 in Mexico.

Hosted by the glittering, all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, the prestigious event was attended by hundreds of hospitality leaders from across the region.

World Travel Awards Vice President, Sion Rapson, said: "What a fantastic evening it’s been here at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya.

"It has been an honour to recognise some of the leading hospitality providers from Latin America tonight and I offer my heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of them.

"It is your hard work, dedication, initiative and investment that makes the tourism sector the success it is today."

Rapson continued: “I look forward to seeing many of tonight’s winners later this year at the Grand Final in Vietnam, where they will compete for the global titles."

In the airline categories, Aeroméxico walked away with the titles Mexico & Central America's Leading Airline and Mexico & Central America's Leading Airline Brand while Delta Air Lines was voted United States' Leading Airline to Central America, United States' Leading Airline to Mexico and United States’ Leading Airline to South America. Meanwhile Mariscal Sucre International Airport scooped the trophy for South America's Leading Airport.

Elsewhere Mashpi Lodge was awarded South America's Leading Green Hotel, with Hotel del Parque recognised as South America's Leading New Hotel. Paradisus Playa del Carmen was the recipient of Mexico & Central America's Leading Green Hotel award, while UNICO 20˚87˚ Hotel Riviera Maya was named Mexico & Central America's Leading New Hotel.

Also among the winners was Quito - voted South America's Leading Destination and South America's Leading Meetings & Conference Destination - Bolivia, which was recognised as South America's Leading Cultural Destination, and Cuenca. The UNESCO world heritage site lifted the trophy for South America's Leading City Break Destination.

In a special award decided by the World Travel Awards Academy, Andrew O’Brian - Chief Executive Officer, Corporación Quiport - took home the trophy for Latin America’s Leading Travel Personality 2017.

Partners for the Latin America Ceremony 2017 included TV5Monde, Aeroméxico, Delta Air Lines, Riviera Maya and Travel Times.

World Travel Awards Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media.

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.

Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Each year World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective successes within each key geographical region.

A full list of winners from the World Travel Awards Latin America Ceremony can be seen here: www.worldtravelawards.com/winners/2017

Notes to Editors

About World Travel Awards

World Travel Awards celebrates its 24th anniversary this year and is acknowledged across the globe as the ultimate travel accolade.

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

The brand aims to celebrate those organisations who push the boundaries of industry excellence.