Tourism and hospitality elite honoured at World Travel Awards 2026 in the Maldives

The best travel organisations in Asia, Oceania and the Indian Ocean were honoured at a VIP gala ceremony in the Maldives. The stars of the industry convened at CROSSROADS Maldives for the World Travel Awards Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2026 to discover who had won the most prestigious and highly sought-after honours in global tourism.

The ceremony, with the Maldives as Official Host Destination, Bank of Maldives as Platinum Sponsor and CROSSROADS Maldives as Host Partner, marked the third leg of WTA’s Grand Tour 2026 – a global search for the finest travel and tourism organisations.

Winners included Vietnam, which took the title for ‘Asia’s Leading Destination’, with the Philippines voted ‘Asia’s Leading Beach Destination’ and ‘Asia’s Leading Tourist Board’. New Zealand claimed the title for ‘Oceania’s Leading Destination’, with Sydney hailed ‘Oceania’s Leading City Destination’.

The Maldives confirmed its reputation as a tourism powerhouse in the region by securing five titles, including ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination’. Seychelles also enjoyed a strong performance, collecting ‘Indian Ocean's Leading Beach Destination’.

The hospitality sector shone brightly, with winners from across the region recognised for their exceptional achievements, from luxury city hotels to island resorts. The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort collected double honours, winning ‘Indian Ocean's Leading Luxury Resort' and ‘Maldives' Leading Luxury Resort’. Omana, New Zealand, took ‘Oceania’s Leading Boutique Hotel’.

In the newcomer categories, InterContinental Sapporo won ‘Asia’s Leading New Hotel’, InterContinental Brisbane was named ‘Oceania’s Leading New Hotel’ and .Here Baa Atoll, Maldives, claimed ‘Indian Ocean's Leading New Resort’.

In the aviation sector, Hong Kong International Airport won ‘Asia’s Leading Airport’ for its world-class facilities, innovation and traveller experience. Vietnam Airlines collected ‘Asia’s Leading Airline - Customer Experience’ and ‘Asia’s Leading Airline - Premium Economy Class’. Velana International Airport, Maldives, claimed ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Airport’. Maldivian was named ‘Indian Ocean's Leading Airline Brand’, while Trans Maldivian Airways took to the podium to collect ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Seaplane Operator’.

Graham Cooke, Founder, World Travel Awards, said: “It has been a privilege to host our Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2026 in the Maldives, one of the world’s most iconic destinations. Tonight we have celebrated the leading lights of travel across Asia, Oceania and the Indian Ocean. Our winners represent the very best in tourism excellence, and I congratulate each and every one for raising the benchmark of achievement across this remarkable region.”

Abdullah Yasir, Managing Director, Visit Maldives, said: “We are proud to have welcomed the World Travel Awards back to the Maldives and to have celebrated the achievements of the region’s tourism industry here at home. This evening was especially meaningful for the Maldives, with the destination, Visit Maldives Corporation, and many of our resorts, properties and tourism service providers recognised across a wide range of categories. These honours reflect the strength, diversity and collective effort of our tourism industry, and give us renewed momentum as we now look towards the World Travel Awards global categories.”

Other winners included Vietravel (‘Asia’s Leading Tour Operator’); Hard Rock Hotel Maldives (‘Maldives’ Leading All-Inclusive Resort’); SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton (‘Maldives’ Leading Family Resort’); and SO/ Maldives (‘Maldives' Leading Lifestyle Resort’).

The full list of winners can be found on the WTA website.

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Notes to Editors

About World Travel Awards

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, the WTA brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire. For more information visit worldtravelawards.com.