THE 24th Annual TTG Travel Awards once again gathered the luminaries of the region’s travel industry in Thai capital Bangkok, this time with a new fund-raising initiative to drum up support for tourism development and sustainability efforts in Asia-Pacific.
This year, a record 120,000 votes garnered over a two-month period from print and online subscribers of TTG Asia Media’s six titles – TTG Asia, TTG China, TTG India, TTGmice, TTG-BTmice China and TTG Asia Luxury – and a total of 68 winning travel supplier and travel agency organisers were recognised for their excellence.
Twenty-eight winners claimed their titles from last year’s winners, including first-time winners Frasers Hospitality, Incheon International Airport and Korea Tourism Organization for Best Serviced Residence Operator, Best Airport and Best NTO respectively. Additionally, 10 of the 16 travel agency award winners also went to different organisations.
“This year, we have witnessed several change in leads in many key Asia-Pacific markets across both Supplier and Agency awards. This reflects the intense competition in these markets, and the discerning expectations of the trade in return,” said Darren Ng, managing director of TTG Asia Media.
“Most notably, for non market-based awards such as Best Luxury Hotel, Best Budget Hotel, Best Serviced Residence Operator, Best Airport and Best NTO, organisations in Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea have come out tops, evidencing the high standards of service these organisations have demonstrated to win the industry over. Their accomplishment of making it to this year’s winners list is no simple feat.”
This year’s awards show also saw TTG Travel Awards launch its first-ever fund-raising initiative in the form of a silent auction, the proceeds of which went to PATA Foundation to support tourism development and sustainability efforts for the travel and tourism community.
Travel Hall of Fame honoraries including Hong Kong International Airport, Hertz, Royal Cliff Hotels Group, Raffles Hotel Singapore, Star Cruises, Lotte Tour and Abacus came forth to sponsor items to raise funds for the cause.
