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New Zealand wins
top award at the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards
New Zealand has won this year’s Virgin Holidays Responsible
Tourism Awards. The country also scooped the Best
Destination Award for its national, strategic approach to
responsible tourism.
At a ceremony hosted at World Travel Market (WTM),
Docklands, London, the Awards were handed out by Justin
Francis, managing director of responsibletravel.com,
organisers and founders of the Awards, and Amanda Wills,
managing director of Virgin Holidays, headline sponsor of
the Awards.
Additional awards were presented in a range of categories
which included Best for Poverty Reduction, Best Volunteering
Organisation, Best Personal Contribution, Best Large Hotel
and new for 2008 - Best Cruise or Ferry Operator. The
winners and highly commended organisations' details are
outlined below.
Best Tour Operator, sponsored by The Adventure Company
Winner: Explore, UK
Best Large Hotel / Accommodation (more than 50 rooms),
sponsored by Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Winner: Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island,
Australia
Best Small Hotel / Accommodation (less than 50 rooms)
sponsored by VisitBrighton
Winner: Nkwichi Lodge, Mozambique
Best Low Carbon Transport & Technology sponsored by
Maison de la France
Winner: Bycyklen - The Foundation City Bikes in Copenhagen
(Denmark)
Best in a Mountain Environment sponsored by Exodus
Winner: Community Action Treks & Community Action Nepal,
UK/Nepal
Best in a Marine Environment sponsored by Royal
Caribbean
Winner: Ecoventura, Ecuador
Best Cruise or Ferry Operator sponsored by The Passenger
Shipping Association
Winner: Holland America Line, USA
Best for Poverty Reduction sponsored by PromPeru
Winner: Gambia is Good Project, The Gambia
Best for Conservation of Endangered Species or Protected
Area sponsored by
South Australian Tourism Commission
Best for Conservation of Cultural Heritage sponsored by
Jamaica Tourist Board
Winner: Shigar Fort-Palace Restoration Project,
Pakistan
Best Volunteering Organisation sponsored by Intrepid
Travel
Winner: Camps International, UK
Responsible Tourism Awards,
13 Nov 08
*******
Best Stand awards presented to six of the best at World
Travel Market
Prestige Hotels of the World by Keytel triumphed by winning
Best Stand Design at World Travel Market.
Prestige Hotels, which represent 73 luxury hotels in over 17
countries, was praised for their ‘great modern design’ by
the judges through the use of plasma screens to illustrate
what they do. The judges also cited the clever use of small
stand space and said the stand was ‘eye-catching and
colourful with good use of lighting’. More importantly, the
stand appeared to be buzzing with activity and proactive
stand personnel.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand took Best Stand Feature
for their ‘great reception area with a wonderful floral
display’.
Best Stand for Doing Business went to the Slovenian Tourist
Board for creating a ‘wonderful busy business atmosphere’.
Gullivers Travel Associates were awarded Best Stand for
Interacting with Travel Agents for their ‘welcoming and
colourful stand’, and for handing out small octopuses to
complement their theme.
Best Stand Personnel award was won by Kenya Tourist Board
for their ‘great use of cultural outfits for the
staff’.
The Most Innovative Stand within Technology and Online
Travel Region went to Conrad Advertising for their very
‘clever use of small space with very proactive staff’.
World Travel Market, 11 Nov
08
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