World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, and Amadeus can now unveil the shortlist for the inaugural Amadeus & WTM Travel Experience Awards, recognising those who are delivering the best in 21st Century Travel Experiences.
The Awards cover ten categories, rewarding tourist boards and travel providers for their best and most innovative product offerings.
The core judging panel included;
· Micaela Juarez, Head of Marketing and Communications, WTM
· Rob Sinclair-Barnes, Director of Marketing, Amadeus UK & Ireland
· Trevor Harding, President, Institute of Travel & Tourism
· Lee Hayhurst, Editor, Travolution
The four core judges came up with their shortlist for each category with the help of expert judges from the various fields.
The Best Destination for Accessible Travel has three shortlisted contenders including the German National Tourist Office, Tenerife Tourism Corporation and Visit Flanders. The core judges and expert judge, Brian Seaman from Access New Business, were looking for destinations which offered disabled travellers the opportunity to take part in an experience which they would never have thought possible.
Truly memorable and exciting locations Tongabezi Lodge and Tenerife Tourism Corporation made the shortlist for their heart-racing challenges in the Adrenaline Junkies category.
Those shortlisted for the best in Authentic Travel are Khiri Travel, Tongabezi Lodge and Wilderness Safaris for Desert Rhino Camp, all offering a real insight into the community as well as making a substantial contribution to a global problem as judged by the core panel and expert judge Jeremy Smith, Responsible Travel Writer.
Three “once in a lifetime” experiences that have been shortlisted by the panel and expert judge Simon Mayle, International Luxury Travel Market, for the Blow the Budget category are Jamaica Tourist Board, Quark Expeditions and The Sarojin.
The best three City Breaks on a Budget shortlisted with the help of Jane Atkins from Superbreak are Liguria for Genoa, Turismo di Lisboa and Visit Gent. These cities offered the traveller the key elements of a good choice of accommodation at affordable prices as well as a variety of places to eat and plenty to see and do during a long weekend.
The destinations most geared up for cruise passengers have been whittled down to Liguria for Genoa, Visit Guernsey and Jamaica Tourist Board in the Cruise Destination category.
Top three Honeymoon locations shortlisted, with the help of expert judge Natalie Wingrove from Weddings Abroad Guide, are Beaches Fort Myers and Sanibel for Casa Ybel, Maxx Royal & Voyage Hotels for Maxx Royal Turkey and The Sarojin.
The locations that offered the most unique view in the Room With A View category as shortlisted with the help of Steve Dunlop, Travel Photographer are Liguria for Hotel Vis a Vis Sestri Levante, The Aurora Zone for The Aurora Bubble Finland and Wilderness Safaris for DumaTau Camp and Tongabezi Lodge.
Three Stress-Free Family Holiday holidays shortlisted by the core judges and Julia Lo-Bue Said from Advantage Travel are Beaches Fort Myers & Sanibel for Pink Shell Beach Resort, Inside Asia Tours for Inside Japan and Visit Guernsey.
The most memorable destinations, which business travellers can enjoy with only two hours to spare, are Hong Kong Tourist Board, Sports Events 365 and Visit Flanders in the Two Hours to Spare on a Business trip category.
The categories and one overall winner will be announced during the award ceremony in the Travel Tech Theatre – TT185 on Wednesday 6 November at 4.30 pm and followed by a Reception. The awards are to be presented by well-known TV presenter Jenny Powell, and in association with Travel Channel.
Each winner of the ten categories will be promoted extensively and will have the choice of hosting a press visit by the WTM official video crew, who will create a vlog (video blog) for use on the WTM website, social media and via WTM Official Media Partners.
Amadeus, who are partnering with the inaugural Travel Tech Show at WTM and supporting the event’s VIP lounge, have also co-hosted four round table discussions on travel technology-related subjects with conjunction with WTM, with a White Paper produced for each event. One concluding White Paper will be revealed at WTM, before the Amadeus & WTM Travel Experience awards on Wednesday 6 November.
The Travel Tech Show at WTM Head of Marketing and Communications Micaela Juarez said: “We were delighted with both the quality and quantity of entries we have received for the Amadeus & WTM Travel Experience Awards. It made the judging extremely difficult.
“I look forward to presenting these awards with Amadeus during WTM and congratulating the winners on their top 21st Century Travel Experience.”
Amadeus Director of Marketing, Rob Sinclair-Barnes said: “These inaugural Amadeus and WTM Travel Experience Awards aims to recognise the best in class travel supplier who is defining and evolving the new standards for the travel industry to better service and deliver the 21st Century Travel Experience”
“The Amadeus and WTM collaboration has worked incredibly well throughout this year and I look forward to presenting the comprehensive White Paper and Travel Experience Awards on the Wednesday of WTM.”
