Tourism entrepreneur Eloi D’Avila de Oliveira has won a prestigious World Travel Market 2015 World Travel Leaders Award in recognition of his continued work in the tourism sector and the creation of educational and social programmes to help young people.
D’Avila de Oliveira and his wife Antoinette Khouri de Oliveira received the coveted award today (Tuesday 3 November) at the WTM World Travel Leaders Award ceremony. The award was presented by executive vice president of Mercado & Eventos, Roy Taylor.
The Awards give WTM London’s Official Media Partners – which represent key travel industry media around the world – an excellent platform to congratulate and recognise those companies and individuals which have made significant contributions to travel and tourism in their region or sector.
Three nominations from each of WTM London’s media partners were judged in September by a panel of three, consisting of an independent body, a representative of WTM and the relevant media partner.
D’Avila de Oliveira created FlyTour Group in 1974 and has grown his company to become the fourth largest tourism company in Brazil. FlyTour group comprises of seven sales channels: FlyTour American Express, FlyTour Travel Solution, FlyTour Franchising, FlyTour Viagens, FlyTour Eventos, FlyTour Technology and FlyTour itself. The company has more than 220 business units and over 2,600 employees in Brazil.
But FlyTour is more than just a travel company as D’Avila de Oliveria, with help from his wife Antoinette Khouri de Oliveria, created the ‘Edo Institute’ which has education programmes to prepare youngsters to be inserted in the labour market.
The ‘Edo Institute’ improves the quality of life for 14 to 21 year-olds and their families by giving the students valuable skills and to prepare them correctly before they start a career.
FlyTour has come a long way in the 40 years and so too has its owner. D’Avila left his family home at the age of 12 and moved to Rio de Janeiro to work as a cars keeper at Copacabana Palace Hotel. His hard-work and drive was spotted by a tour-guide who introduced him to Stella Barros Agency where he began his career in tourism. Not long later he founded Eloi D’Avila de Oliveira Representacoes (EDO) which gave way to create FlyTour.
The judges at the World Travel Leaders Awards 2015 recognised D’Avila’s drive and motivation to create a large and successful company.
“Mr Eloi D’Avila de Oliveira is very well known and highly respected figure in the Brazilian travel industry. From humble beginnings he has built the fourth largest tourism company in the country. The creation of educational and social programmes ensure opportunities for all and continues his legacy,” the judges said.
Every year, World Travel Leaders Awards are presented at WTM London. The full list of 2015 winners is:
Canada: WestJet
Spain: Loro Parque Fundacion
Italy: Trenitalia
Brazil: Mr. Eloi D’Avila De Oliveira – Founder of Flytour group
Portugal: Vila Gale Hotels
Russia: Bronevik.com
India: roomsXML Solutions Limited
China: World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF)
Travolution: Gareth Williams
USA: Arthur Frommer
TTG: G Adventures
Middle East: Air Arabia
