At the completion of the 24th World Travel Awards in Kigali, Rwanda took the top title crowned as a leading tourism destination in the globe. Aimed at acknowledging, rewarding and celebrating excellence across all sectors of the global travel, tourism and hospitality industry, the long waited ceremony was held on 10th October 2017 at the Radisson Blue Hotel and convention center. The World Travel Awards ceremony is celebrated each year covering the whole globe as they recognize excellence in each continent and then culminating in a grand final at the end of the year. This years World Travel Awards ceremony in Rwanda was graced by a big turn up of popular tourism experts and large numbers of popular hospitality and aviation companies from different parts of the world.
Gram E Cooke, the founder and president of the World Travel Awards was the guest of honor. To him (Graham), and other first time travelers to Rwanda, it was a great honor to visit and stay in a once horrified country that has progressed into a most beautiful and peaceful country to stay. To many, Rwanda’s progress in tourism has been known for some decades after the genocide but winning of the World Travel Awards as a best tourism destination made it clear to every one that indeed Rwanda is a rising star that has picked from the genocide ashes.
After Rwanda was crowned the best tourism destination, best hotels in and out of Rwanda were recognized. Absolutely, Radisson blue hotel and convention center in which the ceremony was held won as Africa’s leading conference hotel in 2017. The convention center has a seating capacity of 5,000 delegates, which make it the best place for meetings, incentives, conferences and events. Still in Rwanda, Kigali Serena hotel was recognized to have the best presidential suite in the whole of Rwanda hence the hotel with the leading hotel suite in 2017. The one and only Nyungwe house is a best safari Lodge in Rwanda 2017 located in Nyungwe forest national park.
Looking out Rwanda, Kempinski Hotel Fleuve Congo in Kinshasa was recognized as a leading hotel in Democratic Republic of Congo while Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa won as South Africa’s leading hotel suite offering quality and excellent services. In south Africa, Durban international convention center won an award of Africa’s leading center for meetings and conferences.
Best travel agencies were also recognized in Rwanda and other African countries. Satgura travels won as an excellent travel agency in Tanzania and Nigeria at affordable prices. Primate safaris Rwanda was recognized as Rwanda’s leading travel agency and tour operator for the year 2017 while thousand hills Africa won an award as a top destination management company 2017.
Regarding transport to and within Rwanda, Kigali car rentals received an award for Rwanda’s leading car rental company 2017. In the aviation sector, Kenya airways was selected as Africa’s leading airline with excellent Business class services while cape town international airport took a trophy as a leading airport in the whole of Africa.
The overall winners in the World Travel Awards include Kenya airways as the leading airline offering business class services in Africa 2017. Ethiopian airlines as the best airline brand with excellent economy class services in the year 2017. Cape town international airport in South Africa won as the leading international airport in Africa 2017. Diamond La Gmma Dell Est, serve Zanzibar and Tanzania as Africa’s best all inclusive resort for year 2017. Dian Beach Kenya won as Africa’ leading beach resort for 2017. Saxo Hotel, Villas and Spa in south Africa is Africa’s leading boutique hotel brand 2017,. Avis was Africa’s 2017 leading business car rental company and Radisson Blu Hotel and Convention center in Kigali Rwanda won as Africa’s leading conference hotel in Africa.
In conclusion, the overall winners will attend the world travel awards grand final on 10th December 2017. The venue will be at JW Marriott Ph Quoc Emerald Bay Resort and Spa. For next year, Durban international convention center was unveiled as a host for the next world travel awards in 2018.