10 October 2011

Cook Islands Recognised In The World Travel Awards

The tropical Cook Islands have scooped five coveted awards at the Asian and Australasian World Travel Awards in Bangkok.

One Foot Island in Aitutaki was named Leading Beach Destination for Australasia and Pacific Resort Aitutaki was named winner in Leading Villas for Australasia.

Te Manava Luxury Villas and Spa (Pacific Resort Group) in the main island of Rarotonga was awarded Cook Islands Leading Villa, Little Polynesian was named Cook Islands Leading Boutique Hotel and Pacific Resort Aitutaki also won Cook Islands Leading Resort.
“This is fabulous recognition for the Cook Islands” says Cook Islands Tourism CEO, Carmel Beattie. “The World Travel Awards are some of the most prestigious and we are thrilled to have our country and our tourism operators not only win in the Australasian and Asian sector but gain nomination for the World awards in November. It confirms what we have known for a long time – that our accommodation providers and our islands offer a world class travel experience.”

The Asian and Australasian World Travel Awards are a prelude to the Grand Finals of the World Travel Awards held at the end of November. These awards are known as the most prestigious, comprehensive and sought after in the global travel and tourism industry. Tourist boards, airlines, luxury hotels and travel aficionados of over 5000 organisations from across 160 countries, compete in some 900 categories with an online voting process that is strictly audited. Contenders vie fiercely for these coveted honours which are announced at the end of an extensive communications campaign that encourages global participation from travel and tourism executives in a robust voting process.

Now having won five awards in their regional competition (Asian and Australian), the Cook Islands will go on to compete in the World Travel Awards with five nominations:
World’s Leading Island Destination: Cook Islands
World’s Leading Boutique Resort: Pacific Resort, Aitutaki
World’s Leading Boutique Island Resort: Pacific Resort, Aitutaki
World’s Leading Villa: Te Manava Luxury Villas and Spa, Rarotonga
World’s Leading Beach Destination: Aitutaki, One Foot Island, Cook Islands

“We are proud to have this external recognition of the Cook Islands as one of the islands leading travel destinations,” adds Beattie. “Those involved in the voting process who have travelled here will know that we are a hot contender to take the world title.”

Founder and President of the World Travel Awards, Graham E. Cooke, says the awards provide considerable benefit for those nominated.

"With the global recession affecting travellers and their budget, the ability to choose quality travel products is becoming increasingly important to both business and consumer travellers,” he says.

“2010 demonstrated how consumers are increasingly using the list of winners as a reliable guide and means of reassurance when choosing their holiday, which is why winning one of the World Travel Awards has become more hotly contended than ever.”

Winners at the World Travel Awards are announced in Qatar on 29 November.

For more information on the awards visit www.worldtravelawards.com or www.cookislands.travel

ENDS

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