Business

Published: Monday November 9, 2009 MYT 3:38:00 PM
Updated: Monday November 9, 2009 MYT 4:11:18 PM

Travel awards: Two more big wins for Malaysia

By CHOI TUCK WO


LONDON: Malaysia bagged two world awards at the World Travel Awards 2009 grand finals here on Sunday.

The success came hot on the heels of the
seven Asian awards won by Malaysia at the event’s regional finals the night before.

Resorts World Genting scooped the World’s Leading Casino Resort title for the fourth year running, beating 15 other casino resorts, ranging from the likes of Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas to The Venetian in Macau.

The hilltop resort had picked up Asia’s Leading Family Resort and Asia’s Leading Casino Resort awards on Saturday.

Pan-Pacific Kuala Lumpur International Airport Hotel was voted the World’s Leading Airport Hotel for the second year running at the event at Grosvenor House, a JW Marriot Hotel, in London’s Mayfair district. The night before, the hotel was also named Asia’s Leading Airport Hotel, the second time it had won the title.

Genting Malaysia Berhad president and chief operating officer Datuk Lee Choong Yan and Pan Pacific Hotels group’s global sales manager (UK & Ireland) Sheila Ainscough received their awards from Miss South Africa Tatum Keshwar and Miss Spain Estibaliz Pereira respectively.

Lee said they were extremely proud to have won the world title for the fourth time.

“This award is for our 13,000 employees who have worked tirelessly to serve the resort’s 19 million visitors every year,” he said.

Lee added it was great to be recognised by the global travel and tourism industry which had helped the resort reach out to its customers worldwide.

Ainscough said she was thrilled with the award as it reinforced the perception of the hotel as a prestigious brand in Asia and the international market.

“What set us apart are our service and a dedication to service levels as well as the standards in terms of facilities,” she added.

The event was attended by more than 1,000 senior management and decision-makers from the global travel and tourism industry.

Dubbed the “Oscars” , the awards are recognised as the highest accolade within the travel industry.

Votes are cast globally in 919 categories by travel professionals from 183,000 travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organisations in over 160 countries.

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