Various sectors of the travel industry in Turkey, Croatia and Greece were among the European winners of the 16th World Travel Awards, which were unveiled at a ceremony in Portugal recently.
Turkey was one of the leaders in terms of the number of awards received, not only compared to the other Balkan states but also to all of the European contenders. A total of seven awards were given to hotels and resorts in the country, including: Europe’s Leading All-inclusive Resort – Concorde De Luxe Resort; Europe’s Leading Boutique Hotel – Hotel Les Ottomans; Europe’s Leading Business Hotel – Movenpick Hotel Istanbul; Europe’s Leading Conference Resort – Rixos Sungate; Europe’s Leading Couples Resort – Adam & Eve Hotels; Europe’s Leading Design Hotel – Adam & Eve at Belek; Europe’s Leading Luxury Resort – Mardan Palace.
In addition, the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office was awarded as Europe’s Leading Tourist Board.
The second Balkan state among the European winners of the World Travel Awards was Croatia, with two awards: Le Meridien Lav in Split was elected as both Europe’s Leading Casino Resort and Europe’s Leading Conference Hotel.
Greece received one award, as its Minos Imperial Luxury Beach Resort & Spa, Greece was voted Europe’s Leading Beach Resort.
As one of the tourism industry’s most prestigious prizes, a kind of Oscars in tourism, the World Travel Awards are given out yearly in recognition of excellence in all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry, including hotels, resorts, airlines, cruise companies and destinations.
In addition to the overall awards for Europe, various locations were also recognised on a by-country basis.
In Albania, the Sheraton Tirana Hotel was awarded as Albania’s Leading Hotel.
In Bulgaria, the Kempinski Hotel Zografski was awarded Bulgaria’s Leading Hotel, the Marina Royal Palace, Duni Royal Resort as Bulgaria’s Leading Resort and the Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko as Bulgaria’s Leading Spa Resort.
In Croatia, the award recipients were Riva, Hvar Yacht Harbour Hotel as Croatia’s Leading Boutique Hotel and Le Meridien Lav, Split as Croatia’s Leading Hotel And Croatia’s Leading Spa Resort.
In Greece received quite a high number of hotels and resorts were awarded, including Greece’s Leading All-inclusive 
Resort – Minos Imperial Luxury Beach Resort & Spa, Greece’s Leading Boutique Hotel – Santorini Grace – by Grace Hotels Group, Greece’s Leading Business Hotel – Athenaeum InterContinental Athens, Greece’s Leading Conference Hotel – Hotel Grande Bretagne, Greece’s Leading Family Resort – Amathus Beach Hotel Rhodes, Greece’s Leading Hotel – Minos Beach Art Hotel and Greece’s Leading Resort – Minos Imperial Luxury Beach Resort & Spa.
In Macedonia, Hotel Aleksandar Palace was awarded as the country’s Leading Hotel, while Romania’s was voted to be the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel and Serbia’s – Aleksandar Palas Hotel Belgrade.
Unsurprisingly, Turkey topped the number of awards by country as well, with the following hotels and resorts being awarded: Leading All-inclusive Resort – Concorde De Luxe Resort; Leading Beach Resort – Rixos Premium Belek; Leading Boutique Hotel – Hotel Les Ottomans; Leading Business Hotel – Conrad Istanbul; Leading Conference Hotel -Kemer Resort Hotel; Leading Design Hotel- Adam & Eve Hotel; Leading Family Resort – Concorde De Luxe Resort; Leading Golf Resort – Cornelia De Luxe Resort; Leading Hotel – Rixos Premium Belek; Leading Resort – Kemer Resort Hotel; Leading Spa Resort – Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa.
Source: Balkan Travellers