One of the most respected and premium travel and tourism industry awards in the country, the Galileo Express TravelWorld Awards function, was held here on Friday.
The event saw the cr?me de la cr?me of the travel and airline industry come together to felicitate the winners of the Express TravelWorld Awards.
CP Krishnan Nair, chairman of the Leela Group and the doyen of the Indian hospitality industry, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, for his contributions to the growth of the hospitality industry in the country.
The Best National Inbound Tour Operator Award went to Kuoni Destination Management, while SOTC was the Best National Outbound Tour Operator. Swagatam Tours & Travels was adjudged the Best Regional Inbound Tour Operator while the Best Regional Outbound Tour Operator Award went to Lifestyle Holidays. While the Best Business Travel Operator was Carlson Wagonlit (Ind Travels), Kesari Tours was chosen the Best Domestic Tour Operator, and MakeMyTrip.com was the Best Online Travel Agency in India . While the award for the Best East Bound Airline from India went to Singapore Airlines, the Best West Bound Airline from India was Air India , and Jet Airways was adjudged the Best Domestic Full Service Carrier. The Best Domestic Low-Cost Carrier Award went to Air Deccan.
In the tourism segment, the Best State Tourism Board Award went to Kerala Tourism Board, while Singapore Tourism Board was adjudged the Best International Tourism Board.
In the hotels category, the Best Premier Hotel Brand was ITC Hotels, while the Best First Class Hotel Brand award went to Trident Hilton Hotels, and the Best Heritage Hotel Brand was Welcom Heritage. The Best Visual Advertising Campaign was Yatra.com and the Best Technology Programme award went to Quest2Travel. Kerala Travel Interserve received the Best Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative.
Felicitating the winners, Shekhar Gupta, Editor-in-chief and CEO of the Indian Express Group said that travel has become a booming business in the country, and the TravelWorld Awards have come to be much recognised and respected in the fraternity.