Istanbul Wins “Europe’s Leading Destination”
Istanbul has just won the title of “Europe’s Leading Destination” at the World Travel Awards, the so-called “Tourism Oscars.”
Turkey won the most awards during the ceremony of the World Travel Awards. The awards are like the Oscars for the travel industry. They are awarded to the best of the best in the tourism industry, since 1993.
Istanbul is the best travel destination for 2010. Then you can travel directly to Lisbon, because that city was crowned Europe’s Leading City Break Destination 2010.
This year’s World Travel Awards Europe Ceremony was held in Antalya, Turkey on Friday 1st October.
Turkish Airlines picked up the award for “Europe’s Leading Airline Business Class” following 12 months in which it posted record profits, grew market share and continued its global expansion.
And there was even more good news for Turkey, which also walked away with “Europe’s Leading Meetings & Conference Hotel” for Rixos Sungate, “Europe’s Leading Tourist Board” for the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office.
The biggest applause of the night was saved for the Special Achievement Award, which this year was presented to Talha Görgülü for his outstanding achievement within the Turkish travel industry. His “A Group” Travel Agency, Kayıtur, brings millions of tourists to Turkey while his charter operation SKY Airlines now flies to 50 destinations with a fleet of 17 state-of-the-art aircraft. In 2006, he set a new benchmark for style, not just in Turkey but worldwide, by opening the Adam & Eve hotel in Antalya.
The world-famous Fire of Anatolia dance act provided the entertainment for the evening as the stunning cast of 45 dancers stepped, stomped and swirled to traditional folk music from the Black Sea to the Balkans.