TravelWeeklyChina Industry Awards 2006 fetes China’s best

BEIJING – With the “overwhelming response” to this year’s event, held last night, TravelWeeklyChina Industry Awards will be held annually, said publisher, Iris Kwan.



Since it was launched in 2002, TravelweeklyChina Industry Awards 2006 had been held every other year.



The only one of its kind in the entire of China, the Awards recognises the best in the industry and acknowledges their contributions to China tourism, both inbound and outbound.



A total of thirty-four awards under seven categories were handed out -Accommodation, Airlines, Business Events, Special Recognition, Individual, Online, Best Promotion, Agency and Others.



The event was co-hosted by The Kerry Centre Hotel in Beijing.



The winners were:



Best Business Hotel – The Westin Bund Centre, Shanghai; Best Luxury Hotel – Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa; Best Resort Hotels (tie) – Club Med and Sanya Marriott Resort & Spa; Best Hotel Chain – Starwood Hotels & Resorts; Best Serviced Residence – The Ascott Group; Best Executive Club Floor – Grand Hyatt, Beijing.



Best Airline – Singapore Airlines; Best in Business Class – Cathay Pacific Airways; Best Airport Facilities – Hong Kong International Airport.



Best MICE Facility and Serviced Hotel – Shangri-La’s Kerry Centre Hotel Beijing; Best Convention & Exhibition Centre – Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.



Best Emerging Airline – Qatar Airways; Best Tourism Branding – Incredible India; Visionary – Macau SAR; Responsible Tourism (tie) – Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts and Hilton International.



Agency Person of the Year – Jiang Jianing, CEO, China CYTS Tours Holding Co. Ltd.; Airline Chief of the Year – Philip Chen, CEO, Cathay Pacific Airways; Hotel Chief of the Year – Gerhard Zimmer, GM, Sofitel Wanda Beijing; Destination Marketer of the Year – Joseph Ace Durano, Secretary, Philippine Department of Tourism.



Best E-commerce and New Technology – Intercontinental Hotels Group; Best Online Travel Agency – Ctrip.com.



Best Destination Promotion – Tourism Australia; Best Hotel Chain Promotion – Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts; Best Airline Promotion – Turkish Air.



Best Travel Agency-Inbound – China International Travel Service (CYTS); Best Travel Agency-Outbound – China Travel Service; Best Travel Agency-MICE – CYTS; Best Corporate Travel Management Company – CITS American Express Travel Services Ltd.



Best Single Attraction – Sentosa; Best Themed Attraction – Hong Kong Disneyland; Best Cruise Operator – Star Cruises; Best Tourism Bureau – Singapore Tourism Board.