World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony Programme 2008

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Middle East Gala Ceremony 2008

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Welcome President of the World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony 2008 Dear friends, It gives me a great honour to welcome you to the World Travel Awards: Middle East Ceremony 2008, here at Atlantis, The Palm.

Now in our 15th year, the World Travel Awards is driven by an uncompromising quest for excellence – seeking out those travel companies and organisations that are doing more than anyone else to further the customer experience.

Dubai epitomises that drive to push boundaries, so hosting our Middle East Ceremony here is a perfect match for the spirit and essence of the World Travel Awards.

This year, the booming emirate continues to innovate and inspire, culminating with the opening of the iconic Atlantis, The Palm – a supreme expression of Dubai’s drive to redefine what is humanly possible. At the other end of the spectrum, the brand new boutique hotel Desert Palm demonstrates that Dubai can also do beautiful on a small scale.

Dubai’s diversification into the two Ts of trade and tourism is reflected in its continuing growth. Despite the global downturn, international visitors rose 8.6 per cent in the first half of this year, whilst hotel occupancy levels are among the highest in the world – 84.4 per cent in 2007 and on course to increase considerably in 2008.

The World Travel Awards tonight celebrates those companies and individuals that have helped make the Dubai tourism miracle a reality. We also pay tribute to those across the Middle East who have achieved a supreme level excellence. The whole region has maintained impressive growth over the past year, thus proving that the core dynamics of quality, value for money and innovation will always make a world-class brand shine, irrespective of economic turbulence.

Honouring and promoting excellence and innovation in travel and travel is the reason we are gathered here this evening – so please enjoy yourselves with this in mind, for we value your incredible achievements and what you have done for our industry.

Thank you all for being here with us on this very special occasion, and we wish tonight’s winners the best of luck for the World Travel Awards Grand Final, Turks and Caicos this December.

Sincerely yours,

Graham E. Cooke President and Founder World Travel Awards

Congratulations to all those who are receiving awards and also to those who have made this evening possible, in particular Atlantis, The Palm, and our media partners BBC World and Khaleej Times.

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World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony 2008 Date: Venue: Location:

28th October 2008 Atlantis, The Palm Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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Evening Program Cocktail Reception: Gala Dinner & Show: Carriages:

19.00 20.00 23.00

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“

Travel industry's equivalent to the Oscar's....”

Wall Street Journal

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Menu

Poached Duck Foie Gras Torchon, Fig and Prune Marmalade, Pan Brioche ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ Oven Baked Black Cod Teriyaki, Eggplant and Salmon Caviar ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ Intermezzo ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ Noisettes of Australian Lamb, Zucchini and Artichoke Tart, Potato Gratin, Tomato and Olive Jus ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ Vanilla cream on chocolate Pain de Gene Top by Sesame Croquant, Almon and Milk Ice Cream ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ ✶ Freshly brewed coffee, leaf tea, herbal infusion Pralines and cookies

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World Travel Awards Entertainment Show The Best of Broadway

Andrew Kennedy

World Travel Awards is proud to present:

Host

Miss World 2007 Miss Zi Lin Zhang Presenter

THE BEST OF BROADWAY direct from Shubert Alley, New York in the heart of theaterland featuring spectacular excerpts and featuring cast members performing 'live' from the smash hit shows; Jersey Boys, Hairspray, Mamma Mia, The Life, Chorus Line, Aida, Chicago and much more starring the Broadway Dolls and Unexpected Boys.

Andrew Kennedy was born in Bogota, Colombia, has lived in Colombia, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Hong Kong, United States and is completely fluent in Spanish.

He got into comedy in 1994 in Norwalk Connecticut, and quickly became a headliner around the country. After being invited to perform as a "Master" at the Montreal Comedy Festival in 2002, he made a deal with CBS television to develop, produce and star in his own sitcom called “Related by Marriage� which was shot at the Sony Studios, Los Angeles and based on his comedy.

He is a storyteller who weaves the characters from his life throughout his entire performance. Each performance is electric, inspiring and unique, with his material growing and evolving as does his life. His half-hour special is currently airing on Comedy Central and with that chapter of his career behind him, he is concentrating on translating his entire act into Spanish. He has already begun performing completely in Spanish in the New York City area and the reaction has been amazing. A true Hispanic performer, Andrew's greatest accomplishments are yet to come.

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Zi Lin was born in Shi Jia Zhuang City in Hei Bei Province, then moved to the capital, Beijing. Beijing will be host city to the 2008 Olympic Games.

She attended the University of Science & Technology and attained a Degree in Business Administration, and is now working as a company secretary.

Her hobbies and sporting interests include: travel; reading; watching movies, writing, sports; 100 meters jump and hurdle, triple jump, swimming, both classical and folk dancing, and listing to folk music.

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Jennifer Finnigan

Maeve Quinlan

Presenter

Presenter

Jennifer Finnigan has starred on many primetime television shows including NBC'S CROSSING JORDAN and COMMITTED as well as the daytime drama THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL, for which she won 3 consecutive Emmy awards. She most recently starred in the popular and highly rated Jerry Bruckheimer legal drama CLOSE TO HOME on CBS. She hails from Montreal, Canada.

Maeve Quinlan is one busy actress, currently starring in two series at the same time. For over a decade she played ‘Megan’ on the international mega-hit ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ before venturing off into feature films and prime time television. She currently plays Constance Tate-Duncan on the wildly popular series 90210 on the CW as well as Paula Carlin on the hit television drama South of Nowhere, currently in its fourth and final season. This month Maeve can be also be seen on Lifetime in the movie Personal Indiscretions and on Nov 3rd she guest stars on the NBC drama LIFE. This January she can be seen in the feature film Not Easily Broken. Additionally, she is the creator, co-writer and Executive Producer of the web series 3WAY and just finished her first children’s book entitled BUFORD’S BATH.

Christopher Raphael

Christopher Raphael has now produced, written and directed over 14 World Travel Awards shows at numerous international venues including Universal Studios, (Los Angeles), The Ritz Carlton (Montego Bay), Caesars Palace, (Las Vegas) and The Plaza (New York). Raphael won rave reviews for his original production of “Nights On Broadway” for Caesars Hotel & Casino in 2002 and subsequently went on to produce and direct an additional 2 “Nights” due to their overwhelming success. He produced the SRO Diana Ross comeback show at Caesars for their 25th Anniversary. He is currently working on a major real estate launch for the Marbella Project in Bay Islands, Roatan as well as the Lingerie Miami event in Miami next February.

The Really Spectacular Company, Inc www.reallyspectacular.com

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About World Travel Awards

In its fifteenth year, the World Travel Awards acknowledges and celebrates those organisations who have made the greatest contribution to the global tourism and travel trade. It also recognises those who are driving the industry to greater heights and innovation.

For the tourism trade, winning different nominees this year. a World Travel Award is more than an award, it is a personal In response to increasing and reliable endorsement global concern over from the environmental issues Highest thousands of and climatic change, accolades in professionals from the World Travel the travel around the globe.

Awards introduced business” Green Categories to This level of accountability the award scheme in 2007 to makes it one of the highest reward those companies who Attended by top executives of accolades in the travel excel in ecologically friendly winning companies, the World business and is why the award practices.

Travel Awards ceremonies are ceremony is broadcast by BBC highly regarded and World (British Broadcasting The prestigious awards established as forums that Corporation) and other scheme is also evolving with bring together all areas of networks to over 254 million the new media age and is travel and tourism in households worldwide and now more accessible via the recognition and celebration of attended by the industry's web and social networking their achievements. global decision makers. sites. Video clips and interviews from the past With votes being cast entirely The World Travel Awards has ceremonies are now available online by 167,000 travel continuously evolved, on a YouTube channel that agencies and professionals in expanding the number of has now been launched at www.youtube.com/ over 198 awards as the Driving the worldtravelawards. countries industry has grown. industry to worldwide, it is greater heights There are now over To celebrate the 15th Birthday a truly and innovation” 1,000 different of World Travel Awards, the comprehensive categories - an 2008 Grand Tour is bigger and independent survey. In understandable number than ever before, with more 2007 the number of people seeing how the industry has exciting destinations and a voting was up by 12 percent diversified and given the fact dazzling array of star studded compared to 2006. that there were over 3,600

“

events. Kicking off in spectacular style in Durban, then onto Sydney, Shanghai, Orlando, Poprad and Rio de Janeiro before arriving in Dubai here today for the Middle East Gala Ceremony and continuing to Turks & Caicos for our Grand Finale in December.

This year independent voting by the industry will again seek out those companies who excel in the world of travel and tourism. The industry is constantly moving forward and evolving and World Travel Awards continue to honour the best that the world has to offer. www.worldtravelawards.com

“

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World Travel Awards Celebrating 15 Years of Excellence World Travel Awards is the most prestigious, comprehensive and sought after awards programme in the global travel and tourism industry.

Established in 1993 to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in all sectors of the industry, World Travel Awards are recognised as the hallmark of excellence, with the winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire. The Wall Street Journal recently heralded the World Travel Awards as the "travel industry's equivalent to the Oscars".

World Travel Awards is proud of its impartial nature and the comprehensive process of its voting programme. Votes are cast by an audience of 167,000 travel agents and tourism professionals from 198 participating countries. Voted for by industry peers, this level of accountability makes winning an award the greatest form of recognition in the travel business.

Attended by the industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key decision makers and figure heads, World Travel Awards brings together all corners of the globe and all areas of travel and tourism to celebrate both individual success and the collective achievements of the industry.

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World Travel Awards Grand Tour

The World Travel Awards attracts an unprecedented amount of both trade and consumer media coverage spearheaded by BBC World our global media partner whose coverage spans a global audience of over 274 million.

Africa Awards Ceremony Durban, South Africa 12th May

In recognition of "15 Years of Excellence", World Travel Awards has expanded its portfolio by adding a Grand Tour of Regional Awards to recognise winners in their own territory.

Asia & Indian Ocean Awards Ceremony Shanghai, China 19th June

Dubai is our seventh stop after we visited Africa, Australasia, Asia, North America, Europe and South America and we will shortly be moving on to Turks & Caicos for our exciting Grand Final in December.

Australasia Awards Ceremony Sydney, Australia 10th June

South America Awards Ceremony Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 21st October Middle East Awards Ceremony Dubai, UAE 28th October World & Caribbean Gala Ceremony Turks & Caicos Islands 2nd December

North & Central America Awards Ceremony Orlando, USA 6th September Europe & Green Awards Ceremony Poprad, Slovakia 15th October

www.worldtravelawards.com

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The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s le

Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s number one eco Welcome to AquaCity Resort, Slovakia.

The world's leading green resort, saving you money by being green AquaCity is virtually self-powered, using freely available geothermal water and the sun's energy, saving around 27 tonnes of carbon emissions each day and millions of euros in energy costs each year. By using green technology to heat and power the resort, these cost savings are ploughed back into first class hotel and leisure facilities to offer a fun and affordable waterpark, spa and holiday destination.

But it's not just about green energy.

AquaCity is a fun and relaxing place for a day trip, a holiday, business event, party or celebration. With 14 indoor and outdoor geothermal pools, a fabulous spa centre with inhalation rooms, saunas and relaxation areas, two award winning hotels, a restaurant, bar areas, meeting rooms and kids' play areas, AquaCity offers affordable luxury, at the same time as minimising the impact on the planet

How to get there AquaCity is located in the north east of Slovakia, immediately south of the High Tatras Mountains.

Three times weekly flights from London Luton to Poprad with Sky Europe Poprad - (8min) v Kosice - Poprad 125kms (1hr 50min) Krakow - Poprad 160kms (2hr 20min) Budapest - Poprad 330kms (5hr) Bratislava - Poprad 340kms (4hr 30min) Vienna - Poprad 390kms (5hr)

www.aquacityresort.com

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s leading green resort

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Award winning AquaCity AquaCity is the world’s leading green resort, winner of the World’s first green Travel Award, nominated as the British Guild of Travel Writer’s top overseas destination and accredited to the highest standards of environmental management. It was the first destination in Europe to be given Green Hero status and has achieved both Green Apple and Live Earth accreditations.

AQUAPARK Poprad s.r.o., Sportová 1397/1, 058 01 Poprad, Slovak Republic Tel: +421 52 7851 111 Web: www.aquacityresort.com Email: reservations@aquacityresort.com

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Thank you to our partners

We wish to express our sincere gratitude to our partners and supporters Natuzzi, TTN, Trade Arabia, BBC World News, World.Mobi and Breaking Travel News for their commitment and support which made the event such a success.

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World’s No 1

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World Travel Awards Team President & Founder Graham E. Cooke Senior Vice President David Falcon Executive Vice President & Event Director Manon Han Directors, Global Business Rupert Daniels Sion Rapson PR Director Jane Larcombe Financial Director Xiaolan Tang Commercial Director Christopher Frost Head of Business Development Max Miller

Marketing Manager, South America Antonio Castro Neves

Official Photographers Mark Hakanson Gareth Morris

Sales Executive Prakash Lathia

E-Commerce Managers Kelly Footit Hayden Pitout

PR Executive Cristina Onodi

Web Team Ben Roberts George Cooke Joe McCann Tom Fogarty

Event Manager Susan Mundy Event Organising Executive Shannon Hopkins Sponsorship & Event Manager James Wall Marketing Manager Kate Brewer

World Travel Awards 12-16 Laystall Street London EC1R 4PF United Kingdom T +44 (0)20 7925 0000 F +44 (0)20 7925 2552 awards@worldtravelawards.com www.worldtravelawards.com Copyright Š World Travel Awards 2008

Creative Director Mike Gibas Designers Adam Williams Mark Askam Jackie Maddocks Lena Whitaker

Editors Anton Strack Alex Lewis

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