Oceania winners revealed for World Travel Awards 2020

Win prize trophy on wood table with background window.

The World Travel Awards has unveiled its Oceania 2020 winners to coincide with its inaugural Oceania Winners Day.

The untamed wilderness, golden beaches and laid-back charms of New Zealand helped it lift the title of ‘Oceania’s Leading Destination’, with its adrenaline hub Queenstown voted ‘Oceania’s Leading City Destination’.

French Polynesia, with its mesmerising atolls and marine life, was named ‘Oceania’s Leading Dive Destination’.

Australia cemented its reputation as the definitive thrill-seekers paradise to secure ‘Oceania’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination’, and Melbourne won ‘Oceania’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination’.

In the hospitality sector, Millbrook Resort, New Zealand fended off a tough field to emerge as ‘Oceania’s Leading Hotel’, while Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Cook Islands claimed ‘Oceania’s Leading Resort’.

Sydney’s über-hip Ovolo Woolloomooloo took ‘Oceania’s Leading Boutique Hotel’, and Samoa’s Seabreeze Resort was acknowledged with the title for ‘Oceania’s Most Romantic Resort’.

New arrival on Oceania’s luxury hospitality scene, The Ritz-Carlton, Perth was named ‘Oceania’s Leading New Hotel’.

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts claimed the title for ‘Oceania’s Leading Hotel Brand’, and the eco credentials of InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa, French Polynesia were recognised with ‘Oceania’s Leading Green Hotel’.

In the aviation sector, Air New Zealand was named ‘Oceania’s Leading Airline’, whilst ‘Oceania’s Leading Airport’ went to Melbourne Airport.

Other winners include Royal Caribbean International (‘Oceania’s Leading Cruise Line’); Hertz (‘Oceania’s Leading Car Rental Company’); Abercrombie & Kent (‘Oceania’s Leading Tour Operator’); Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (‘Oceania’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre’); Eagles Nest, New Zealand (‘Oceania’s Leading Villa Resort’); Pacific Resort Rarotonga (‘Oceania’s Leading Family Resort’); and Laucala Island, Fiji (‘Oceania’s Leading Private Island Resort’).

The results follow a year-long search for the world’s top travel, tourism and hospitality brands. Votes were cast by travel industry professionals and the public, with the nominee gaining the most votes in a category named as the winner.

Graham Cooke, founder of the World Travel Awards, said: “Our winners represent the very best of Oceania’s travel and tourism sector and my congratulations to each of them. They have all demonstrated remarkable resilience in a year of unprecedented challenges.”

“The World Travel Awards 2020 program received a record number of votes cast by the public. This shows that the appetite for travel and tourism has never been stronger, and bodes well for the industry’s future as the global recovery begins.”

You can check out the full list of Oceania winners here.


Featured image source: iStock/Athitat Shinagowin

Latest News

  • Aviation

Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash

It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]

  • Attractions

SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024

AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]

  • Cruise

Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales

Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]

  • Technology
  • Travel Agents

Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy

Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]