London has been voted the “World’s Leading Destination” at this year’s World Travel Awards, which took place November 7.

It beat off fierce competition from New York, Cape Town and Sydney to take the award, which is seen as one of the most prestigious in the travel world.

The World’s Leading Hotel gong went to the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, despite rivalry from 26 other properties including the Armani Hotel in Dubai, the Hotel Ritz Paris and the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

The hotel was also deemed to have the World’s Leading Presidential Suite, a 667 square meter duplex with private bar, library, dining area, spa and chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce.

It was also an excellent night for Abu Dhabi, which picked up several awards, including a major prize for its flag-carrier Etihad, which took the award for World’s Leading Airline.

It is the second year in a row that Etihad has won, with the airline’s boss James Hogan saying it was a “phenomenal and unprecedented achievement for an airline that is only seven years old.

Etihad also took the World’s Leading First Class prize, beating other nominees that included American Airlines, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

Separately, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority was judged “World’s Leading Tourist Board” for the second year running, just as it announced its 2011 hotel guest target of 1.9 million, a 15 percent year-on-year increase.

Other key awards included World’s Leading Casino Resort (Resorts World Genting, Malaysia), World’s Leading Cruise Line (Royal Caribbean), World’s Leading Island Destination (Mauritius) and World’s Leading Spa Resort (Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai).

Source: AFPrelaxnews

Europe

Leading Airline – KLM
Leading Airport – Zurich Airport, Switzerland
Leading Beach – Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, Italy
Leading Destination – Istanbul, Turkey

North America

Leading Airline – American Airlines
Leading Airport – Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Georgia, USA
Leading Beach Destination – Maui, Hawaii
Leading Destination – New York, USA

Central America

Leading Airline – Copa Airlines
Leading Airport – Benito Juarez International Airport, Mexico City, Mexico
Leading Beach – Cancun, Mexico
Leading Destination – Cancun, Mexico

South America

Leading Airline – TAM Airlines
Leading Airport – Lima Jorge Chavez International Airport, Peru
Leading Beach – Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Leading Destination – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Caribbean

Leading Airline – Caribbean Airlines
Leading Airport – Sangster International Airport, Jamaica
Leading Beach – Grace Bay Beach (Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands)
Leading Destination – Jamaica

Africa

Leading Airline – South African Airways
Leading Airport – O.R. Tambo International Airport, South Africa
Leading Beach – Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Leading Destination – Cape Town

Middle East

Leading Airline – Etihad Airways
Leading Airport – Dubai International Airport, Terminal 3
Leading Beach Resort – Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai
Leading Destination – Abu Dhabi

Asia

Leading Airline – Malaysia Airlines
Leading Airport – Singapore Changi Airport, Singapore
Leading Beach Resort – Samaya Seminyak, Indonesia
Leading Destination – India

Australia and Oceania

Leading Airline – Air New Zealand
Leading Airport – Sydney Airport, Australia
Leading Beach – Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia
Leading Destination – Auckland, New Zealand

Indian Ocean

Leading Airline – Air Mauritius
Leading Airport – Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, Mauritius
Leading Beach Resort – Mauritius Trou Aux Biches
Leading Destination – Mauritius