Austria’s stunning GrandHotel Lienz has emerged victorious at World Travel Awards (WTA) Europe Gala Ceremony, winning top honours for the second year running.

The state-of-the-art property, set in the shadows of Austria’s Grossglockner Mountains and the Dolomites, was voted Europe’s Leading Wellness Hotel at a red-carpet WTA ceremony hosted in the Algarve, Portugal.

Grandhotel Lienz has enjoyed a fruitful twelve months.

Highlights include the introduction of SymbioMed, a pioneering treatment for spinal issues, which combines conventional medicine with the latest medical advances.

Meanwhile in June, the five-star property hosted the Polish football team as they prepared for the Euro 2012 Championships.

The players underwent a series of fitness tests and used the leading-edge training facilities at the hotel.

Since opening in 2009, the hotel has set a precedent in wellness tourism and its five-member medical team includes a heart specialist, a dermatologist, a sports scientist and a chiropractor.

GrandHotel Lienz fended off stiff competition from the likes of Hotel Alpin Royal (Italy), La Reserve de Beaulieu & Spa (France), Adler Thermae Spa & Wellness Resort (Italy), Bagni di Pisa Natural Spa Resort (Italy) and Sporthotel Stock (Austria) to collect the prestigious award.

The industry’s elite – including CEOs of leading travel companies, government ministers, and tourist board chiefs – attended the glittering WTA gala ceremony, which was hosted at the new Conrad Algarve.

The 19th annual awards recognise travel companies for delivering an outstanding customer experience and are voted by travel professionals and consumers worldwide.

WTA president Graham Cooke said: “Winning is tough but staying on top is even tougher, and GrandHotel Lienz has proven its world-class credentials by winning ‘Europe’s Leading Wellness Hotel’ for the second year running.

“The hotel offers state-of-the-art medical facilities, gourmet dining and luxury service, amid a majestic mountain setting, and I am pleased that this has been acknowledged by our voters.”

Professor Heinz Simonitsch of GrandHotel Lienz said: “It is a tremendous honour to be named ‘Europe’s Leading Wellness Hotel’. The award acknowledges our tireless efforts to provide the highest levels of service to our guests whilst constantly striving to surpass our own achievements. I am honoured to collect the award on behalf of the entire team.”

Hailed as “The Oscars of the Travel Industry”, WTA is acknowledged across the globe as the ultimate travel accolade, and celebrates those brands that are pushing the boundaries of industry excellence.

More than 500 organisations across Europe, spanning more than 125 categories, entered the competition for the most influential accolade in travel.

GrandHotel Lienz and other Europe winners from the evening will now progress to the WTA Grand Final 2012, which takes place in New Delhi, India on December 12th 2012.