The World Travel Awards Grand Tour 2010 kicked off with the Middle East Gala Ceremony, held this year at the luxurious The Address Dubai Marina, located in Dubai, UAE.

Guest of Honour at the region’s most important night of the year was HH Prince Bandar Bin Saud Bin Khalid, who was presented with the ‘Middle East’s Leading Personality of the Year’ award. He was joined by more than 400 senior industry figures in the travel industry, including Ahmad Hussein, Deputy Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority; His Excellency Sheikh Faisal Khalid Sultan Al Qassemi; Her Excellency Dr. Rajiha Bint Abdul Ameer Bin Ali, Minister of Tourism of Sultanate of Oman; His Excellency Jamal Al Hai, Senior Vice President of Dubai Airport; Bernhard Bohnenberger, Deputy Chairman & Managing Director of Six Senses Resorts & Spas; John Bullough, CEO of Aldar Properties; Ali H. Lakhraim, President & CEO of Millennium Hotels & Resorts; Ahmed Al Mammari, Vice President of Royal Jet Group; Theodore Teng, President & CEO of The Leading Hotels of the World; and Peter Baumgartner, Chief Commercial Officer of Etihad Airways.