Tourism royalty from across Asia and Oceania have convened in Manila, capital of the Philippines to recognise the brands pushing the boundaries of excellence in regional tourism.

The bustling metropolis of Manila is a global hub for both business and leisure travellers, offering a superb glimpse of Philippine culture, history, entertainment and nightlife.

Visitors can experience everything from exploring the ancient walled city of Intramuros to discovering artisan markets and a thriving arts scene.

“Today, the Philippines stands ready to host global events of all scales while maintaining our local charm and authenticity.

“We are a nation that rises to challenges, innovates with passion, and embraces every opportunity with optimism, exerting every effort towards our country becoming a tourism powerhouse in Asia.

“World Travel Awards is not only a celebration of excellence in tourism, but a testament to the resilience, creativity, and collaborative spirit of our global tourism community,” said Philippines Department of Tourism secretary, Christina Garcia Frasco.

Hosted at City of Dreams Manila, the World Travel Awards Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony shone the spotlight on this fascinating destination.

Graham Cooke, founder of World Travel Awards, said: “It has been a privilege to host our first ceremony in the Philippines – a celebration that has served as a fitting showcase for this incredible destination and its historic capital Manila.”

Here Breaking Travel News looks at the Philippines brands that are leading the way in the tourism sector.

Filippino destination Boracay was honoured with the title of Asia’s Leading Luxury Island Destination

Host destination, Philippines, was among the big winners on the night, taking trophies for Asia’s Leading Beach Destination, Asia’s Leading Island Destination and Asia’s Leading Dive Destination.

The country, renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, vibrant culture and warm hospitality was honoured by voters.

Key attractions for visitors include the pristine white sands of Boracay, recognised as Asia’s Leading Luxury Island Destination, the breathtaking Banaue Rice Terraces and the crystal-clear waters of Palawan, home to the UNESCO-listed Puerto Princesa Underground River.

The country’s rich history is showcased in historic sites like Intramuros in Manila, which took the title of Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction, and the centuries-old churches in Ilocos.

Siargao is a haven for surfers, while Cebu is the home of romance, recognised as Asia’s Leading Wedding Destination. 

The Philippines also offers unique cultural experiences, including colourful festivals like Sinulog and Ati-Atihan.

Promoting these many wonders, Philippines, Department of Tourism also took the title of Asia’s Leading Marketing Campaign for work on Love the Philippines.

Finally, in honour of hosting the World Travel Awards and for continued success in Philippines tourism, Christina Garcia Frasco, Secretary of Tourism of the Philippines, was presented with a special trophy for Transformational Leader in Tourism Governance 2024.

World Travel Awards founder, Graham Cooke, celebrates with Christina Garcia Frasco

In accommodation, Raffles Makati took trophies for both Asia’s Leading Hotel Residences and Philippines’ Leading Boutique Hotel.

At the heart of Makati, in a striking 30-storey masterpiece, this collection of 32 sumptuous suites fuses timeless old-world charm with contemporary new-world sophistication.

Every suite is designed as an understated oasis of calm, with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame mesmerising views of the Makati cityscape.

For those staying longer in Manila, the Raffles Residences Makati are the ideal place to come home to.

Next, Vivere Azure is a place and a feeling – and now winner of the Asia’s Leading Boutique Beach Resort trophy at the World Travel Awards.

A paradise situated by the mountainside of Anilao, Batangas, it wholly conducive for relaxation - a place where you can relax and break the monotony of your busy city life.

For those looking to explore underwater, Atmosphere Resorts & Spa took the title of Asia’s Leading Dive Resort for the third straight year.

Guests here can enjoy a truly spectacular luxury resort experience, where the warmest of Philippine hospitality is combined with first class amenities and services.

Surrounded by beautiful coconut plantations and perched between the mountains and the ocean – spectacular nature and experiences await guests.

Hundreds of guests from tourism leaders across the region were in attendance at the event

In the corporate travel sector, Discovery Primea took the title of Asia’s Leading Business Hotel, while Ascott Makati Asia’s Leading Serviced Apartments.

The latter is a great place to experience the pulsating energy Makati.

Here, visitors will be introduced to towering steel-clad skyscrapers, a diverse range of entertainment hotspots as well as culture and historical landmarks.

It is also here where you can find multinational companies, international banks, the Philippine Stock Exchange and foreign embassies.

Elsewhere, Admiral Hotel Manila – Mgallery took Asia’s Leading Design Hotel, Amanpulo was honoured with Asia’s Leading Private Island Resort and El Nido Resorts Apulit Island walked away with Asia’s Leading Sustainable Resort.

Finally, World Travel Awards host City of Dreams Manila was presented with the trophy for Asia’s Leading Casino Resort.

Located at the gateway of Manila Bay area in the city of Paranaque, the 6.2-hectare City of Dreams Manila is a premier leisure and entertainment destination in the Philippines and south-east Asia.

Its golden exterior features six hotel towers and an egg-shaped dome that houses luxurious VIP and exclusive gaming areas.

The luxury resort is part of the Aseana City township development that includes the Ayala Malls Manila Bay, a huge shopping mall which is across from the resort.

Nearby is the Mall of Asia complex within the SM Central Business Park that includes one of the largest shopping malls in the world, the 20,000-capacity Mall of Asia Arena and SMX, the largest convention centre in the country.

City of Dreams Manila hosted the World Travel Awards

Elsewhere, a number of national Philippines winners were recognised by the World Travel Awards:

• Philippines’ Leading Airport Hotel - Savoy Hotel Manila
• Philippines’ Leading Beach Resort - Discovery Shores Boracay
• Philippines’ Leading Boutique Resort - Anya Resort Tagaytay
• Philippines’ Leading Business Hotel - bai Hotel Cebu
• Philippines’ Leading Business Hotel Group - Seda Hotels
• Philippines’ Leading Car Rental Company - Avis
• Philippines’ Leading City Hotel - Edsa Shangri-La, Manila
• Philippines’ Leading Conference Hotel - Conrad Manila
• Philippines’ Leading Destination Management Company - Travelite Travel & Tours
• Philippines’ Leading Family Resort - Shangri-La Mactan, Cebu
• Philippines’ Leading Hotel - The Manila Hotel
• Philippines’ Leading Hotel Group - Megaworld Hotels & Resorts
• Philippines’ Leading Hotel Suite - The Peninsula Suite @ The Peninsula Manila
• Philippines’ Leading Lifestyle Hotel - Swissôtel Clark
• Philippines’ Leading Luxury Hotel Villa - Presidential Villa @ Shangri-La Boracay
• Philippines’ Leading Private Island Resort - Cauayan Island Resort
• Philippines’ Leading Resort - Amanpulo
• Philippines’ Leading Serviced Apartment Brand – Ascott the Residence
• Philippines’ Leading Serviced Apartments - Ascott Bonifacio Global City Manila
• Philippines’ Leading Tour Operator - Filipino Travel Center
• Philippines’ Leading Travel Agency - Rakso Travel
• Philippines’ Leading Travel Management Company - FCM Travel - Philippines

More Information

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.

Today, the brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Each year, World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective success within each key geographical region.

World Travel Awards gala ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media.

For more information about, visit the official website.