Protea Hotels have been awarded the most prestigious travel award in the industry! They were named the Best South African Hotel Group at the Diners Club Asata Gala Dinner annual awards ceremony, which took place on Saturday 16th March in Port Elizabeth. “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this recognition from our industry, it is an acknowledgments that we truly value,” said Arthur Gillis, group managing director of Protea Hotels.

The award is in its 13th year and continues to be the most esteemed and sought-after honour in the travel industry. “This is the first time we have walked away with the award and it is in fact the first time that any hotel group other than Southern Sun has won it,” continued Gillis.

Hotel groups are voted in by travel agents, who review the various hotel groups on pre- determined criteria. The criteria include the following factors: 
* Swift response time

* Ease of reservations
* Effective assistance from personnel

* Reliable and accurate quotations
* Access to quality information

* Sufficient communications with sales personnel.
“We believe that this amazing achievement is a direct result of the dedicated implementation of our travel trade sales and marketing strategy by the sales and marketing TEAMS and all our hotels,” concluded Gillis. The other finalists were Southern Sun and Legacy Hotels.

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