Twelve hundred of Africa’s key ‘movers and shakers’ will attend the most important event of the year for the travel and tourism industry on 7 July at the Sandton Conventon Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.

The gathering for the World Travel Awards “Africa and Indian Ocean Ceremony 2010” will include CEOs and directors of some of the region’s leading travel companies, government ministers, heads of tourism departments and destinations as well as industry association leaders.

They will be hoping – many with fingers crossed – that they are among the elite to pick up one of the prestigious World Travel Awards, described as the ‘Oscars’ of travel and tourism.

Presentation of the awards takes place at 5pm – but guests will not miss out on the crucial match! A giant screen will show the FIFA World Cup Semi Final immediately after the ceremony.

“This is Africa’s finest night for tourism,” said Graham E. Cooke, Founder and President, World Travel Awards.

“It’s a once-a-year opportunity to recognise the exceptional quality, creativity and leading edge performance of Africa’s top operators.”

During the past few months, industry professionals have been voting worldwide for the African companies and brands that they believe deserve the honours. Voting closes on 7 June.

African nominees are among 5,000 nominated companies, spread across more than a 1,000 categories, including airlines, cruise companies, destinations, resorts and hotels in over 160 countries.

(Right: the Sandton Convention Centre, Johanessburg, South Africa - host of the gala ceremony)

African nominations include the crème de la crème of the region’s travel and tourism. South Africa Airways, Air Namibia, Egypt Air and Royal Air Maroc are amongh those fighting it out to take the title of “Africa’s Leading Airline”. In the running for “Africa’s Leading Beach Hotel” are the likes of Camps Bay Retreat; Diaz 15, South Africa; Diaz Strand Hotel & Resort, South Africa; La Gemma Dell’Est Zanzibar, Tanzania; Lagoon Beach Hotel, South Africa; Peponi Hotel Lamu Island, Kenya; The Bay Hotel, South Africa and The Z Hotel Zanzibar, Tanzania.

The battle for “Africa’s Leading Business Hotel” is also going to be a knuckle-biting affair. Nominations include Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, Egypt; Hilton, Durban; and Mena House Oberoi, Egypt.

As the fastest growing industry sector, there’s also keen interest in cruising and the “Africa’s Leading Cruise Line” category, with African Safari Club and Discover Egypt Nile Cruises and Silverseas Cruises among the nominees.

The biggest struggle though will be among the 12 leading hotels anxious to win the coveted title of “Africa’s Leading Hotel”. Nominees include Camps Bay Retreat, South Africa; Kasbah Tamadot, Marrakech, Morocco; Mena House Oberoi Hotel & Casino, Egypt; Mount Nelson Hotel, South Africa; Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa, South Africa; The Palace of the Lost City, South Africa; The Table Bay Hotel, South Africa and The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa, South Africa. 

In addition to overall Africa categories, there are awards for Botswana, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

World Travel Awards, established 17 years ago, is the only global organisation encouraging improvement and development of travel and tourism.

Because consumers use the awards as a benchmark of quality, winners receive significant commercial benefits from the honour.

To vote online log on to: http://www.worldtravelawards.com/vote

Voting closes on 6th June 2010.