By Richard Mantu, tel: (012) 314-2419

South African Tourism has been voted Africa's Leading Tourist and Convention Bureau at the World Travel Awards held in Barbados recently.
 
The Netherlands office of SA Tourism also came tops in a poll by one of the country's leading travel publications, Travelution Trade Magazine, being voted the "Best Marketing Campaign of the Year".
 
In a statement yesterday, the tourism body said its products continued to bring home a number of top international awards, a show of the industry's robust marketing aptitude.
 
The latest list of awards for SA Tourism includes recognition in the prestigious UK Tatler Guide to the "101 Best Hotels in the World" and the world-renowned European Incentive Business Travel Market (EIBTM) held last month in Barcelona, Spain.

The World Travel Awards, involves voting by travel agents worldwide, where some 2.5 million voting forms were circulated to 80 000 agencies worldwide.

In the 'World's Leading' category, top places were awarded to The Saxon (Boutique Hotel), Shamwari (Conservation Company and Safari & Game Reserve), Pride of Africa, Rovos Rail (Luxury Train) and Bushman Sands (Responsible Tourism Project).

South African products also won 13 out of the 17 categories in the 'Africa's Leading...' section.
 
They include Airline - SAA, Airport -Johannesburg International Airport; Casino Resort - The Palace of the Lost City; Conference Centre - International Conference Centre, Durban; Conference Hotel - Sun City Resort; Golf Resort - Fancourt Hotel, Country Club and Golf Estate; Hotel - Mount Nelson; Hotel Group - Sun International; Resort - Sun City; Safari - Shamwari Game Reserve; Safari Train - Rovos Rail; Spa Resort - Western Cape Hotel & Spa; Tourist & Convention Bureau - SA Tourism.
 
In addition, The Saxon; Sun City; Fancourt; Shamwari; the Hydro at Stellenbosch and Hemingway House all received recognition in the "South Africa's Leading" section.

The latest Tatler Guide features no less than nine South African properties in its '101 Best Hotels in the World', only Italy the one country having more properties in the list with 11.
 
The SA properties honoured - in no particular order are: Cape Grace (also winner of the Tatler Award for Best City Hotel); Mount Nelson (Orient Express Hotels was also the winner of Best Hotel Group); Le Quartier Francais at Franschhoek (also winner of the Best Small Hotel); Earth Lodge at Sabi Sabi; Grootbos Lodge in the Cape Peninsula; The Outpost at Kruger; Sweni Lodge at Kruger; Singita Lebombo at Kruger; and Camp Jabulani at the Kapama Game Reserve.

South Africa also proved its increasing world-class status at EIBTM, when Hayward's Luxury Safari Events was awarded two of the show's top accolades for having facilitated the 'Best Event Outside Europe' and 'The Best Automotive Event Worldwide'.
 
Mr Moeketsi Mosola, SA Tourism CEO said the role played by all the winners built on the country's reputation as a globally competitive tourist destination.
 
"The contribution made by all award winners to the continued success of the industry is recognised as playing a vital role in South Africa's enviable reputation as a globally competitive and diverse destination that offers a host of creative, quality products and experiences," he said.
 
Mr Mosola said the various awards were also a well-deserved recognition of the industry's valued and continued commitment to ensuring that their product remains top of mind on the global stage for world-class standards, including that of service excellence and hospitality. - BuaNews