The Nigeria day at the event was on Thursday November 11. It had in attendance members of the press, officials of the top travel exhibitions such as FITUR, The World Travel Market (WTM) and the ITB.  There were musical performances by musicians of Nigerian descent based in the United Kingdom. The fun filled event had   guests dancing to the music and learning Nigerian dance steps. Visitors to the Nigeria day were made to experience a slice of the Nigerian hospitality through the various sumptuous Nigerian dishes and beverages that were served them. The beautifully designed and decorated Nigeria stand was indeed a crowd puller.

A day before the Nigeria day, the Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Commission, Otunba Segun Runsewe, addressed members of the press. Through his energetic delivery, he stressed that Nigeria has beautiful tourist destinations that surpasses what is available elsewhere in the world

“I like to tell you that it will interest you to know that only last year Nigeria generated about 500 million US dollars from tourism investments in our country alone; and somebody asked me ‘do you know that all the chains of hotels in the world, 6 are right now in Nigeria?’ ” said Otunba Runsewe.

If what the people at Reeds exhibitions (the organizers of the WTM) said is anything to go by, Nigeria had an impressive showing at the Travel Market and made so many friends in the process.

It was a night of elation – and some disappointment – as the travel and tourism industry’s ‘great and good’ watched South Africa take the spotlight, winning many of the region’s overall categories.

There were awards too for travel companies, organisations and destinations in Botswana, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The biggest applause of the night though was saved for Dr. Aupindi Tobie Aupindi, Managing Director of the fast-expanding Namibia Wildlife Resorts, named Africa’s prestigious Tourism Personality of the Year.

Dr Aupindi, currently gearing up to celebrate the Etosha National Park Centenary, a significant milestone in conservation, has been described as “inspiring the next generation of Namibian Leaders”.

CEOs, directors of leading travel companies, government ministers, heads of tourism departments and destinations, industry association leaders and celebrities gathered for Africa’s most important industry evening.

VIPs included: Hon. Tokozile Xasa, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Tourism; Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, the Hon. Commissioner, Lagos State Delegation; Mr. Kenneth Racombo, First Secretary at the Seychelles High Commission; Mr. Mansoor Mohamed, Executive Director of the City of Cape Town, and Ms.

Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, CEO of Cape Town Tourism.

South African Airways was voted Africa’s Leading Airline and 1Time Airline, the budget carrier from Johannesburg, operating low cost flights to airports within South Africa and Zanzibar took the titles of both Africa’s Leading Low-Cost Airline and Africa’s Leading Online Tour Operator.

The Hilton Durban took Africa’s Leading Business Hotel; the elegant five-star decadence of The Palazzo Montecasino in Johannesburg won the title Africa’s Leading Casino Resort; and Cape Town walked off with Africa’s Leading Destination.

The internationally renowned Sun City Resort, South Africa, won Africa’s Leading Family Resort, while Starwood Hotels & Resorts took the title of Africa’s Leading Hotel Group. Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa at

Hermanus, South Africa, took Africa’s Leading Luxury Hotel and The Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays, South Africa, triumphed as Africa’s Leading Meetings & Conference Hotel; Sandton Sun, one of Johannesburg’s top landmarks was Africa’s Leading Convention Hotel.

Kenya’s luxury getaway resort of Diani Reef Beach & Spa in Mombasa was Africa’s Leading Beach Resort and Egypt’s Sharm El Sheikh beat the competition as Africa’s Leading Beach Destination. The Sheraton Miramar Resort El Gouna Hughada in Egypt took Africa’s Leading Beach Hotel. Morocco’s Palmeraie Golf Palace was voted Africa’s Leading Golf Resort.

Thousands Voted

The winners were selected with the help of thousands of industry professionals worldwide who voted online.

Graham E. Cooke, Founder and President of World Travel Awards said that in addition to the prestige for their respective companies and destinations, the winners gain considerable commercial benefit from their deserved success. “Because of

their global reach and reputation, World Travel Awards are unique and regularly referred to as the ‘Oscars’ of travel and tourism”, said Cooke.

“This means that consumers are increasingly using our portfolio of winners as a reliable and independent guide when booking their vacation,” he added.

The awards, established 17 years ago, are committed to raising the standards of customer service and overall business performance throughout the international industry.

“Customer care and professionalism of African tourism has come a long way in the years since the World Travel Awards was first started”, said Cooke, adding “What is so encouraging for Africa is that unlike much of the world, the region has determinedly bucked the trend, notably with the sub-Saharan destinations

which are doing particularly well.”

Winners of the regional ceremony will now go on to compete in World Travel Awards 2010 final in London, immediately before World Travel Market on Sunday 7 November.

The world acclaimed theatre production AFRICA UMOJA and Kewela Tebza provided spectacular entertainment at the ceremony and the instrumental pop super group Sterling EQ were the stage band.