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Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer Peter Baumgartner (left) receives the award for Middle East’s Leading Airline Website at the World Travel Awards 2009 Middle East ceremony in Dubai |
ABU DHABI. Etihad Airways is today celebrating becoming the first airline to win five World Travel Awards in a single ceremony.
The Abu Dhabi-based airline scooped the Leading Airline, Leading First Class, Leading Airline Lounge, Leading Airline Website and Leading International Marketing Campaign titles at the World Travel Awards Middle East ceremony, which took place at the Monarch Hotel in Dubai yesterday.
Votes for the World Travel Awards were cast by nearly 170,000 travel industry professionals around the world, including more than 110,000 travel agents.
Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan said: “To be awarded the title of Middle East’s leading airline for the second year in a row is an outstanding achievement for Etihad. And, to be voted the best in no less than five categories is unprecedented and testament to the quality and consistency of our product and services.”
Etihad has now won 17 World Travel Awards since it took to the skies in November 2003.
World Travel Awards Chairman and Founder Graham Cooke said: “Congratulations to Etihad Airways on this outstanding achievement. In claiming the title of Middle East’s leading airline, Etihad Airways has clearly demonstrated its commitment to excellence across all aspects of its business.
“Maintaining impeccably high customer service standards, while keeping track with such an ambitious expansion plan is testament to the tireless work of the airline’s workforce.”
The award for Leading First Class carrier coincides with the unveiling of Etihad’s new first class cabin at the Arabian Travel Market. The airline is investing US$70 million in a major revamp of its first class cabin, including longer and wider beds, housed in their own private suites, and a large new changing room.
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Etihad’s new first class suite was unveiled at the recent Arabian Travel Market event in Dubai |
The leading airline lounge award reflects the substantial investment Etihad has put into new premium lounges at its Abu Dhabi home base. The airline’s lounges for first and business class customers opened in Terminal 3 in February and include all-day fine dining, dedicated meeting facilities, a “˜wi-fi’ area, Six Senses Spa and a family room for children among other services.
The international marketing accolade was awarded for the airline’s “˜From Abu Dhabi to the World’ campaign – which ran in the UAE, Middle East, Europe, North America and Asia and is part of Etihad’s long term plans to build awareness and understanding of its brand across key markets. The adverts illustrated the wealth of culture and hospitality offered by the airline and reflected Etihad’s strong links and close affinity with Abu Dhabi.
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