Africa investor announces the winners of its Tourism Investment Awards 2011 at Summit Johannesburg, Nelspruit, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga.
22 February 2011: Africa investor (Ai), a leading international investment research and communications group, last night announced the winners of its Tourism Investment Awards for 2011. Taking place in the picturesque location of Skukuza Camp, Kruger National Park, the Awards honoured the best in the African tourism industry.
The Awards ceremony was opened by the Deputy Minister of Tourism of South Africa, Hon. Ms Tokozile Xasa, who praised the Summit and Awards, saying that they are an initiative and a tribute to the province, the country and the continent.
This year’s winners included some of the world’s leading hotel and tourism groups. Rezidor Hotels was recognized as Best Hotel Investment of the Year, while Accor Hospitality Management was awarded Hospitality Management Team of the Year. Other winners included the World Bank’s investment arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which won the Tourism Investment Programme of the Year, and the Ti World Cup 2010 Legacy Investment of the Year went to Gauteng Economic Development Agency (GEDA). South Africa did particularly well with South African Airways taking the Award for the Best Business Airline of the Year, and the Sustainable Tourism Investment of the Year was given to Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. Tourism Investment Advisor of the Year was awarded to W Hospitality Group, and Best Initiative in Facilitating SME Tourism Investment was given to the Uganda Community Tourism Association
Tourism Investor City of the Year went to Maputo, Mozambique, and Tourism Promotion Agency/Tourism Board of the Year was awarded to Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC). Two personalities stood out this year and were awarded for their tireless work within the sector; African Tourism Minister of the Year was given to Honourable Minister Eng. W. Mzembi, Minister of Tourism, Zimbabwe, while Honourable Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Tourism, South Africa, was recognized as Tourism Statesman of the Year. For the full list of winners, see below.
The judging panel for the 2011 Tourism Investment Awards continued to uphold the standards of excellence that has come to define these Awards and was chaired by Geoffrey Lipman, former Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). “The quality of all the participants was even higher this year and it’s a testimony to the increasing standards across Africa and particularly to the winners,” he said.
Commenting on the Awards, Hubert Danso, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Africa investor, said: “Tourism in Africa is expected to grow significantly over the coming years, and we are delighted with the exceptional achievements of the organisations and individuals whose initiatives are driving the sector. We can only hope that these Awards will act as the benchmark, not just for investors, but also for the rest of the continent.”
The Africa investor Tourism Investment Awards were created to showcase Africa’s opportunities and achievements in the tourism sector to the global investment community. They are designed to collectively raise awareness about Africa as a tourism investment destination and reward groups developing the African tourism industry as a vehicle to drive sustainable economic growth. The Awards recognise the outstanding work in the African tourism and hotel investment sector.
The Awards were held alongside the Ai Tourism and Infrastructure Investment Summit, hosted in partnership with the Mpumalanga Provincial Government, Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency and the Mpumalanga Tourism Parks and Agency at the Mdluli Conference Centre, Skukuza Camp, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
About Africa investor - www.africa-investor.com
The Awards ceremony was opened by the Deputy Minister of Tourism of South Africa, Hon. Ms Tokozile Xasa, who praised the Summit and Awards, saying that they are an initiative and a tribute to the province, the country and the continent.
This year’s winners included some of the world’s leading hotel and tourism groups. Rezidor Hotels was recognized as Best Hotel Investment of the Year, while Accor Hospitality Management was awarded Hospitality Management Team of the Year. Other winners included the World Bank’s investment arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which won the Tourism Investment Programme of the Year, and the Ti World Cup 2010 Legacy Investment of the Year went to Gauteng Economic Development Agency (GEDA). South Africa did particularly well with South African Airways taking the Award for the Best Business Airline of the Year, and the Sustainable Tourism Investment of the Year was given to Sanbona Wildlife Reserve. Tourism Investment Advisor of the Year was awarded to W Hospitality Group, and Best Initiative in Facilitating SME Tourism Investment was given to the Uganda Community Tourism Association
Tourism Investor City of the Year went to Maputo, Mozambique, and Tourism Promotion Agency/Tourism Board of the Year was awarded to Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC). Two personalities stood out this year and were awarded for their tireless work within the sector; African Tourism Minister of the Year was given to Honourable Minister Eng. W. Mzembi, Minister of Tourism, Zimbabwe, while Honourable Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Tourism, South Africa, was recognized as Tourism Statesman of the Year. For the full list of winners, see below.
The judging panel for the 2011 Tourism Investment Awards continued to uphold the standards of excellence that has come to define these Awards and was chaired by Geoffrey Lipman, former Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). “The quality of all the participants was even higher this year and it’s a testimony to the increasing standards across Africa and particularly to the winners,” he said.
Commenting on the Awards, Hubert Danso, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Africa investor, said: “Tourism in Africa is expected to grow significantly over the coming years, and we are delighted with the exceptional achievements of the organisations and individuals whose initiatives are driving the sector. We can only hope that these Awards will act as the benchmark, not just for investors, but also for the rest of the continent.”
The Africa investor Tourism Investment Awards were created to showcase Africa’s opportunities and achievements in the tourism sector to the global investment community. They are designed to collectively raise awareness about Africa as a tourism investment destination and reward groups developing the African tourism industry as a vehicle to drive sustainable economic growth. The Awards recognise the outstanding work in the African tourism and hotel investment sector.
The Awards were held alongside the Ai Tourism and Infrastructure Investment Summit, hosted in partnership with the Mpumalanga Provincial Government, Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency and the Mpumalanga Tourism Parks and Agency at the Mdluli Conference Centre, Skukuza Camp, Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
About Africa investor - www.africa-investor.com
Africa investor is a specialist investment communications firm advising governments, international organisations and businesses on communication strategies for capital market and foreign direct investments in Africa. Africa investor publishes Africa investor, the leading international newsstand magazine for Africa’s investment decision makers; maintains the Africa investor 40 Investors’ Index, hosts the Ai index Series Summit & Awards and the Africa investor Infrastructure Projects Summit & Awards amongst other events.
About Mpumalanga - http://www.mpumalanga.gov.za/ ; http://www.mpumalanga.com/ ; http://www.mega.gov.za/
Mpumalanga is a popular tourist destination and is home to the famed Kruger National Park, which covers an expanse of 20,000 square kilometres, as well as several other tourist attractions. The province is targeting tourism as a major area for growth, in addition to other economic activities such as agriculture and mining.
About Mpumalanga - http://www.mpumalanga.gov.za/ ; http://www.mpumalanga.com/ ; http://www.mega.gov.za/
Mpumalanga is a popular tourist destination and is home to the famed Kruger National Park, which covers an expanse of 20,000 square kilometres, as well as several other tourist attractions. The province is targeting tourism as a major area for growth, in addition to other economic activities such as agriculture and mining.
