Greece Shines as ‘Europe’s Leading Destination’ at the World Travel Awards 2024

Photo source: World Travel Awards

Greece claimed the accolade for “Europe’s Leading Destination 2024” at the 31st World Travel Awards (WTA) Europe Gala Ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton in Berlin that revealed the continent’s best of the best across all sectors of the tourism industry. Greece had won the same title in 2021 and 2006.

Launched in 1993 to to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence in tourism, the WTA brand today is recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

The awards are known worldwide as the “Oscars of the travel industry” and votes are cast by travel professionals and high-end tourism consumers.

With regard to Greece, the WTA 2024 Europe gala ceremony saw the country scoop the title of “Europe’s Leading Destination 2024”; Athens hailed as “Europe’s Leading City Break Destination 2024”; and 12 Greek hotels receive European distinctions. Highlights for Greece also included Domes Resorts named “Europe’s Leading Resort Brand 2024” and also collecting another four European distinctions for its hotels on Crete and Corfu; and Mideast Travel Worldwide applauded as “Europe’s Leading Destination Management Company 2024”.

Awarding of Athens.

Awarding of Domes Resorts.

Awarding of Mideast Travel Worldwide.

On a country level, Greece received 34 distinctions for hotels, resorts, destinations and tourism and travel companies. Among the winners were the islands of the South Aegean (Cyclades and Aegean islands), honored with the title of “Greece’s Leading Island Destination 2024”; Metsovo, Region of Epirus, applauded as “Greece’s Leading Mainland Destination 2024”; and Hertz, named “Greece’s Leading Car Rental Company 2024”.

“I congratulate each and every one of our winners for helping to raise the collective benchmark to even greater heights,” WTA Founder Graham Cooke said during the ceremony.

Greece: Best in Europe

Following are the 12 Greek hotels that received European distinctions:

– Europe’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2024 | Ikos Odisia

Ikos Odisia

– Europe’s Leading Beach Resort 2024 | Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas

– Europe’s Leading Luxury Villa Resort 2024 | Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas

– Europe’s Leading Boutique Resort 2024 | Santo Pure Oia Suites & Villas

– Europe’s Leading Conference Resort 2024 | Grand Resort Lagonissi

– Europe’s Leading Luxury Island Resort 2024 | Grand Resort Lagonissi

– Europe’s Leading Family Resort 2024 | Sani Resort

Awarding of Sani Resorts.

– Europe’s Leading Honeymoon Resort 2024 | Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection

– Europe’s Leading Leisure Resort 2024 | Domes Zeen Chania, a Luxury Collection Resort

– Europe’s Leading Luxury Family Resort 2024 | Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection

– Europe’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa 2024 | The Magnificent Villa Sunset @ Casa Del Mar Mykonos Seaside Resort

– Europe’s Leading Luxury Resort 2024 | Domes Miramare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Corfu

– Europe’s Leading New Resort 2024 | One&Only Aesthesis

– Europe’s Leading Seafront Resort 2024 | Elounda Bay Palace

Greece: Best on country level – full list

The WTA Europe 2024 winners for Greece on a country level are the following:

– Greece’s Leading Adult-Only Hotel 2024 | Kakkos Beach

– Greece’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2024 | Creta Maris Resort

Creta Maris Resort, Crete.

– Greece’s Leading All-Suite Hotel 2024 | Katikies Garden

– Greece’s Leading Beach Resort 2024 | Domes Aulūs Zante

– Greece’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2024 | Athina Luxury Suites

Awarding of the Athina Luxury Suites.

– Greece’s Leading Boutique Resort 2024 | Kakkos Bay Resort

– Greece’s Leading Business Hotel 2024 | InterContinental Athenaeum Athens

– Greece’s Leading Car Rental Company 2024 | Hertz

– Greece’s Leading City Hotel 2024 | The Chania Hotel

– Greece’s Leading Conference Hotel 2024 | InterContinental Athenaeum Athens

– Greece’s Leading Destination Management Company 2024 | Mideast Travel Worldwide

– Greece’s Leading Family Resort 2024 | Aldemar Olympian Village

– Greece’s Leading Holiday Villa Rental Company 2024 | Etouri

– Greece’s Leading Hotel 2024 | Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas

– Greece’s Leading Hotel Group 2024 | Metaxa Hospitality Group

Awarding of Metaxa Hospitality Group.

– Greece’s Leading Hotel Management Company 2024 | Loguers Hotel Sales & Marketing

– Greece’s Leading Hotel Residences 2024 | Avaton Luxury Hotel & Villas – Relais & Chateaux

– Greece’s Leading Hotel Suite 2024 | Cave Villa Bliss @ WeSense Santorini

Awarding of Loguers Hotel Sales & Marketing.

– Greece’s Leading Island Destination 2024 | Cyclades, Aegean Islands, South Aegean Region

– Greece’s Leading Island Villas 2024 | The Villas by Santo Collection

– Greece’s Leading Luxury All-Suite Hotel 2024 | Domes of Elounda, Autograph Collection

– Greece’s Leading Luxury Boutique Hotel 2024 | Nido, Mar-Bella Collection

Nido, Mar-Bella Collection.

– Greece’s Leading Luxury Hotel 2024 | Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens

– Greece’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa 2024 | Royal Blu Mansion Mykonos Blu Grecotel Boutique Resort

– Greece’s Leading Luxury Private Villa 2024 | Omma Villas

Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens. Photographer: Seet, Ken.

– Greece’s Leading Luxury Resort 2024 | Domes Miramare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Corfu

– Greece’s Leading Mainland Destination 2024 | Metsovo, Region of Epirus

– Greece’s Leading Online Travel Agency 2024 | Bookgreece.com

– Greece’s Leading Resort 2024 | La Mer Resort & Spa

Awarding of The Chania Hotel and La Mer Resort & Spa.

– Greece’s Leading Tour Operator 2024 | Kallisti Tours

– Greece’s Leading Travel Agency 2024 | Luxury Travel DMC

– Greece’s Leading Villa Resort 2024 | Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, Μύκονος

– Greece’s Leading Wedding Hotel 2024 | Grand Resort Lagonissi

The red-carpet 31st World Travel Awards Europe Gala Ceremony marked the opening leg of WTA’s Grand Tour 2024, a global search for the finest travel and tourism organisations, covering six continents.

“It has been a privilege to host the opening ceremony of our 2024 Grand Tour in Berlin for an incredible evening acknowledging the pinnacle of Europe’s travel and tourism economy,” WTA Founder Graham Cooke said.

Each year, WTA covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to honor individual and collective success within each key geographical region.