Awards

For a third year running the Greek companies Interdynamic S.A. tourist organization (DMC/PCO) and Unique Luxury Prestigious Cars have been nominated in the “Best Tourism Project Award” and “Best Car Rental-International Brand Award” categories respectively at the MENA awards 2008 to be held during the Arabia Travel Market in Dubai on May 6 to 9. The award ceremony will take place at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel on May 8th and will be attended by some of the world’s largest tour operators and representatives from hotels in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and North Africa. Interdynamic and Luxury Prestigious Cars are the only European and Greek companies to be nominated for these awards.

Lloyd’s List Greek Shipping Awards was a big success as it recognized the best in Greek shipping. DryShips boss, George Economou, and Greek ship owner and industry legend, John Carras, all took major prizes. Mr. Carras was named “Personality of the Year for 2007,” an award accepted on his behalf by his granddaughter, Tatiana Petalas.

The SkyTeam airline alliance recently held an event to award the winners of the online e-game “Match the Tails of the 10 SkyTeam Airlines and Win Prizes.”

Qatar Airways recently held an event for its annual “Travel Agents Awards,” attended by some one hundred members of the travel and tourism sector. The awards covered the most significant areas of Qatar Airway’s activity.

The SkyTeam alliance was officially named the “Best Airline Alliance Program” by Business Traveler magazine’s “2007 Reader’s Choice Best in Business Travel Survey.” Business Traveler readers recognized SkyTeam for the alliance’s reliability, high-quality service and extensive network.

At the Philoxenia tourism awards, Chalkidiki won two awards and received the title for favorite beach destination and the friendliest for families with children destination. Pelion came first in the …

The Hellenic Chamber of Hotel’s annual awards were recently handed out at a ceremony presided over by Tourism Development Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos. The awards honored members of the tourism and travel industry for their achievements in various categories.

Qatar Airways was recently honored at the annual world airline awards ceremony. The airline received three awards, amongst them the prestigious award for best first class worldwide.

Tourism Development Minister Fanni Palli-Petralia was on the receiving end of a pleasant surprise when she went to Moscow to open the Greek stand at the MITT 2007 international tourism exhibition: The stand – dressed in the blue of the Aegean, the white of the islands and marble, and the gold of the sunset – impressed visitors and won a prize for the best stand at the fair. Meanwhile, press reports say the number of Russians visiting Greece has doubled in recent years, and is now their fifth favorite destination, and continues to become even more popular now that the Greek Consul General in Moscow can now issue visas more promptly.

Lufthansa German Airlines last month awarded Goldair Handling as being the best provider of third party services within the worldwide Lufthansa network. Prizes where given in the categories ground handling, on board services, third party services and internal projects for the year 2006 for high quality services provided to the customers.