World Travel Awards 2025 crowned global travel leaders in Bahrain, celebrating top destinations, hotels, airlines and emerging tourism innovations worldwide
Tourism royalty from every continent gathered in the Kingdom of Bahrain as the World Travel Awards (WTA) Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2025 celebrated the organisations redefining global travel excellence. Hosted at Exhibition World Bahrain, the ceremony honoured achievements across aviation, hospitality, destinations, and tourism innovation—highlighting the industry’s most influential and inspiring leaders.
Bahrain Hosts the Travel Industry’s Biggest Night
Staged in the Gulf’s rising tourism hub, the ceremony showcased Bahrain’s credentials in hosting major global events. With its strategic position linking East and West and heritage that spans more than four millennia, Bahrain offered a fitting location for the world’s most prestigious travel celebration.
Sara Ahmed Buhiji, CEO of Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority, noted the event “demonstrates Bahrain’s capacity to deliver international events of this significance,” underscoring the Kingdom’s expanding MICE investment.
World’s Leading Destinations for 2025
The evening spotlighted the world’s most inspiring tourism destinations, with top awards including:
- Maldives – World’s Leading Destination
- Athens – World’s Leading City Break Destination
- Chile – World’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination
- Tanzania – World’s Leading Safari Destination
- Jamaica – World’s Leading Cruise Destination
From island getaways to cultural capitals, destinations across continents strengthened their global positioning as demand for travel continues to rebound.
Standout Hospitality Leaders
This year’s hospitality award winners demonstrate innovation across luxury, service, and development, including:
- The St. Regis The Palm – World’s Leading Hotel Service Award
- Katara Hospitality – World’s Leading Hospitality Development Company
- Jumeirah Thanda Island – World’s Leading Exclusive Private Island
In the newcomer categories, fresh openings were recognised for outstanding design and guest experience:
- Marriott Marquis Dubai Creek – World’s Leading New Hotel
- The St. Regis Al Mouj Muscat – World’s Leading New Resort
Arabian Aviation Dominates the Global Stage
The Middle East’s aviation strength took centre stage with multiple wins across the region’s leading carriers.
Qatar Airways
- World’s Leading Airline
- World’s Leading Airline – Business Class
Etihad Airways
- World’s Leading Airline – Economy Class
- World’s Leading Airline – Customer Experience
- World’s Leading Airline Lounge – Business Class
Emirates
- World’s Leading Airline – First Class
- World’s Leading Airline Brand
- World’s Leading Airline Lounge – First Class
Meanwhile, Star Alliance collected World’s Leading Airline Alliance, and AirAsia celebrated double honours for low-cost aviation.
TAP Air Portugal secured both World’s Leading Airline to Africa and World’s Leading Airline to South America, underlining its role as a global connector.
A Grand Tour Across Continents
The ceremony marked the finale of WTA’s 2025 global journey, following regional celebrations in:
- Tanzania
- Cancun (Mexico)
- Saint Lucia
- Hong Kong
- Sardinia (Italy)
- Dubai
Founder Graham Cooke said winners “help raise the collective benchmark across our industry,” recognising new standards of innovation in tourism.
Expanding Global Recognition
Among this year’s additional winners:
Luxury and Resorts
- Ikos Resorts – World’s Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort Brand
- Sani Resort – World’s Leading Family & Beach Resort
Business and Meetings
- Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis – World’s Leading City Business Hotel
- Madrid – World’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination
Events and Sustainability
- Cannes – World’s Leading Festival & Event Destination
- Portugal’s Dark Sky Alqueva – World’s Responsible Tourism Award
First-Time Global Titles
Rising destinations also earned global recognition for the first time:
- Tuyen Quang, Vietnam – World’s Leading Regional Cultural Destination
- Huesca La Magia, Spain – World’s Leading Regional Adventure Tourism Destination
- Cancún Convention & Visitors Bureau – World’s Leading City Tourist Board
Vietnam’s Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark also secured its first world title, affirming emerging cultural and geological tourism appeal.
Bahrain Strengthens Global Tourism Profile
The hosting of this global event reinforces Bahrain’s evolving status as a competitive international destination for high-level meetings, conferences and exhibitions. Exhibition World Bahrain continues to support sector growth and tourism diversification, while driving global visibility for the Kingdom.
For the full list of World Travel Awards winners, visit the WTA
At a Glance – World Travel Awards 2025
- Hosted in the Kingdom of Bahrain
- Maldives named World’s Leading Destination
- Athens wins World’s Leading City Break Destination
- Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways dominate aviation categories
- St. Regis and Jumeirah win top luxury hospitality awards
- TAP Air Portugal, AirAsia and Star Alliance among major airline winners
- Cannes, Madrid and Portugal awarded for events, meetings and sustainability
- New winners from Vietnam, Spain and Mexico gain global recognition
Also read World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025: Winners Revealed
