The guest list of the World Travel Awards 2008 Grand Final held last night on the beautiful island of Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, read like the who’s who of the travel industry.

With all the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood Oscars and described by the Wall Street Journal as the “Oscars of the Travel industry”, the outdoor stage of Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort & Spa sparkled with a sea of travel industry representatives drawn from as far away as India, the Middle East, Africa, as well as a strong Caribbean contingent.

The evening's winners included: Josephine Boulus picking up “World’s Leading First Class” for Etihad Airways; Jehan de The collecting “World’s Leading Car Hire” for Europcar; and Thatcher Brown taking “World’s Leading Hotel” for the Burj Al Arab; Dato Lee Choong Yan of Genting Highland Resort took “World’s Leading Casino Resort”, and Bill Schachte of Qatar Airways “World’s Leading Business Class”.

Turks and Caicos collected a number of awards, including Premier, The Honourable Michael Misick proudly receiving “World’s Leading Beach” for Grace Bay Beach.

“It’s a great honour for Turks and Caicos to host the World Travel Awards” he said. “Plus it’s a great opportunity to show the world how wonderful this tiny island is.”

Jamaica took “World's Leading Cruise Destination” as well as “Leading Caribbean Destination” with the awards graciously received by William Tatham, Vice President Cruise Shipping and Marina Operations for the port of Jamaica and Zachary Harding Deputy Director of Tourism, who couldn’t contain how excited he was for his country to have won such an esteemed award.

Other local winners included Brett Callaghan of Totally Barbados bagging “World’s Leading Travel Destination Website”; Shirley Williams of Parrot Cay collecting “Caribbean’s Leading Spa Resort”.

The awards presentation was the culmination of the 2008 World Travel Awards Grand Tour of regional ceremonies, which have taken place during the year in Australia, Africa, Central America, China, North America, Europe, China and Middle East.

“Nothing can compare with winning one of the World Travel Awards”, said Graham E. Cooke, president and founder. “It’s quite simply the highest accolade any location or travel company can ever hope to achieve, and says more about them than any brochure can communicate, any picture can mirror, any personal testimonial can express.

Cooke explained that winning a World Travel Award had direct commercial benefits for recipients. “Consumers are more sophisticated and well travelled than ever before”, he said. “They are demanding, discerning and have high expectations.

“Growing numbers of vacationers around the world seeking good value and quality are now making a point of checking to see who has won the World Travel Awards before making their own holiday choice.”