Elizabeth Mahiti_Enashipai Marketing Director receives the trophy from the WTA president Graham Cooke at the event held yesterday in Nairobi/FILE
The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) led the pack by retaining the title for Africa’s leading tourism board for the second year running while Kenya Airways won Africa’s Leading Airline -Business Class with the Maasai Mara national reserve named Africa’s leading national park brand.
KTB Managing Director Muriithi Ndegwa welcomed the award for the best tourism board and attributed the success to the effort to being the absolute best in all aspects of marketing the country’s offerings.
“We are honoured to win the title of the Leading Tourism Board for the second time which supports our extensive recovery and stabilisation from the recent unfortunate incidents in our country. Our marketing initiatives have brought the success and we are keen to further improve our international profile as well as reach out to new markets”, he added.
The host venue Safari Park Hotels & Casino won the coveted title of Africa’s leading Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) Hotel.
Others winners in their respective categories in Africa were; Africa’s leading Eco-Hotel won by Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, Africa’s leading Eco-Lodge went to Il Ngwesi lodge, Africa’s Leading green hotel went to the Aberdare Country Club, Africa’s Leading new hotel won by Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi, while the Africa’s Leading resort award went to Alfajiri Villas.
Other winners included Finch Hatton, Twiga Tours, Leopard Beach and Resort Spa, Game Watchers Safaris and Porini Camps.
Enashipai Resort and Spa, also won Kenya’s Leading Spa Resort 2013 at the awards only after one year of existence.
Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Phyllis Kandie urged tourism stakeholders across the continent to work together in growing the tourism sector in Africa.
Kandie added that besides the traditional tourist source markets such as the US, UK, Germany, France and Italy, Kenya has now identified Africa as the next frontier with the potential of helping boost tourism arrivals and the government has in response mounted marketing campaigns within the continent.
