Portugal was one of the big winners at World Travel Awards’ Europe Gala Ceremony 2017.

Held at St. Petersburg, the gala saw Portugal be honoured with several awards such as Europe’s Leading Destination, Turismo de Portugal scooping the prize for Europe’s Leading Tourist Board, and the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira hailed as Europe’s Leading Island Destination.

The glittering annual event took place in the Marble Hall, Russian Museum of Ethnography with hundreds of hospitality leaders from across the region, in attendance.

A first for the gala, World Travel Awards hosted their gala in Russia and Graham Cooke, Founder and President of World Travel Awards, noted it was an honour.

“St. Petersburg proved a wonderful host for our Europe Gala Ceremony and I am sure the city will go on to take its rightful place as a top rank tourism destination.”