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    Best in Travel : ULTRAS Awards ceremony in Dubai

    November 27, 2025
    Main News
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    Best in Travel : ULTRAS Awards ceremony in Dubai

     Travel Biz News —

    Dubai, UAE : The world’s leading hotels, airlines, airport, cruise line and destination, as voted for by the 32 million globetrotting members of the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty programme, were unveiled at the annual luxury travel awards ceremony, the ULTRAs (Ultratravel Awards), on 17th November 2025 in Dubai.

    Recognising the best of the best in global travel, the ULTRAs is a must-attend event for the luxury travel and tourism elite, organised by Global Hotel Alliance, the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands and operator of award-winning loyalty programme GHA DISCOVERY.

    Staged at Dubai’s glamorous beachfront lifestyle destination, Nikki Beach Club, the ULTRAs acknowledged travel leaders across 17 categories, with each winner voted for by GHA DISCOVERY’s global membership and the readers of Ultratravel magazine.

     The awards were presented by well-known radio personality Tom Urquhart and popular presenter and content creator Lily Coleman, with a raft of celebrity sport stars in attendance including three rugby union world cup winners, former England International and British & Irish Lions star, Simon Shaw MBE, former South Africa internationals Bryan Habana and Schalk Brits together with former Japan international Akihito Yamada.

    The line-up of 2025 winners included Capella Bangkok, which was hailed as the ‘Ultratravel Collection Hotel of the Year’, and Capella also took home the title of ‘Luxury Brand of the Year’; Viceroy at Ombria Algarve in Portugal, named ‘Best New Hotel in the World’ and The Leela Palace Udaipur, honoured as the ‘Best Sustainable Hotel’.

     Among the most celebrated hotels, Pan Pacific London was crowned ‘Best Hotel in Europe’; The Murray, Hong Kong, a Niccolo Hotel won ‘Best Hotel in Asia’; Ciragan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul triumphed as ‘Best Hotel in the Middle East/Turkey/Africa and Castaway Island, Fiji was voted ‘Best Hotel Oceania/Pacific’. Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas was recognised as ‘Best Hotel in the Indian Ocean’ and The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel, was named ‘Best Hotel in the Americas/Caribbean’.

    Dubai-based Emirates once again claimed the title of ‘Best Airline in the World’ and also was honoured for ‘Best Premium Economy Class’, demonstrating its continued leadership in global aviation. This achievement was further underscored by the recognition of Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, who received a ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award for his outstanding service to the global aviation industry presented to him by Nick Perry, Chairman of Ultratravel.

    Dubai International Airport, the busiest airport globally for international passenger traffic, was named ‘Best Airport in the World’. Singapore Airlines took home the title for the ‘Best First Class’, and Qatar Airways secured the ‘Best Business Class’ title.

    Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) was selected as ‘The Best Luxury Cruise Line’ while Japan was revealed as the ‘Favourite Holiday Country’, just a little more popular than runners-up, Italy and Thailand.

    “The ULTRAs are especially meaningful because they reflect the voice of our GHA DISCOVERY members – millions of passionate travellers who recognise and celebrate the world’s best hospitality experiences,” said GHA CEO Chris Hartley. “This year, we received a record number of votes, making the results even more significant. Congratulations to all the winners for setting the standard in excellence and showcasing the best of hospitality, aviation, and travel.”

    Ultratravel Collection features a curated selection of the world’s most exceptional hotels and resorts, recognised for their luxury, individuality, and outstanding guest experiences. These iconic properties participate in the global GHA DISCOVERY loyalty programme, enabling them to reward discerning travellers with exclusive benefits and recognition.

    Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) is the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands with 45 brands and 850 hotels in 100 countries. Its award-winning loyalty programme – GHA DISCOVERY – provides 32 million members recognition, D$ rewards and exclusive experiences across its hotels and partners, both with and without a stay. GHA DISCOVERY generated US$2.7billion in member hotel revenue and 11 million room nights in 2024.

    Image : Viceroy at Ombria Algarve of Portugal won best new hotel award.

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      Bangkok has been ranked as the best city to visit in Asia for 2025 by Smart Travel Asia, a leading digital travel magazine, based on the opinions of hundreds of thousands of travellers and readers worldwide.

      The city received the highest votes in the “Best Holiday Destination in Asia” category, retaining its top position for the second consecutive year.

      Smart Travel Asia highlighted Bangkok’s strengths as its 24-hour vibrancy and diverse experiences, including food, culture, shopping, and the friendliness of its people, describing it as a “city full of energy and colour, day and night.”

      The city’s dominance stems from several compelling factors. Bangkok has emerged as a paradise for food enthusiasts, offering everything from legendary street food stalls to Michelin-starred restaurants and panoramic 360-degree rooftop bars. Its cultural and heritage sites, including the iconic Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho temples, remain major attractions to international tourists.

      Additionally, from luxury malls in the city centre to the Chatuchak weekend market, Bangkok caters to every type of shopper. Affordability and friendliness also play a key role, as Bangkok remains an accessible living cost destination where welcoming smiles continue to charm travellers.

      In the Smart Travel Asia 2025 rankings, Bali (Indonesia) and Tokyo (Japan) shared second place behind Bangkok, while Seoul (the Republic of Korea) and Luang Prabang (Laos) tied for fourth. Thailand further strengthened its tourism appeal with Chiang Mai placing third and Phuket sharing fifth place with Hong Kong (China).

      Having the three cities, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, in the top 10 highlights the diversity and appeal of Thailand’s tourism offerings for travellers worldwide. — VNA/VNS ( Oct.12, 2025)

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      India announced  that it will open tourist visa applications to Chinese citizens from July 24, 2025. It was the first time in five years since the South Asian country suspended Chinese citizens’ tourist visa applications in February 2020.

      The Embassy of India in China announced via its Sina Weibo account  that, starting from July 24, 2025, Chinese citizens can apply for a tourist visa to visit India after completing an online application, scheduling an appointment, and personally submitting their passport and other required documents to three Indian visa application centers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in South China’s Guangdong Province.

      Responding to the related inquiry, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said  that “we take note of this positive move. Easing cross-border travel is widely beneficial. China will maintain communication and consultation with India to further facilitate travel between the two countries.”

      Chinese experts said the latest move taken by the India marks a phased milestone in the easing of relations between the two countries, and creates favorable conditions for further strengthening bilateral people-to-people exchanges.

      On February 2, 2020, India temporarily suspended its e-visa facility for Chinese travelers and foreigners residing in China amid coronavirus outbreak. – Global Times

      Gulf Cooperation Council Tourism 

      Dubai – As tourism destinations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) continue to grow, involving local communities in destination development has become increasingly vital for long-term success.

      Abu Dhabi’s Tourism Strategy 2030 aims for 39.3 million visitors per year, while Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 targets 150 million domestic and international visits, emphasising how tourism is being established as a key element of economic diversification throughout the region.

      At Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2025, industry leaders emphasised that sustainable revitalisation of destinations must align tourism investments with community partnerships, cultural authenticity, and immersive guest experiences to provide lasting value for both residents and visitors.

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      “Messe Berlin’s presence in India reflects our strategic intent to strengthen our international reach by being where the growth is. India is a key market for us — vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunities. With Messe Berlin India, we are laying down long-term foundations to build strong partnerships, support local industries, and elevate our global platforms,” said Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO, Messe Berlin.

      ITB India, inaugurated in 2023, continues as the flagship event under the new subsidiary. Held annually, ITB India is a three-day B2B travel trade show and convention that connects the global travel and tourism industry with the Indian market. Alongside MICE Show India, Travel Tech India, and the ITB India Conference, ITB India serves as a unique platform to forge new partnerships, strengthen existing ties, and capitalize on the fast-growing potential of the Indian and South Asian travel economies. The show hosts key players from the MICE, Leisure, Corporate Travel, and Travel Technology sectors. The upcoming edition, ITB India 2025, will take place from 2 – 4 September 2025  in Mumbai.

      FACTS —

      Tourism helps in:

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      👉Reducing Inequalities

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      In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for:
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      -10.3% of global GDP
      -330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world
      -US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports,
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      -US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total
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