Moscow Wins Top City Prize in World Travel Awards

Tourists in traditional dresses walk towards Voskresenskiye Vorota (Resurrection Gates) leaving the Red Square in Moscow on July 9, 2017. (AFP)
Tourists in traditional dresses walk towards Voskresenskiye Vorota (Resurrection Gates) leaving the Red Square in Moscow on July 9, 2017. (AFP)
TT

Moscow Wins Top City Prize in World Travel Awards

Tourists in traditional dresses walk towards Voskresenskiye Vorota (Resurrection Gates) leaving the Red Square in Moscow on July 9, 2017. (AFP)
Tourists in traditional dresses walk towards Voskresenskiye Vorota (Resurrection Gates) leaving the Red Square in Moscow on July 9, 2017. (AFP)

The Russian capital has been named the world's leading city destination in 2019 by the World Travel Awards in a ceremony held at the Royal Opera House in Muscat, Oman.

Moscow competed with other cities in three categories: "World's Leading Festival and Event Destination," "World's Leading Sports Tourism Destination," and" World's Leading City Destination." The Russian capital got the highest number of votes in the last category, and won this prize for the first time.

Observers agreed that Moscow deservedly won the contest, and fairly competed against tourism capitals, such as London, Paris, New York, Lisbon, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro and others cities.

Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin shared the good news on his Instagram account, with a picture of Moscow and a caption reading: "It is truly the best city on Earth. We got one of the most prestigious tourism awards. We won the Oscar for the best tourism destination in the world."

Over the past two decades, the city has witnessed extensive construction and maintenance works, including the reorganization and improvement of its main streets, and the elimination of random kiosks that were scattered on the sidewalks. Dozens of new parks have also been opened, and sidewalks have been expanded in historic areas to allow tourists to wander freely around the city's cultural monuments dating back to several eras.

More than 20 million foreign tourists from around the world visit Moscow every year, in addition to tens of millions of visitors a day coming from other regions in Russia and the former Soviet republics.

The city of Petersburg (formerly known as Leningrad), a historical treasure with its unique monuments, was among the winners as well. It was named the "World's Leading Cultural City Destination". The World's Leading Airlines prize went to the Russia’s Aeroflot.



SAUDIA Wins Best Airline Cabin Crew Award at Business Traveler Awards

Saudi Arabian Airlines plane, is seen at the airport of the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, August 9, 2021. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabian Airlines plane, is seen at the airport of the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, August 9, 2021. (Reuters)
TT

SAUDIA Wins Best Airline Cabin Crew Award at Business Traveler Awards

Saudi Arabian Airlines plane, is seen at the airport of the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, August 9, 2021. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabian Airlines plane, is seen at the airport of the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, August 9, 2021. (Reuters)

Saudia Airlines (SAUDIA) has earned the Best Airline Cabin Crew award at the 2024 Business Traveler North America Awards ceremony in Miami, US.
SAUDIA Chief Guest Experience Officer Rossen Dimitrov received the award, which is given to airlines for the first time, SPA reported.
Dimitrov said that the award received by SAUDIA is testimony to its dedication to enhancing the travel experience, aiming to elevate it to new heights and surpass expectations. He added that air service constitutes a critical aspect of travel, and is a key indicator of service quality that reflects the level of guest satisfaction.
This international recognition, he said, underscores the effectiveness of SAUDIA employees, “particularly the team of navigators who are crucial to the operational system, managing over 500 flights daily”.
He noted that air service is experiencing significant improvements that showcase Saudi culture, from the warm welcome and assistance to the menu featuring meals inspired by the Saudi cuisine, and the tradition of serving Saudi coffee and dates sourced from the homeland, as a sign of hospitality.
As part of its strategic vision for a new era, SAUDIA is dedicated to continuous innovation and to coming up with impactful initiatives that improve services and products. Its commitment to improving its operational performance is evident in the modern, and expanding, fleet, which currently includes 144 aircraft that helps it carry out its plan of connecting the world with the Kingdom.