Shortlist for Africa Investor's Tourism Investor Awards announced
Africa 's burgeoning tourism industry is attracting the attention of the world's biggest and most prestigious names. Africa investor's Tourism Investor Awards shortlist, announced today, is a stellar line-up of African and global names, all of which are nominated for pioneering new investments across the continent.
Professor Geoffrey Lipman, Assistant Secretary General of the UNWTO and (Chair of judging panel) said: "Tourism is emerging as a crucial industry for Africa and one that can act as a catalyst for wide-ranging economic growth across the region. By recognising those at the fore front of investing in these markets, these inaugural Tourism Investor Awards are making a vital contribution to the development of the industry"
South Africa has staked its claim on the prizes - its leading corporates have secured nominations in all 12 Award categories and dominate classes such as Business Resort, Sustainable Tourism and Investment Advisory. Household names the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), IFA Hotels & Resorts and Sun International feature highly.
African names have also established themselves as world class tourism operators. Kenya Airways and South African Airways have bagged places in the Business Airline class, while Tinapa Business Resort, Ikeja Hotels and the Serena Group Kampala show homegrown talent high on the list.
There's stiff competition from an impressive list of global brands, led by a show of strength from the Middle East: Dubai giants EMAAR, Kingdom Investment Holdings and Dubai World, among others, have won places in seven categories ranging from Tourism Investment Programme to 2010 Legacy Investment. And entries from the USA's Starwood Hotel Group, UK-based InterContinental Hotels and Virgin Atlantic; Belgium based Rezidor Hotel Group; Stella Hospitality Group of Australia and TUI from Germany show the spectrum of international investment in Africa's tourism.
The inaugural Tourism Investor Awards are being hosted by Africa investor to raise the profile of unique new investments into this dynamic emerging industry. They are the only pan-African tourism Awards to recognise and reward investment achievements across a broad range of sectors.
Commenting on the shortlist, Hubert Danso, Vice Chairman of Africa investor said: "We are delighted to count the pioneers of the largest and most innovative tourism investments from Africa and their global peers contesting in this year's Awards."
The Ti Awards will be presented at an invitation-only gala ceremony February 25 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Johannesburg . Awards for Tourism Investment Programme of the Year; Business Resort of the Year; Tourism Promotion Agency (TPA) of the Year; Hospitality Management Team of the Year; Sustainable Tourism Investment of the Year; Best Initiative in Facilitating SME Tourism Investment; Hotel Investment of the Year; Tourism Investment Advisor of the Year; Business Airline of the Year; Ti 2010 Legacy Investment of the Year Business Travel Insurer of the Year and African Tourism Minister of the Year will be presented.
For further information visit: www.tourisminvestor.com or contact
Ayo Osunsanya & Odeta Konomi
25 Floral Street
Covent Garden
London, WC2E 9DS
United Kingdom
Switchboard: +44 207 189 8315
Fax: +44 207 189 8323
Email: aosunsanya@africa-investor.com ;
THE FULL 2009 SHORTLIST
• Best Initiative in Facilitating SME Tourism Investment
• Standard Bank ( South Africa )
• Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) ( South Africa )
• Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) ( South Africa )
• African Development Bank (AfDB) ( Tunisia )
• Tourism Enterprise Programme ( South Africa )
• East African Development Bank (EADB) ( Uganda )
• Business Airline of the Year
• Qatar Airways (Qatar)
• South African Airways (SAA) ( South Africa)
• Emirates Airlines ( United Arab Emirates)
• Kenya Airways ( Kenya )
• British Airways (BA) ( United Kingdom )
• Virgin Atlantic (United Kingdom)
• Business Resort of the Year
• Starwood Hotels & Resorts ( United States of America )
• Growthpoint Properties ( South Africa )
• Tinapa Business Resort ( Nigeria )
• Pestana Group ( South Africa )
• Emaar Properties ( United Arab Emirates )
• Singer Group Companies ( South Africa )
• Best Business Travel Insurer
• Safari & Tourism Insurance Brokers ( South Africa )
• World Nomads Travels Insurance ( South Africa )
• Eagle Africa Insurance Brokers Kenya ( Kenya )
• American Express ( South Africa )
• Allianz Insurance ( South Africa )
• Travel Insurance Consultants ( South Africa )
• Hospitality Management Team of the Year
• Starwood Hotels & Resorts ( United States of America )
• Protea Hotels ( South Africa )
• Hyatt ( South Africa )
• Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts ( UK )
• Legacy Hotels & Resorts ( South Africa )
• Sun International ( South Africa )
• Best Hotel Investment
• IFA Hotels & Resorts ( South Africa )
• Kampala Serena Hotel Group ( Uganda )
• Sun International ( South Africa )
• Rezidor Hotel Group ( Belgium )
• Kingdom Hotel Investments ( United Arab Emirates )
• Dubai World ( United Arab Emirates )
• Best Sustainable Tourism Investment
• EC-Botswana Government Infrastructure Development Deal ( Botswana )
• Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) ( South Africa )
• CC Africa - Phinda Private Game Reserve ( South Africa )
• Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and Dinokeng Blue-IQ Projects ( South Africa )
• Growthpoint Properties ( South Africa )
• Aga-Khan Fund for Economic Development ( Switzerland )
• Best TI 2010 Legacy Investment
• Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) ( South Africa )
• Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) ( South Africa)
• UNWTO ( Switzerland )
• IFA Hotels & Resorts ( South Africa )
• EC-Botswana Government Infrastructure Development Deal ( Botswana )
• South African Development Community (SADC) ( South Africa )
• Tourism Investment Advisor of the Year
• South African (SA) Tourism ( South Africa)
• Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal ( South Africa )
• Golding Hotels Investment Consultants ( South Africa )
• Peermont Global ( South Africa )
• W Hospitality Group ( Nigeria )
• Moroccan National Tourist Office ( Morocco )
• Best Tourism Investment Programme
• Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) ( South Africa )
• EC-Botswana Government Infrastructure Development Deal ( Botswana )
• Sun International ( South Africa)
• TUI AG ( Germany)
• National Tourism Fund - Capulana Futur ( Mozambique )
• Ikeja Hotels ( Nigeria )
• Tourism Promotion Agency (TPA) of the Year
• South African (SA) Tourism ( South Africa)
• Tourism Investment Corporation (TOURVEST) ( South Africa)
• Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal ( South Africa )
• Ministry of Tourism, Leisure & External Communications ( Mauritius )
• Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) ( South Africa )
• The Aga-Khan Fund for Economic Development ( Switzerland )
• African Tourism Minister of the Year
• SA (MHA) ( South Africa )
• Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife ( Kenya )
• Ministry of Tourism, Leisure & External Communications ( Mauritius )
• Botswana (MHA) ( Botswana )
• Ministry of Environment and Tourism ( Namibia )
• Ministry of Tourism & Handicraft ( Morocco )
• Ministry of Tourism & Diaspora Relations ( Ghana )
• Ministry of Natural Resources & Tourism ( Tanzania )
Notes to Editors
Tourism Investor (Ti) is Africa 's leading magazine content tailored specifically to international tourism and hospitality investors. Published within Africa investor magazine, Ti provides industry investment news, comment and analysis on a bi-monthly basis. Africa investor has a bi-monthly circulation of over 20,000 and a readership of more than 160,000 worldwide per issue.
www.africa-investor.com and www.tourisminvestor.com
For all enquiries please contact:
Ayo Osunsanya
Email: aosunsanya@africa-investor.com
Odeta Konomi
Email: okonomi@africa-investor.com
Tel: +44 (0) 207 189 8315
Fax: +44 (0) 207 189 8323
