A Night Of Excellence, Highlights From The WTA 2025 Gala In Dar es Salaam,Tanzania

Honoring Heritage & Hospitality At The WTA 2025 African & Indian Ocean Ceremony

On the dazzling evening of June 28, 2025, the prestigious World Travel Awards (WTA) 2025 African and Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony was held in magnificent fashion at the luxurious Johari Rotana Restaurant in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The evening kicked off at 7:00 PM with a vibrant welcome cocktail and networking session, setting the stage for an unforgettable night of celebration and industry camaraderie. Guests from all corners of Africa and the Indian Ocean region gathered to exchange ideas, build connections, and enjoy the warm Tanzanian welcome.

The main ceremony began promptly at 8:00 PM with an elegant gala dinner and the much-anticipated awards presentation. Mr. Graham Cooke, Founder of the World Travel Awards, officially opened the event with an inspiring address, applauding the strength, creativity, and perseverance shown by the travel and hospitality sectors across the region.

Throughout the evening, over 60 honors were bestowed upon the industry’s finest, recognizing outstanding achievements in tourism, travel, and hospitality. The venue echoed with applause and celebration as leaders and pioneers were acknowledged for their contributions.

The Guest of Honour, Her Excellency Dkt. Pindi Chana, Tanzania’s Minister of Human Resource and Tourism, delivered a passionate keynote speech, highlighting the Tanzanian government’s focus on tourism infrastructure, investment, and strategic global outreach.

Mr. Ephraim Mafuru, Head of the Tanzania Tourism Board, also addressed the audience, emphasizing the importance of public-private sector collaboration in positioning Tanzania as a premier travel destination on the continent.

A standout moment of the evening was when Go Places Africa DMC was honored as Kenya’s Leading Destination Management Company 2025—a proud achievement celebrated by the company and its supporters.

Kenya celebrated numerous wins:

Kenya’s Leading Airport Hotel: Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport
Kenya’s Leading Beach Resort: Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa
Kenya’s Leading Boutique Hotel: The Social House
Kenya’s Leading Business Hotel: PrideInn Azure Hotel Nairobi, Westlands
Kenya’s Leading Car Rental Company: Avis
Kenya’s Leading Chauffeur Company: Lesus Executive Concierge
Kenya’s Leading Conference Hotel: Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi Upper Hill
Kenya’s Leading Destination Management Company: Go Places Africa DMC
Kenya’s Leading Domestic Safari Carrier: AirKenya
Kenya’s Leading Family Resort: Mnarani Beach Club
Kenya’s Leading Hotel: Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi Upper Hill
Kenya’s Leading Hotel Residences: JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi
Kenya’s Leading Hotel Suite: Presidential Suite @ Villa Rosa Kempinski Nairobi
Kenya’s Leading Luxury Hotel: JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi
Kenya’s Leading Luxury Private Villa: Sirai Beach
Kenya’s Leading Online Travel Agency: Viutravel
Kenya’s Leading Resort: Diamonds Leisure Beach & Golf Resort
Kenya’s Leading Safari Camp Brand: Governors’ Camp Collection
Kenya’s Leading Safari Company: Twiga Tours
Kenya’s Leading Safari Lodge: Mara Serena Safari Lodge
Kenya’s Leading Tented Safari Camp: Sarova Mara Game Camp
Kenya’s Leading Tour Operator: Pollman’s Tours & Safaris
Kenya’s Leading Travel Agency: Bonfire Adventures
Kenya’s Leading Travel Management Company: ATS Travel

Africa-wide winners included:

Africa’s Leading Adventure Tour Operator: Zara Tanzania Adventures
Africa’s Leading Airline: Kenya Airways
Africa’s Leading Airline – Business Class: Kenya Airways
Africa’s Leading Airline – Economy Class: EgyptAir
Africa’s Leading Airline Brand: Kenya Airways
Africa’s Leading Airport: Julius Nyerere International Airport, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Airport Hotel: Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport, Kenya
Africa’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort: Diamonds Malindi, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Balloon Ride Operator: Miracle Experience – Balloon Safaris Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Beach Destination: Zanzibar, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Beach Resort: Swahili Beach, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Big 5 National Park: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Boutique Hotel: Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Boutique Hotel Brand: Mantis Collection
Africa’s Leading Boutique Resort: One&Only Nyungwe House, Rwanda
Africa’s Leading Business Car Rental Company: Avis
Africa’s Leading Business Hotel: Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Nigeria
Africa’s Leading Business Travel Destination: Nairobi, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Car Rental Company: Avis
Africa’s Leading Casino Resort: Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, Morocco
Africa’s Leading City Destination: Cape Town, South Africa
Africa’s Leading City Hotel: Sarova Stanley, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Conference Hotel: Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, Kigali, Rwanda
Africa’s Leading Conservation Company: Ol Pejeta Conservancy
Africa’s Leading Cruise Line: Oceania Cruises
Africa’s Leading Cruise Port: Port of Cape Town, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Cultural National Park: Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Design Hotel: Tribe Hotel, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Destination: Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Destination Management Company: Ker & Downey® Africa
Africa’s Leading Distillery Tour: Inverroche Distillery, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Elephant Paradise National Park: Tarangire National Park, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Family Resort: Baobab Beach Resort & Spa, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Festival & Event Destination: Zanzibar, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Green Hotel: Hotel Verde Cape Town Airport, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Honeymoon Destination: Kitulo National Park, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Hotel: Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Hotel Brand: Radisson Blu
Africa’s Leading Hotel Residences: The Residences at Leopard Beach Resort & Spa, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Hotel Suite: Nelson Mandela Platinum Suite @ Saxon Hotel
Africa’s Leading Inflight Magazine: Msafiri (Kenya Airways)
Africa’s Leading Leisure Travel Agency: Satguru Travel
Africa’s Leading Low-Cost Airline: Jambojet
Africa’s Leading Luxury Hotel: Royal Mansour Marrakech, Morocco
Africa’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa: Grand Riad @ Royal Mansour Marrakech
Africa’s Leading Luxury Island: Jumeirah Thanda Island, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Luxury Lodge: Silvan Safari, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Luxury Private Villa: Sirai House, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Luxury Resort: One&Only Cape Town, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Luxury Safari Company: &Beyond
Africa’s Leading Luxury Safari Lodge: Chem Chem Lodge, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Luxury Safari Villa: Private Villas @ Cheetah Plains, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Luxury Tented Safari Camp: Siringit Serengeti Camp, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator: Go2Africa
Africa’s Leading Luxury Train: The Blue Train
Africa’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre: Durban ICC, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Meetings Destination: Durban, South Africa
Africa’s Leading Mountain National Park: Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading National Park: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading New Hotel: Singita Milele, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Online Travel Agency: TravelYalla
Africa’s Leading Private Game Reserve: &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve
Africa’s Leading Private Island Resort: Chale Island, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Private Jet Charter: ExecuJet
Africa’s Leading Resort: Diamonds Leisure Beach & Golf Resort, Kenya
Africa’s Leading River Cruise Company: Zambezi Queen Collection
Africa’s Leading Safari Company: Safari.com
Africa’s Leading Safari Lodge: Greystoke Mahale, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Scenic National Park: Nyerere National Park, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Serviced Apartments: Somerset Westview Nairobi, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Sports Resort: Ocean Sports Resort, Watamu, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Tented Safari Camp: JW Marriott Masai Mara Lodge, Kenya
Africa’s Leading Tour Operator: Pollman’s Tours & Safaris
Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction: Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
Africa’s Leading Tourist Board: Tanzania Tourist Board
Africa’s Leading Travel Agency: Blueberry Travel
Africa’s Leading Travel Management Company: Travel with Flair
Africa’s Leading Water Park: Valley of Waves, South Africa
Africa’s Most Romantic Resort: Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort, Mozambique
Africa’s Responsible Tourism Award: Twiga Tours

Indian Ocean winners included:

Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline: Air Seychelles
Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline – Business Class: Air Mauritius
Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline – Economy Class: Air Seychelles
Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline Brand: beOnd
Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline Lounge: Air Mauritius The Amédée Maingard Lounge
Indian Ocean’s Leading Airport: Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, Mauritius
Indian Ocean’s Leading Airport Hotel: Equator Village, Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Airport Lounge: JetPrime, Mauritius
Indian Ocean’s Leading All-Inclusive Resort: Kandima Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Destination: Mauritius
Indian Ocean’s Leading Beach Resort: Andilana Beach Resort, Madagascar
Indian Ocean’s Leading Boutique Hotel: Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel, Mauritius
Indian Ocean’s Leading Boutique Hotel Brand: COMO Hotels and Resorts
Indian Ocean’s Leading Boutique Resort: COMO Cocoa Island, Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Cabin Crew: Air Seychelles
Indian Ocean’s Leading Car Rental Company: Avis
Indian Ocean’s Leading Conference Hotel: Eden Bleu Hotel, Seychelles
Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Destination: Seychelles
Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Line: Silversea
Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Port: Port Victoria, Seychelles
Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination: Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Destination Management Company: Mautourco
Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Destination: Seychelles
Indian Ocean’s Leading Dive Resort: Bandos Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Family Resort: Kurumba Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Destination: Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Green Resort: Constance Ephelia, Seychelles
Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination: Seychelles
Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Resort: North Island, Seychelles
Indian Ocean’s Leading Hotel: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Indian Ocean’s Leading Hotel Brand: One&Only Resorts
Indian Ocean’s Leading Hotel Suite: The Vakkaru Over Water Residence
Indian Ocean’s Leading Leisure Hotel: Anantara Veli Maldives Resort
Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Hotel Villa: Velaa Private Residence
Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Island Resort: Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Resort: The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort
Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator: Get Into Maldives Travels
Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Villa Resort: Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa
Indian Ocean’s Leading Nature Destination: Reunion Island
Indian Ocean’s Leading New Resort: JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll
Indian Ocean’s Leading Private Island Resort: Velaa Private Island
Indian Ocean’s Leading Resort: Vakkaru Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Seaplane Operator: Trans Maldivian Airways
Indian Ocean’s Leading Tour Operator: Mautourco
Indian Ocean’s Leading Tourist Board: Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority
Indian Ocean’s Leading Travel Agency: Simply Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Villa Resort: JOALI Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Water Villa Resort: Baros Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Leading Wedding Destination: Mauritius
Indian Ocean’s Most Romantic Resort: Coco Bodu Hithi, Maldives
Indian Ocean’s Responsible Tourism Award: Six Senses Laamu, Maldives

The atmosphere was further enriched by enchanting live performances featuring traditional Tanzanian dancers, whose colorful and energetic displays offered a vibrant cultural experience that mesmerized the international audience. These performances served as a reminder of the deep cultural heritage and spirit that characterize both Tanzania and the broader African and Indian Ocean regions.

Throughout the night, attendees had plenty of opportunities to mingle with tourism leaders, media figures, and government dignitaries, fostering valuable connections and potential collaborations. Go Places Media provided live coverage of the event, capturing key moments and sharing the highlights with their extensive audience across the globe.

The evening’s success was made possible through the generous support of sponsors, including World Travel Awards, Tanzania Unforgettable, Ministry of Tourism Tanzania, and Breaking Travel News, whose partnership ensured the smooth and seamless execution of this landmark event.

In every aspect, the WTA 2025 Gala Ceremony in Dar es Salaam was a resounding triumph—honoring not only excellence but also the enduring spirit of the tourism industry. As the event drew to a close and guests departed with accolades and fond memories, one message resonated clearly: Africa and the Indian Ocean are far more than travel destinations—they are living stories, rich cultures, and extraordinary experiences waiting to be discovered.

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