The Algarve region collected an exceptional haul of awards at the Publituris Portugal Travel Awards gala at the Bom Sucesso Resort, in Óbidos on Thursday evening.
The region received five top awards, namely - the Best National Tourism Region, the Best Resort Hotel, the Best Beach Hotel, Best Golf Course and Best Three Star Hotel.
For the Best National Tourism Region, there was stiff competition from the regions of the Azores, Alentejo, Algarve, Central, Madeira, Oporto and North, and the Lisbon Region but the Algarve, driving Portugal tourism resurgence, received recognition for supplying the treasury with tax revenues based on 40% of the country's tourism income.
The award for Best Resort Hotel was given to Vila Vita Parc Resort & Spa in Alporchinhos, the distinction of Best Beach Hotel was handed to Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort Hotel.
Onyria Palmares in Lagos was the winner of the Best Golf Course award and the Best Three Star Hotel award was presented to the Dom José Beach Hotel in Quarteira.
This year, 21 awards were awarded to companies, institutions and personalities from the country’s tourism, with the Best Aviation Company Award won by State controlled TAP Portugal, the Best Network of Travel Agencies, was won by the Abreu Agency, and the Best Hotel Chain Award going to Vila Galé Hotels.
The gala evening was attended by the Secretary of State for Tourism, Ana Mendes Godinho, the President of Tourism of the Centre of Portugal, Pedro Machado, the President of Tourism of Portugal, Luís Araújo, the President of the Portuguese Tourism Confederation, and Francisco Calheiros, the President of the Portuguese Hotel Association, among other luminaries in suits.
In the category of Best Tourism Region, the Algarve won the prize for the second consecutive year, which left Desidério Silva, president of the RTA, proud and thankful to, "all those who contributed to this well deserved award."
In this annual event, organised by the Publituris news service, the Algarve was well represented with 20 nominations.
The list of winners is:
Melhor Companhia de Aviação
TAP Portugal
Melhor Companhia Low Cost
easyJet
Melhor Rent-a-Car
Avis Budget
Melhor Operador Turístico
Soltrópico
Melhor Rede de Agências de Viagens
Viagens Abreu
Melhor Hotel de Cinco Estrelas
Altis Belém Hotel & Spa
Melhor Hotel de Quatro Estrelas
Turim Marquês
Melhor Hotel de Três Estrelas
Dom José Beach Hotel
Melhor Hotel Resort
Vila Vita Parc Resort & Spa
Melhor Boutique Hotel
Areias do Seixo Charm Hotel & Residences
Melhor Hotel de Cidade
Intercontinental Porto – Palácio das Cardosas
Melhor Hotel MICE
EPIC SANA Lisboa
Melhor Hotel de Praia
Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort Hotel
Melhor Hostel
Hub New Lisbon Hostel
Melhor Cadeia Hoteleira
Vila Galé Hotéis
Melhor Campo de Golfe
Onyria Palmares
Melhor Delegação de Turismo Internacional
Macau
Melhor Região de Turismo Nacional
Algarve
Prémio Instituição de Ensino powered by Travelport
Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão do Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo
Prémio Carreira Belmiro Santos
Comendador Mário Pereira Gonçalves, Presidente da AHRESP
