Recovering Egypt wins big at travel awards

Egypt has secured a run of honors at the African regional heat of the World Travel Awards. The country, which saw tourist visits fall dramatically in the wake of the revolution that deposed former President Mubarak earlier this year, took a number of titles at the Africa & Indian Ocean heat of the prestigious awards ceremony, hosted last week in Cairo. Among the Egyptian winners were the Pyramids of Giza, which beat stiff competitors such as Victoria Falls, the Serengeti National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro to take "Africa's Leading Attraction." Sun-seekers' paradise Sharm el Sheikh was also voted Africa's Leading Beach Destination, while the Sheraton Miramar Resort El Gouna Hurghada won Africa's Leading Beach Hotel. Africa's Leading City Hotel went to the luxury Kempinski Nile in Cairo, which opened last year and is designed by French architect Pierre Yves Rochon. Other winners at the regional ceremony, which is a precursor to the Grand Final Gala event held in November, included Cape Town (voted “Africa’s Leading Destination”), Saxon Boutique Hotel & Spa, South Africa (named “Africa’s Leading Boutique Hotel”) and South African Airways (voted "Africa's Leading Airline"). Sonava Gili won “Indian Ocean’s Leading Luxury Resort” and the Maldives picked up “Indian Ocean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination”. The World Travel Awards are voted for by travel agents from around the world.