Sydney wins big as the local 2024 World Travel Awards are revealed

A host of Aussie winners have been announced during the 2024 World Travel Awards ceremony for Oceania held in Manila overnight.
The awards recognise the best of the best across hotels, airlines, tourist attractions, cities, tour operators and more, across the region.
Qantas was recognised as Oceania’s Leading Airline Brand in 2024, while Sydney Airport took the crown for Oceania’s Leading Airport.
READ MORE: Here are the best places to visit in Japan for each season
Sydney also won the title of Oceania’s Leading City Destination for 2024, with a host of incredible hotels in the city also recognised, including The Langham Sydney, which won Best Hotel.
If you’re planning to splurge on an airline lounge membership, look to the Pacific Islands. Fiji Airways Premier Lounge at Nadi International Airport has been honoured as Oceania’s Leading Airline Lounge.
READ MORE: The best day trip you can do in the South of France – and stay in budget
“Our lounge is not just a place to wait for a flight; it’s a space where the journey begins, offering a true taste of Fijian hospitality that we are so proud of,” said Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO, Andre Viljoen.
The airline’s inflight magazine, FijiTime, was named Leading Inflight Magazine at the awards as well.
If cruising is your preferred style of holiday, the title of Oceania’s Leading Cruise Line for 2024 went to Royal Caribbean.
Overseas, there were similar ceremonies held for other regions across the globe. Miami Beach won the coveted honour of ‘North America’s Leading City Destination’.
Peru was voted ‘South America’s Leading Destination’, while its foodie scene was also recognised as the continent’s leading culinary destination.
In Europe, Greece was named the best destination, while Portugal’s archipelago of Madeira was named the best island destination.
The Peninsula London was acknowledged as ‘Europe’s Leading New Hotel’. Berlin’s Deutschlandmuseum – an immersive journey through 2,000 years of German history – was voted ‘Europe’s Leading New Tourist Attraction’.
The winners of all of WTA’s regional programs will then progress to the Grand Final in Madeira (Portugal) at the end of the year, when the winners of the prestigious “World’s Leading” categories will be unveiled.
WTA was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.