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WTA to make debut in Abu Dhabi tonight

ABU DHABI — The World Travel Awards (WTA), also dubbed as the Oscars of the travel industry, will begin its 2007 world tour in Abu Dhabi. The red carpet will be rolled out today at the Emirates Palace, marking the WTA’s debut in the Middle East.

The winners of tonight’s Middle East and African categories will later compete at the global level. The final winners will be announced on December 12.

In its 14^th year, WTA acknowledges contributions made by organisations, businesses and individuals to the travel industry. The endorsement comes from travel agencies and professionals from over 200 countries.

There are 12 major categories for the awards, each with dozens of sub-categories, including regional/country awards, the Green awards and Personality of the Year award.

For the last category, two eminent personalities from UAE are in direct competition for the “Destination and Convention Bureau Travel Personality of the Year”.

They are His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Shaikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

From UAE, major nominations include Emirates Palace, Burj Al Arab, Dhanat Resort and Rotana hotels, Etihad Airways and Emirates Airline and Abu Dhabi and Dubai as leading destinations. In the Green (environmentally-friendly) category, there is only one entry from the Middle East, Basata Eco-Lodge from Egypt.

Tonight’s event will also witness an entertainment programme featuring Lebanese pop singer Haifa Wehbe and actors and actresses like Jamie-Lynn Sigler (The Sopranos), Chris Noth (Sex and the City), Lauren Holly (Dumb and Dumber and What Women Want), as well as pop singer Deborah Gibson, entertainer Ben Vereen and the Czech Tatiana Kucharova, Miss World 2006.

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