Claims the Prestigious Title of 2015 Asia’s Leading Comprehensive Tourism Group
On October 29, 2015, the World Travel Awards (WTA) Asia & Oceania awards ceremony was held in Hong Kong. In this year’s competition, HNA Tourism Group retained its WTA title and secured both the “China’s Leading Tourism Management Enterprise” and “Asia’s Leading Comprehensive Tourism Group” accolades, while also making a strong push toward the global-level awards.
Award Ceremony Scene
Graham E. Cooke, President and Founder of the World Travel Awards, said while presenting the award to HNA Tourism: “In 2014, HNA Tourism Group made its first WTA appearance and won the ‘Asia’s Leading Tourism Management Enterprise’ award, becoming the first and only Chinese tourism company to receive this honor. This year, we have seen HNA Tourism accelerate its global partnerships and investments, drawing increasing international attention and recognition. We believe HNA Tourism Group is steadily becoming a key player in the global tourism industry.”
As a leading tourism group in China, HNA Tourism Group covers the entire tourism industry chain and adheres to a sustainable development strategy. Its business structure has become increasingly diversified during the internationalization process. In recent years, HNA Tourism has continuously expanded its global tourism service network. In 2014, it invested in NH Hotel Group, Europe’s third-largest hotel chain, and became the single largest shareholder to fully integrate global hotel resources. In the same year, it also acquired a stake in Tsogo Sun, South Africa’s largest hotel and entertainment group, further strengthening its presence in Africa’s tourism sector. Meanwhile, HNA Tourism has gradually ventured into the high-end business travel aviation market by acquiring Hawker Pacific, a world-leading business jet operations service provider, forming the largest FBO (Fixed Base Operator) network in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2015, HNA Tourism completed an investment in Red Lion Hotels & Resorts, a hotel management company operating chains along the U.S. West Coast, further consolidating its position in the North American market. It also established partnerships with the Government of French Polynesia and France’s PVCP Group.
Over the years, HNA Tourism has been committed to developing together with all sectors of society while actively giving back. Guided by HNA Group’s social responsibility philosophy of “Compassion & Integrity,” it has carried out public welfare activities such as “Youth Walking” for five consecutive years. In the future, HNA Tourism will continue to optimize its industrial structure, enhance its core competitiveness, and consistently practice corporate social responsibility, striving to establish itself as a prominent force in the global tourism industry.
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards (WTA) aim to select the best hotels, airlines, tourism enterprises, and dozens of other top honors globally through votes from over 200,000 industry professionals and travelers. The annual WTA awards gala attracts numerous tourism elites and has been dubbed the “Oscars of the travel industry” by The Wall Street Journal, representing the highest global recognition in the tourism field. Renowned global tourism groups such as TUI Group and American Express have all been honored with this award.
HNA Tourism’s renewed success at the World Travel Awards marks the emergence of Chinese tourism companies on the global stage. Looking ahead, HNA Tourism will focus on its global development strategy, accelerate its international business expansion, and contribute to the growth and advancement of the global tourism industry.