KUCHING: Sarawak-based Suntravel Sdn Bhd won a Golden Award for Tourism from the Europe-based Trade Leaders’ Club in Madrid recently.

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION: Bateman-Dris and husband Datu Aloysius Dris with Rodriguez.

Present to receive the award was managing director Datin Teresa Bateman-Dris.

The award was determined through research carried out among the more than 7,000 Trade Leaders’ Club members throughout the world, as well as through an online survey.

It is organised yearly to coincide with one of the largest tourism fairs and exhibitions in Europe — the Feria Internacional de Turismo (Fitur).

All the recipients of the awards were invited as Fitur trade guests.

The award was principally based on product and service quality, creativity and excellence endorsed by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO).

Editorial Office president and club general secretary AP Rodriguez presented the trophy in the form of a golden replica of a bull.

A total of 59 recipients of the award comprising tourism industry players and stakeholders from all over the world were present to network among fellow awardees as well as numerous distinguished guests including international diplomats, tourism ministers and officials from among the various recipient countries and organisations.

Among the recipients of the awards this year were from Argentina, Algeria, Brazil, Cuba, Croatia, Cambodia, Turkey, Mexico, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, India, Madagascar, Morocco and Pakistan.