World Travel Awards, the biggest awards for the travel and tourism industry, will hold its finale at the Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott Hotel, in London on November 7.

The final, watched by more than a thousand senior industry professionals worldwide, will honour the best of the best from winners of six regional ceremonies across every sector.

Attended by government ministers, CEOs and directors as well as association heads gathering for World Travel Market week, the final is the culmination of World Travel Awards Grand Tour 2010 with regional presentation ceremonies taking place throughout the year.

“In a world where time is judged not in days and weeks but minutes and even seconds, where consumers are under more pressure and stress than ever before, travel and tourism has also had to change,” explained Graham E Cooke, founder and president of World Travel Awards.

“It’s no longer just an industry that sells dreams, but one that has had to adapt to a new kind of working with instant access and instant answers. Consumer service and a more flexible approach are key to everything we do.”

“Sadly, there are still horror stories out there of how consumers have not received the attention or the care that they deserve and have a right to expect from operators. But happily, these negatives are diminishing. We are recognising what the customer needs – and wants,” Cooke continued.

“World Travel Awards is a champion of universal good practice across the world. But this means increasing the level of high standards across the board, helping others to be inspired and uplifted by example,” he added.

“That’s why the World Travel Awards Tour and the subsequent final are fundamental if the industry is to continue improving quality.”

The Middle East ceremony took place last month in Dubai, before Prince Bandar, chairman of Al Khozama Management Company and attended by 600 industry leaders from the region.

“Increasingly, consumers are using World Travel Award winners as an assurance guide of high quality, giving them peace of mind when they make their holiday choice,” Cooked added.

“Only the very best will succeed at the final but the commercial benefits are worth fighting for. Nominees are now actively canvassing for support with their business contacts,” he added.

Thousands of professionals are expected to vote during the year by logging on to worldtravelawards.com/vote, said a statement. – TradeArabia News Service