New York, NY – Tony Potter, CEO and managing director, CHI Hotels and Resorts, the management company for Corinthia Hotels, announced that UNESCO World Heritage Center and Dr. Zahi Hawass, secretary general, Egyptโs Supreme Council on Antiquities, are the 2008 World Tourism Award Honorees. Corinthia Hotels, together with American Express, International Herald Tribune and Reed Travel Exhibitions, co-sponsor this prestigious Award presented annually at World Travel Market in London. This announcement was made at a Corinthia Hotels Press Breakfast at Tavern on the Green in New York City.
The World Tourism Award inaugurated in 1997 and celebrating its 11th anniversary, was established to recognize โthe extraordinary initiatives by individuals, companies, organizations, destinations and attractions for outstanding accomplishments in the travel industry.โ The ceremony itself will take place on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at Excel Centre, London.
The 2008 Honorees are being recognized for their dedication to the preservation of natural and cultural heritage, one as an organization and the other as an individual. The first award will honor UNESCO World Heritage Center, in rrecognition of “its outstanding guidance, support and encouragement to 185 countries around the world by establishing and monitoring 878 World Heritage Sites that will protect and preserve their irreplaceable natural and cultural heritage for the future of all the people of the world.”
The Second Award will honor Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General, Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, in recognition of “his dynamic and committed leadership, in developing and implementing, innovative management plans to care for and protect Egyptโs world famous ancient attractions, including several UNESCO World Heritage Sites.”