The
8th Edition of the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) 2024 culminated in a
vibrant celebration in Kathmandu, with winners announced during a prestigious
Gala & Awards ceremony held at Aloft Kathmandu Thamel on Friday, September
20th.
This
year’s event attracted significant participation from key players within the
hospitality industry, representing a diverse array of sectors including hotels,
resorts, airlines, lounges, travel agents, and cruise lines. The SATA is
endorsed by over 18 tourism organizations and bodies across the region,
underscoring its credibility and significance in the travel sector.
With
over 400 nominations submitted for this edition, competition was notably
fierce. The event was honored by the presence of the Honorable Minister for
Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Mr. Badri Prasad Pandey, along with Mr.
Deepak Joshi, CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). Board members of NTB and
prominent figures from Nepal's travel industry also attended, contributing to a
grand celebration of excellence in South Asian hospitality. SATA 2024 was held
in Kathmandu with the support of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Hotel
Association of Nepal (HAN).
The
SATA awards recognize not only outstanding service and innovation within the
hospitality sector but also foster a spirit of healthy competition and
collaboration among industry stakeholders.
In
this year’s event, winners were named in a remarkable 51 Gold and 93 Silver
categories. Nepal was acknowledged as the Leading Heritage Destination, while
the Maldives claimed the title of Leading Beach Destination. Additionally, the
special awards known as “Faces of South Asia” were posthumously presented to
Late Ms. Ambica Shrestha, as well as Mr. Karna Sakya and Mr. MD Shakawath
Hossain, honoring their remarkable contributions to the South Asian tourism
industry.
The
partners for SATA 2024 showcased their commitment to support the travel and
tourism industry in South Asia. Gulf Craft, as the Platinum Partner. The Hawks,
Velana International Airport and Hotels and Resorts Investment Maldives
(HARIM) were unveiled as the Gold Partners. Allied Insurance Company of
the Maldives was the Insurance Partner. Resort Life Travels and Bizspoke were
the Silver Partners. Tourism Partners include Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Hotel
Association Nepal (HAN). Official Hosting partner was Aloft Kathmandu
Thamel and The Malla Hotel.
Hospitality
Partners include; Mandarina Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sheraton Grand Bangalore at
Brigade Gateway, India, Akama Hotel and Hyatt Place, Nepal, Kathmandu,
Zhiwaling Heritage, Bhutan, Paro and Manhattan Business Hotel, Maldives.
Speaking
at the event, President of SATA, Mr. Ismail Hameed stated that “We need to
stick together in promoting the region. SATA has reached here by working
together. The industry has the world to offer within this region, we can
achieve as we have to a long way to go”
SATA
proudly recognizes the remarkable achievements within the travel and tourism
sector, serving as a distinguished platform for showcasing the latest trends
and innovations shaping the industry in South Asia.
This
prestigious event not only honors the outstanding contributions of industry
leaders but also facilitates invaluable networking opportunities for
professionals. Attendees will engage in meaningful dialogues, sharing insights
and strategies that drive growth and enhance the tourism experience across the
region.
SATA
is dedicated to promoting the vibrant travel and tourism landscape of South
Asia. By celebrating excellence and fostering collaboration among
organizations, the awards contribute significantly to the sustainable
development of the industry.
Join us as we highlight the achievements of those who are redefining travel in South Asia, ensuring that the region remains a premier destination for travelers worldwide.
Winners of
SATA 2024 are;
|
|
PROPERTY |
CATOGORY |
REGION |
|
GOLD |
Ceylon Extreme Adventure |
Leading Adventure / Sports Tour
Operator |
Sri Lanka |
|
GOLD |
Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden |
Leading Airport Hotel |
Bangladesh |
|
GOLD |
Kavya Himalayas |
Leading Hill Resort / Hotel |
Nepal |
|
GOLD |
Heritance Aarah |
Leading All-inclusive Resort |
Maldives |
|
GOLD |
Nika Island Resort & Spa |
Leading Beach Resort |
Maldives |
|
GOLD |
Cocogiri Island Resort |
Leading Boutique Hotel/Resort |
Maldives |
|
GOLD |
Reveries Maldives |
Leading Budget Hotel |
Maldives |
|
GOLD |
Taj Lands End |
Leading Business Hotel |
India (South) |
|
GOLD |
Hyatt Place Kathmandu |
Leading City Hotel (Above 40
Rooms) |
Nepal |
|
GOLD
|
The Way Dhaka |
Leading City Hotel (Below 40
Rooms) |
Bangladesh |
|
GOLD |
Madhava Balinese Spa |
Leading Wellness and Spa Brand |
Sri Lanka |
|
GOLD |
Leela Bhartiya City Bengaluru |
Leading Convention Center |
India (South) |
|
GOLD |
Cocoon Maldives |
Leading Designer Hotel/Resort |
Maldives |
|
GOLD |
Rapid Adventures |
Leading Destination Promoter |
Sri Lanka |
|
GOLD |
Dive Point Maldives |
Leading Dive Center / Brand |
Maldives |
|
GOLD |
Adaaran Club Rannalhi |
Leading Dive Resort |
Maldives |
|
GOLD |
Aitken Spence Hotels |
Best Promotion Campaign |
Sri Lanka |
|
GOLD |
Royal Palms Beach Hotel |
Leading Eco-Friendly Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
GOLD |
Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel
at Brigade Gateway |
Leading F&B Hotel/Resort |
India (North) |
|
GOLD |
Villa Park |
Leading Family Resort |
Maldives |
|
GOLD |
Loya At Taj Palace, New Delhi |
Leading Fine Dining Outlet in
Hotel/Resort |
India (North) |
|
GOLD |
Aitken Spence Travels |
Leading Cruise Travel Agent |
Sri Lanka |
|
GOLD |
Ace Aviation Services Maldives |
Leading GSA |
Maldives |
|
GOLD |
Hotel Zhiwaling Heritage |
Leading Heritage Hotel/Resort |
Bhutan |
|
GOLD |
Voyages Maldives |
Leading Liveaboard Brand |
Maldives |
|
GOLD |
Taj Palace, New Delhi |
Leading Luxury Hotel/Resort |
India (South) |
|
GOLD |
The Soaltee Kathmandu |
Leading Meeting and Conference
Hotel/Resort |
Nepal |
|
GOLD |
Taj Lake Palace |
Leading Palace Hotel |
India (North) |
|
GOLD |
Voyages Maldives |
Leading PSA |
Maldives |
|
GOLD |
Cinnamon Citadel Kandy |
Leading Riverfront Hotel/Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
GOLD |
Continuum Aviation |
Leading Supervision Agent
(General Aviation Service) |
India (North) |
|
GOLD |
Cinnamon Dhonveli Maldives |
Leading Surf Hotel/Resort |
Maldives |
|
GOLD |
Trans Maldivian Airways |
Leading Tourist Transport
Provider (Air) |
Maldives |
|
GOLD |
Aitken Spence Travels |
Leading Travel Agent - Inbound |
Sri Lanka |
|
GOLD |
Classic Travels |
Leading Travel Agent - Outbound |
Sri Lanka |
|
GOLD |
Rambagh Palace |
Leading Wedding Hotel/Resort |
India (North) |
|
GOLD |
Heritance Ayurveda |
Leading Wellness and Spa Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
GOLD |
Cinnamon Wild Yala |
Leading Wildlife Lodge, Tented
camp |
Sri Lanka |
|
GOLD |
You & Me Maldives |
Most Romantic Resort |
Maldives |
|
GOLD |
Villa Resorts |
Leading Resort / Hotel Brand |
Maldives |
|
GOLD |
Aloft Kathmandu Thamel |
Nishan Seneviratne Best CSR
Programme |
Nepal |
|
GOLD |
BlueEarth Hospitality |
Leading Hospitality Development
Company |
India (South) |
|
GOLD |
Dinesh Hettiarachchi, Mandarina
Colombo |
South Asia’s Best GM |
Sri Lanka |
|
GOLD |
Pubudu Fernando, Sayeman Beach
Resort |
South Asia’s Best GM |
Bangladesh |
|
GOLD |
Sushma Khichar, Sheraton Grand
Bangalore Hotel At Brigade Gateway |
South Asia’s Best GM |
India (South) |
|
GOLD |
Vikram Singh, Aloft Kathmadnu
Thamel |
South Asia’s Best GM |
Nepal |
|
GOLD |
Hotel Barahi Kathmandu |
South Asia’s Best New Hotel /
Resort |
Nepal |
|
GOLD |
Sri Lankan Airlines |
Leading International Airline |
South Asia |
|
GOLD |
Leeli Lounge, Velana
International Airport |
Leading Airport Lounge |
South Asia |
|
VISITORS CHOICE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sri Lankan Airlines |
Leading International Airline -
South Asia |
GOLD |
|
Leeli Lounge |
Leading Airport Lounge |
GOLD |
|
|
|
|
|
MALDIVES |
LEADING
BEACH DESTINATION |
GOLD |
|
NEPAL |
LEADING
HERITAGE DESTINATION |
GOLD |
|
FACE OF SOUTH ASIA |
|
|
|
|
MD
Shakawath Hossain |
CEO,
Unique Hotel & Resorts PLC |
BANGLADESH |
COIN |
|
Late
Ambica Shrestha |
President
of Dwarika’s Hotels and Resorts, Nepal |
NEPAL |
COIN |
|
Karna
Shakya |
Founding
Chairman, KGH Group of Hotels, Nepal |
NEPAL |
COIN |
|
|
PROPERTY |
CATOGORY |
REGION |
|
SILVER |
Best Dives Maldives |
Leading Adventure / Sports Tour
Operator |
Maldives |
|
SILVER |
Vivanta Colombo Airport Hotel |
Leading Airport Hotel |
Sri Lanka |
|
SILVER |
The Everest Hotel |
Leading Airport Hotel |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
Accord Chrome |
Leading Airport Hotel |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
Equator Village |
Leading Airport Hotel |
Maldives |
|
SILVER |
WGH Poetree, Thekkady |
Leading Hill Resort / Hotel |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
The Ananta Udaipur |
Leading Hill Resort / Hotel |
India (North) |
|
SILVER |
Kasara Jungle Resort |
Leading All-inclusive Resort |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
Club Hotel Dolphin |
Leading All-inclusive Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
SILVER |
Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel
& Spa |
Leading All-inclusive Resort |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
Sayeman Beach Resort |
Leading Beach Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
Uday Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel
& Spa |
Leading Beach Resort |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
Platinum Grand By SHELTECH |
Leading Boutique Hotel/Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
Siddhartha Boutique Hotel Boudha |
Leading Boutique Hotel/Resort |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
The Pema By Realm |
Leading Boutique Hotel/Resort |
Bhutan |
|
SILVER |
The World Backwaters, Alleppey |
Leading Boutique Hotel/Resort |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
Fox Jaffna By Fox Resorts |
Leading Boutique Hotel/Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
SILVER |
Accord Chrome |
Leading Budget Hotel |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
Hotel Tulsi |
Leading Budget Hotel |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
Hotel Agrabad |
Leading Budget Hotel |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
Amari Dhaka |
Leading Business Hotel |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
Aloft Kathmandu Thamel |
Leading Business Hotel |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
Hotel Tara Phendeyling |
Leading Business Hotel |
Bhutan |
|
SILVER |
The Ananta Udaipur |
Leading City Hotel (Above 40
Rooms) |
India (North) |
|
SILVER |
Courtyard by Marriott
Tiruchirappalli |
Leading City Hotel (Above 40
Rooms) |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
Holiday Inn Dhaka City Centre |
Leading City Hotel (Above 40
Rooms) |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
Maagiri Hotel |
Leading City Hotel (Above 40
Rooms) |
Maldives |
|
SILVER |
Mandarina Colombo |
Leading City Hotel (Above 40
Rooms) |
Sri Lanka |
|
SILVER |
Hotel Tara Phendeyling |
Leading City Hotel (Below 40
Rooms) |
Bhutan |
|
SILVER |
Aabas Pokhara |
Leading City Hotel (Below 40
Rooms) |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
Heritance Tea Factory |
Leading Designer Hotel/Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
SILVER |
Bangladesh Tour Group - BTG |
Leading Destination Promoter |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
The Tigress Ranthambore |
Leading Eco-Friendly Resort |
India (North) |
|
SILVER |
Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden |
Leading Eco-Friendly Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
Zhiwaling Heritage |
Leading Eco-Friendly Resort |
Bhutan |
|
SILVER |
Villa Urvinkhan Luxury Resort
Chikmagalur |
Leading Eco-Friendly Resort |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
Angsana Velavaru |
Leading Eco-Friendly Resort |
Maldives |
|
SILVER |
Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka |
Leading F&B Hotel/Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
Joy Island |
Leading F&B Hotel/Resort |
Maldives |
|
SILVER |
Taj Palace, New Delhi |
Leading F&B Hotel/Resort |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
The Pema By Realm |
Leading F&B Hotel/Resort |
Bhutan |
|
SILVER |
Hyatt Place Kathmandu |
Leading F&B Hotel/Resort |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
The Palace Luxury Resort |
Leading Family Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
Devi Ratn IHCL SeleQtions |
Leading Family Resort |
India (North) |
|
SILVER |
Uday Backwater Resort |
Leading Family Resort |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
Soaltee Westend Resort Chitwan |
Leading Family Resort |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
Shangri La Hambantota |
Leading Family Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
SILVER |
Accord Metropolitan |
Leading Fine Dining Outlet in
Hotel/Resort |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
You & Me Maldives |
Leading Fine Dining Outlet in
Hotel/Resort |
Maldives |
|
SILVER |
Akama Hotel |
Leading Fine Dining Outlet in
Hotel/Resort |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
Maldives Holiday Collections |
Leading Cruise Travel Agent |
Maldives |
|
SILVER |
The Malla Hotel |
Leading Heritage Hotel/Resort |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
Sayeman Heritage |
Leading Heritage Hotel/Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
Equator Village |
Leading Heritage Hotel/Resort |
Maldives |
|
SILVER |
Taj Lake Palace |
Leading Heritage Hotel/Resort |
India (North) |
|
SILVER |
Fox Jaffna By Fox Resorts |
Leading Heritage Hotel/Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
SILVER |
The Westin Dhaka |
Leading Luxury Hotel/Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel
at Brigade Gateway |
Leading Luxury Hotel/Resort |
India (North) |
|
SILVER |
Sun Siyam Vilu Reef |
Leading Luxury Hotel/Resort |
Maldives |
|
SILVER |
Hyatt Regency Kathmandu |
Leading Luxury Hotel/Resort |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
Turyaa Chennai |
Leading Meeting and Conference
Hotel/Resort |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
Bandos Maldives |
Leading Meeting and Conference
Hotel/Resort |
Maldives |
|
SILVER |
InterContinental Dhaka |
Leading Meeting and Conference Hotel/Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
The Palace Luxury Resort |
Leading Palace Hotel |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
Uday Backwater Resort |
Leading Riverfront Hotel/Resort |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
Momo Inn Park & Resort |
Leading Riverfront Hotel/Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
Siddhartha Riverside Resort |
Leading Riverfront Hotel/Resort |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
Avia Maldives |
Leading Supervision Agent
(General Aviation Service) |
Maldives |
|
SILVER |
Tatabye Tours And Travels |
Leading Travel Agent - Inbound |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
Journey Plus |
Leading Travel Agent - Inbound |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
Mateshwori Travels |
Leading Travel Agent - Inbound |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
Capital Travel Maldives |
Leading Travel Agent - Inbound |
Maldives |
|
SILVER |
Innoglobe Travel & Tours |
Leading Travel Agent - Outbound |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
Ace Travels Maldives |
Leading Travel Agent - Outbound |
Maldives |
|
SILVER |
Smitten Holidays & Travels |
Leading Travel Agent - Outbound |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
The Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay
View |
Leading Wedding Hotel/Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
SILVER |
Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort
& Spa |
Leading Wedding Hotel/Resort |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
Hotel Yak And Yeti |
Leading Wedding Hotel/Resort |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
Shangri La Hambantota |
Leading Wedding Hotel/Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
SILVER |
Sun Siyam Iru Fushi |
Leading Wellness and Spa Resort |
Maldives |
|
SILVER |
Mulberry Shades Bengaluru Nandi
Hills, A Tribute Portfolio Resort |
Leading Wellness and Spa Resort |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
The Terraces Resort and Spa |
Leading Wellness and Spa Resort |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
The Tigress Ranthambore |
Leading Wildlife Lodge, Tented
camp |
India (North) |
|
SILVER |
Hampi's Feathers Resort |
Leading Wildlife Lodge, Tented
camp |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
Barahi Jungle Lodge |
Leading Wildlife Lodge, Tented
camp |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
Uday Backwater Resort |
Most Romantic Resort |
India (South) |
|
SILVER |
Sarangkot Mountain Lodge |
Most Romantic Resort |
Nepal |
|
SILVER |
The Theva Residency |
Most Romantic Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
SILVER |
Heritance Kandalama |
Nishan Seneviratne Best CSR
Programme |
Sri Lanka |
|
SILVER |
Platinum Grand By SHELTECH |
Nishan Seneviratne Best CSR
Programme |
Bangladesh |