The region’s
top and most prestigious travel and hospitality awarding body, the South Asian
Travel Awards (SATA) has held its SATA 2020 Virtual Awards Ceremony.
This year SATA received over 1,000 nominations in 52 categories for Travel,
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Brands, Properties and Businesses to compete
from Bangladesh,
Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, in addition to Visitors Choice
Awards and Special Recognition Awards.
Similar to
the previous years, the SATA team selected a panel of multinational jury
members for the evaluation of the nominated properties in 2020. Initially, it
was planned for the members of the panel to travel to multiple cities in the
region in order to evaluate properties and services. However, in light of the
unprecedent challenges faced due to COVID-19, the SATA team and judges jointly
decided to conduct evaluations virtually.
The partners
of SATA were unveiled earlier this year at an official signing ceremony held at
Maagiri Hotel. Key partners include; Gulf Craft Maldives as Platinum Partner,
The Hawks Pvt Ltd as Gold Partner, Ooredoo Maldives as Digital Partner, Crowe
Maldives as Auditing Partner and Maagiri Hotel as the Hospitality Partner.
SATA opens up for
nominations at the start of each year, and interested Travel, Tourism and
Hospitality Industry Stakeholders, Properties and Businesses can compete in a
wide array of categories in this esteemed regional award ceremony. Each nominee
can apply for a maximum of 3 categories. 60% of the award is judged by a
multi-national body of highly-acclaimed professionals and industry veterans,
while 40% of the award is weighed in via Online Voting and through the
performance of the property or business.
The South
Asian Travel Awards has been recognising the best of South Asian travel and
hospitality since 2016. The prestigious annual event honours stellar
organisations and individuals with the aim to revive and raise service
standards within the region’s tourism industry. The South Asian Travel Awards
is endorsed by 16 regional and international bodies for its accredited work,
including:
1.
Association of Professionals in Tourism (APT),
2.
Association of Tourism Trade Organizations, India
(ATTOI),
3.
Association of Travel Agents (ATA),
4.
Colombo Chamber of Commerce (CCC),
5.
Confederation of Accredited Tour Operators (CATO),
6.
Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry of Sri
Lanka (FCCISL),
7.
Hotel and Restaurant Association of Bhutan (HRAB),
8.
Kerala Hotel General Manager Club (KHGMC),
9.
National Boating Association of Maldives (NBAM),
10.
Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators
(MATATO),
11.
Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation (MMPRC),
12.
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB),
13.
Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO),
14.
The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (THASL),
15.
Bangladesh International Hotel Association (BIHA),
16.
The Indian Association of Tour
Operators (IATO)
GOLD WINNERS OF SATA 2020 :
|
PROPERTY |
CATEGORY |
Country |
|
Ace Aviation
Services Maldives |
Leading GSA |
Maldives |
|
Ace Travels
Maldives |
Leading PSA |
Maldives |
|
Courtyard by
Marriott Kochi Airport |
Leading Airport
Hotel |
India (South) |
|
Ramada By Whyndam,
Bengaluru Yelahanka |
Leading
All-inclusive Resort |
India (South) |
|
Amari Galle Sri
Lanka |
Leading Family
Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
Ace Travels
Maldives |
Leading Travel
Agent - Outbound |
Maldives |
|
Adaaran Select
Meedhupparu |
Leading Dive Resort |
Maldives |
|
BMICH |
Leading Convention
Center |
Sri Lanka |
|
Casons Rent A Car
Private Limited |
Leading Tourist
Transport Provider (Land/Sea) |
Sri Lanka |
|
Conrad Bengaluru |
Leading Business
Hotel |
India (South) |
|
Cinnamon Citadel
Kandy |
Leading Riverfront
Hotel/Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
Grand Hotel, Nuwara
Eliya, Sri Lanka |
Leading Heritage
Hotel/Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
Angsana Ihuru |
Leading Beach Villa
Hotel / Resort |
Maldives |
|
Araamu Spa |
Leading Wellness
and Spa Brand |
Maldives |
|
AVIA MALDIVES PVT
LTD |
Leading Supervision
Agent (General Aviation Service) |
Maldives |
|
Heritance Ayurveda |
Leading Ayurveda
Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
Banyan Tree
Vabbinfaru |
Best CSR Programme |
Maldives |
|
Sheraton Grand
Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway |
Leading F&B
Hotel/Resort |
India (South) |
|
Heritance Tea
Factory |
Leading Designer
Hotel/Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
Best Dives Private
Limited |
Leading Adventure
Service Provider |
Maldives |
|
diveOceanus |
Leading Dive Center
/ Brand |
Maldives |
|
Heritance Tea
Factory |
Leading Theme
Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
Marriott
International Group |
Leading Hospitality
Development Company |
India (South) |
|
Ramada By Wyndham
Alleppey |
Leading House Boat |
India (South) |
|
Heritance Aarah |
South Asia’s Best
New Hotel / Resort |
Maldives |
|
Island Aviation
Services Limited |
Leading Tourist
Transport Provider (Air) |
Maldives |
|
Taj West End,
Bengaluru |
Leading Luxury
Hotel/Resort |
India (South) |
|
Sheraton Grand
Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway |
Leading Meeting and
Conference Hotel/Resort |
India (South) |
|
Hotel Gangtey
Palace |
Leading Palace
Hotel |
Bhutan |
|
Resort Life Travel |
Leading Destination
Promoter |
Maldives |
|
Jetwing Surf |
Leading Surf
Hotel/Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
Lakeside Chalet -
Mumbai, Marriott Executive Apartments |
Leading Serviced
Apartment Hotel/Resort |
India (North) |
|
REVERIES DIVING
VILLAGE |
Leading Guest House
/ Tourist Inn |
Maldives |
|
Leopard Trails
Bespoke Tented Safaris |
Leading Wildlife
Tented Camp |
Sri Lanka |
|
Niwadu Deals (Pvt)
Ltd |
Leading Travel
Technology |
Sri Lanka |
|
Scubaspa Maldives |
Leading Liveaboard |
Maldives |
|
Royal Palms Beach
Hotel Kalutara, Sri lanka |
Leading Eco
Friendly City Hotel |
Sri Lanka |
|
Creative Travel Pvt
LTD |
Leading Travel
Agent - Inbound |
India (North) |
|
Soneva Fushi |
Leading
Eco-Friendly Resort |
Maldives |
|
The Theva Residency |
Leading Boutique
Hotel/Resort |
Sri Lanka |
|
Uday Samudra
Leisure Beach Hotel & Spa |
Leading Wedding
Hotel/Resort |
India (South) |
|
Sun Aqua Iru Veli |
Leading Beach
Resort |
Maldives |
|
IBNI Spa Resort |
Leading Wellness
and Spa Resort |
India (South) |
|
Meghauli Serai, A
Taj Safari |
Leading Wildlife
Lodge |
Nepal |
|
Villa Shenandoah |
Leading Bungalow /
Villa |
Sri Lanka |
|
VOYAGES MALDIVES
PVT LTD |
Leading Liveaboard
Brand |
Maldives |
|
You & Me by
Cocoon Maldives |
Most Romantic
Resort |
Maldives |
SILVER WINNERS OF SATA 2020
|
PROPERTY |
CATEGORY |
Country |
|
dusitD2
Yarkay Thimphu |
Best
CSR Programme |
Bhutan |
|
Himalayan
Front Hotel by KGH Group |
Best
CSR Programme |
Nepal |
|
Hotel
Sarina Dhaka |
Best
CSR Programme |
Bangladesh |
|
Royal
Palms Beach Hotel Kalutara, Sri lanka |
Best
CSR Programme |
Sri
Lanka |
|
Uday
Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel & Spa |
Best
CSR Programme |
India
(South) |
|
Che
Adventure Park |
Leading
Adventure Service Provider |
Sri
Lanka |
|
ORCA
DIVE CLUB |
Leading
Adventure Service Provider |
India
(South) |
|
Equator
Village |
Leading
Airport Hotel |
Maldives |
|
Hotel
Agrabad |
Leading
Airport Hotel |
Bangladesh |
|
Centara
Grand Island Resort and Spa |
Leading
All-inclusive Resort |
Maldives |
|
Le
Meridien Jaipur Resort and Spa |
Leading
All-inclusive Resort |
India
(North) |
|
Ocean
Paradise Hotel & Resort |
Leading
All-inclusive Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
Riu
Hotel Sri Lanka |
Leading
All-inclusive Resort |
Sri
Lanka |
|
The
Nattika Beach Ayurveda Resort |
Leading
Ayurveda Resort |
India
(South) |
|
Sayeman
Beach Resort |
Leading
Beach Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
Taj
Bentota Resort & Spa, Sri Lanka |
Leading
Beach Resort |
Sri
Lanka |
|
Uday
Samudra Leisure Beach Hotel & Spa |
Leading
Beach Resort |
India
(South) |
|
Adaaran
Prestige Vadoo |
Leading
Boutique Hotel/Resort |
Maldives |
|
Maya
Manor Boutique Hotel |
Leading
Boutique Hotel/Resort |
Nepal |
|
Park
Hotel Bhutan |
Leading
Boutique Hotel/Resort |
Bhutan |
|
Port
Muziris, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel |
Leading
Boutique Hotel/Resort |
India
(South) |
|
Ramada
By Wyndham Jammu City Centre |
Leading
Boutique Hotel/Resort |
India
(North) |
|
THE WAY
Dhaka |
Leading
Boutique Hotel/Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
Amari
Dhaka |
Leading
Business Hotel |
Bangladesh |
|
Maagiri
Hotel |
Leading
Business Hotel |
Maldives |
|
Park
Hotel Bhutan |
Leading
Business Hotel |
Bhutan |
|
Radisson
Hotel Kathmandu |
Leading
Business Hotel |
Nepal |
|
Ramada
by Wyndham Colombo |
Leading
Business Hotel |
Sri
Lanka |
|
Ramada
Lucknow Hotel and Convention Centre |
Leading
Business Hotel |
India
(North) |
|
Uday
Palace Convention Centre |
Leading
Convention Center |
India
(South) |
|
Fragrant
Nature,Kochi |
Leading
Designer Hotel/Resort |
India
(South) |
|
kuenphen
Rabten Resort |
Leading
Designer Hotel/Resort |
Bhutan |
|
Niwadu
Deals (Pvt) Ltd |
Leading
Destination Promoter |
Sri
Lanka |
|
ORCA
DIVE CLUB |
Leading
Destination Promoter |
India
(South) |
|
Ramada
Resort By Wyndham Kumbhalgarh |
Leading
Destination Promoter |
India
(North) |
|
ORCA
DIVE CLUB |
Leading
Dive Center / Brand |
India
(South) |
|
The
Fern Residency Bharatpur |
Leading
Eco Friendly City Hotel |
Nepal |
|
Turyaa
Chennai |
Leading
Eco Friendly City Hotel |
India
(South) |
|
Wavesound
by 3S Maldives |
Leading
Eco Friendly City Hotel |
Maldives |
|
Barahi
Jungle Lodge |
Leading
Eco-Friendly Resort |
Nepal |
|
Heritance
Kandalama |
Leading
Eco-Friendly Resort |
Sri
Lanka |
|
IBNI
Spa Resort |
Leading
Eco-Friendly Resort |
India
(South) |
|
Terma
Linca Resort and Spa |
Leading
Eco-Friendly Resort |
Bhutan |
|
Cinnamon
Bey Beruwala |
Leading
F&B Hotel/Resort |
Sri
Lanka |
|
dusitD2
Yarkay Thimphu |
Leading
F&B Hotel/Resort |
Bhutan |
|
Taj
Palace, New Delhi |
Leading
F&B Hotel/Resort |
India
(North) |
|
The
Westin Dhaka |
Leading
F&B Hotel/Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
Waterfront
Resort Pvt Ltd. by KGH Group |
Leading
F&B Hotel/Resort |
Nepal |
|
You
& Me by Cocoon Maldives |
Leading
F&B Hotel/Resort |
Maldives |
|
kuenphen
Rabten Resort |
Leading
Family Resort |
Bhutan |
|
PARADISE
ISLAND RESORT, MALDIVES |
Leading
Family Resort |
Maldives |
|
Ramada
By Wyndham Udaipur Resort & Spa |
Leading
Family Resort |
India
(North) |
|
Sayeman
Beach Resort |
Leading
Family Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
Uday
Backwater Resort |
Leading
Family Resort |
India
(South) |
|
Waterfront
Resort Pvt Ltd. by KGH Group |
Leading
Family Resort |
Nepal |
|
Harvest
Fresh Farms |
Leading
Guest House / Tourist Inn |
India
(South) |
|
Equator
Village |
Leading
Heritage Hotel/Resort |
Maldives |
|
Maya
Manor Boutique Hotel |
Leading
Heritage Hotel/Resort |
Nepal |
|
Ocean
Paradise Hotel & Resort |
Leading
Heritage Hotel/Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
Taj
West End, Bengaluru |
Leading
Heritage Hotel/Resort |
India
(South) |
|
Zhiwa
Ling Heritage |
Leading
Heritage Hotel/Resort |
Bhutan |
|
Hotels
and Resort Construction Pvt Ltd |
Leading
Hospitality Development Company |
Maldives |
|
Wyndham
Hotels & Resorts |
Leading
Hospitality Development Company |
India
(North) |
|
Hyatt
Regency Kathmandu |
Leading
Luxury Hotel/Resort |
Nepal |
|
Soneva
Jani |
Leading
Luxury Hotel/Resort |
Maldives |
|
Taj
Palace, New Delhi |
Leading
Luxury Hotel/Resort |
India
(North) |
|
Taj
Tashi, Bhutan |
Leading
Luxury Hotel/Resort |
Bhutan |
|
Amari
Galle Sri Lanka |
Leading
Meeting and Conference Hotel/Resort |
Sri
Lanka |
|
Kurumba
Maldives |
Leading
Meeting and Conference Hotel/Resort |
Maldives |
|
Radisson
Hotel Kathmandu |
Leading
Meeting and Conference Hotel/Resort |
Nepal |
|
Ramada
Lucknow Hotel and Convention Centre |
Leading
Meeting and Conference Hotel/Resort |
India
(North) |
|
Taj
Tashi, Bhutan |
Leading
Meeting and Conference Hotel/Resort |
Bhutan |
|
Ramada
By Wyndham Alleppey |
Leading
Riverfront Hotel/Resort |
India
(South) |
|
Ramada
encore by wyndham statue of unity |
Leading
Riverfront Hotel/Resort |
India
(North) |
|
Terma
Linca Resort and Spa |
Leading
Riverfront Hotel/Resort |
Bhutan |
|
Ascott
Palace |
Leading
Serviced Apartment Hotel/Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
Oakwood
Residence Kapil Hyderabad |
Leading
Serviced Apartment Hotel/Resort |
India
(South) |
|
Platinum
One Suites |
Leading
Serviced Apartment Hotel/Resort |
Sri
Lanka |
|
Continuum
Aviation Pvt Ltd |
Leading
Supervision Agent (General Aviation Service) |
India
(North) |
|
Cinnamon
Dhonveli Maldives |
Leading
Surf Hotel/Resort |
Maldives |
|
dusitD2
Yarkay Thimphu |
Leading
Theme Resort |
Bhutan |
|
IBNI
Spa Resort |
Leading
Theme Resort |
India
(South) |
|
Ramada
By Wyndham Udaipur Resort & Spa |
Leading
Theme Resort |
India
(North) |
|
ATOLL
transfer |
Leading
Tourist Transport Provider (Land/Sea) |
Maldives |
|
Princy
Travels |
Leading
Tourist Transport Provider (Land/Sea) |
India
(South) |
|
INTERSIGHT
TOURS & TRAVELS PVT. LTD |
Leading
Travel Agent - Inbound |
India
(South) |
|
Resort
Life Travel |
Leading
Travel Agent - Inbound |
Maldives |
|
Ascott
Palace |
Leading
Wedding Hotel/Resort |
Bangladesh |
|
Heritance
Negombo |
Leading
Wedding Hotel/Resort |
Sri
Lanka |
|
Soaltee
Crowne Plaza |
Leading
Wedding Hotel/Resort |
Nepal |
|
Sun
Aqua Vilu Reef |
Leading
Wedding Hotel/Resort |
Maldives |
|
Taj
Tashi, Bhutan |
Leading
Wedding Hotel/Resort |
Bhutan |
|
The
Tigress Spa & Resort |
Leading
Wedding Hotel/Resort |
India
(North) |
|
Grand
Hotel, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka |
Leading
Wellness and Spa Resort |
Sri
Lanka |
|
Naksel
Boutique Hotel and Spa |
Leading
Wellness and Spa Resort |
Bhutan |
|
The Sun
Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives |
Leading
Wellness and Spa Resort |
Maldives |
|
Cinnamon
Wild Yala |
Leading
Wildlife Lodge |
Sri
Lanka |
|
Himalayan
Front Hotel by KGH Group |
Most
Romantic Resort |
Nepal |
|
Terma
Linca Resort and Spa |
Most
Romantic Resort |
Bhutan |
|
The
Theva Residency |
Most
Romantic Resort |
Sri
Lanka |
|
Fox
Kandy by Fox Resorts |
South
Asia’s Best New Hotel / Resort |
Sri
Lanka |
|
Ramada
encore by wyndham statue of unity |
South
Asia’s Best New Hotel / Resort |
India
(North) |
|
Rockholm
at the Light House Beach |
South
Asia’s Best New Hotel / Resort |
India
(South) |
|
Vivanta,
Kathmandu |
South
Asia’s Best New Hotel / Resort |
Nepal |
VISITORS CHOICE AWARDS
|
Leading
International Airline |
Srilankan
Airlines |
|
Leading
Honeymoon Destination |
Maldives |
|
Leading
Adventure Destination |
Nepal |
|
Leading
Heritage Destination |
India |
|
Leading
Cruising Destination |
India |
|
Leading
MICE Destination |
India |
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
|
Mr Raja
Gopaal Iyer |
CEO of
Raj Hospitality Management |