Bangkok--19 Sep--PATA An international airline, a tourism and transport development organisation, a rainforest hideaway, and a tropical island resort took away top honours at the presentation ceremony today for Asia Pacific's only truly independent travel industry awards programme. Singapore Airlines for Marketing; Delhi Tourism & Transportation Development Corporation for Heritage; Nihiwatu Resort, Indonesia for the Environment; and Cinnamon Island Alidhoo, Maldives for Education and Training, are the "best of show" Grand Award winners in the 2008 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Awards programme. (Editors note: See below for more about each PATA Grand Award winner.) They accepted their awards during a presentation lunch at the HITEX Exhibition Centre, Hyderabad. And they celebrated their achievements with the more than 1,000 travel trade professionals, including buyers and sellers of the best Asia Pacific travel and tourism products attending PATA Travel Mart 2008, as well as PATA Board and Committee members in Hyderabad for a series of PATA leadership meetings. In addition to the four Grand Awards presented by PATA Chair Janice Antonson, Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) Director Jo?o Manuel Costa Antunes and PATA President CEO Peter de Jong presented 22 Gold Awards. Kerala Tourism, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tourism New Zealand and Tourism Malaysia accepted multiple Gold Awards. (Editors note: See below for the full list of PATA Gold Award winners.) Open to both PATA members and non-members, this year's Awards programme attracted a total of 258 entries from 108 travel and tourism organisations. The MGTO generously sponsored the 2008 PATA Gold Awards programme -- for the 13th consecutive year. MGTO Director Mr Joao Manuel Costa Antunes said: "By sponsoring this leading travel awards programme, Macau Government Tourist Office is proud to contribute to encouraging organisations and individuals to excel in the travel industry in our region." He added: "The award winners have demonstrated a high degree of creativity and excellence and we would like to extend our warmest congratulations to the 2008 PATA Gold Award winners!" PATA GRAND AWARDS 2008 MARKETING "First to Fly the A380", Singapore Airlines, Singapore The focus of the Singapore Airlines' "First to Fly the A380" campaign was to announce the arrival of Singapore Airlines' first A380 and to showcase the new-generation cabin products -- "a class beyond first" -- in Singapore Airlines' A380 aircraft. Originally due for delivery in 2005, the Airbus A380 became bogged down by a two-year delay. Singapore Airlines needed to sustain public interest despite the delay and to build anticipation for the first A380 flights to Sydney, London and Tokyo. The campaign message reinforced the airline's leadership role in innovation, and hinted at the extraordinary luxury that would be experienced on Singapore Airlines' A380. Substantial press coverage, partly fuelled by the innovative idea to hold a global auction of seats on the inaugural flight, plus strong loads on its A380 flights bear out the success of Singapore Airlines' campaign. "Another comprehensive and professional campaign from Singapore Airlines, which is an innovator in both aviation product and marketing, and no stranger to PATA Grand and Gold Award success." -- Judge's comment HERITAGE The Pitampura Dilli Haat, Delhi Tourism & Transportation Development Corporation. India Dilli Haat is a unique space that brings India's old tradition of open market places to contemporary Delhi. It offers a kaleidoscope of crafts and a glimpse of the various traditions in the cultural life of India through cuisine and events. Conceived to preserve the traditional tribal and rural arts and handicrafts of India, Dilli Haat at Pitampura, northwest Delhi is a sequel to Dilli Haat at INA in Delhi's south. During the first 15 days after opening on April 13, more than 50,000 people visited Pittampura Dilli Haat, including many foreign tourists. "This project has succeeded in promoting authentic Indian handicrafts to the tourist market, which is not easy to accomplish ... The architecture of the space, while modern, does create the sense of a traditional bazaar." -- Judge's comment "Excellent people-focused and multi-dimensional combination of poverty alleviation, education, and preservation" -- Judge's comment ENVIRONMENT Nihiwatu Resort and The Sumba Foundation, Indonesia Nihiwatu Resort, an upmarket hideaway destination on Sumba Island, eastern Indonesia, was conceived to benefit local communities and would not have proceeded without the approval of tribal chiefs. After years of struggling to deliver on its social and environmental promises (via a percentage of profits, which were hard to come by), the creation of the not-for-profit Sumba Foundation, to which guests could directly donate, was a turning point for Nihiwatu. Guests are now able to see the fruits of their generosity first-hand on repeat visits. "Last year 20% of our bookings were directly related to our social and environmental initiatives. This year, because of increased awareness, the numbers have increased to 25%. Most guests know about our humanitarian work prior to arrival." -- Claude Graves, Managing Director, Nihiwatu "A shining example of what can be achieved when people have commitment and there is a close collaboration between local people, owners and guests ... an inspiring and fascinating story that will serve as a model for other places." -- Judge's comment EDUCATION AND TRAINING "We Cared and We Shared", Cinnamon Island Alidhoo, Maldives What began as a robust local recruitment drive for the Cinnamon Island Alidhoo resort has evolved into an unprecedented opportunity for the women and young people of Barah and Utheem islands in the Maldives to become well-trained hoteliers at the new School of Hospitality on the property. Starting this year, US$250,000 is being invested to operate a fully-staffed school and curriculum, which is focused on providing the youth of the islands neighbouring Cinnamon Island Alidhoo with gardening, housekeeping and food and beverage skills. "A win-win training programme initiated by the hotel to improve the local community's livelihood while meeting its own manpower needs ... an example of combining corporate social responsibility with manpower planning." -- Judge's comment "A moving and exciting story; a project designed and implemented by a new hotel in an area, to train local womenfolk, enhance their confidence, and develop excellent and loyal employees for the property." -- Judge's comment