New York's Jumeirah Essex House Takes Top Honors Once Again at the 2010 World Travel Awards

NEW YORK, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- New York City's iconic Jumeirah Essex House was recognized once again at the prestigious 17th Annual World Travel Awards, taking top honors in two categories. The Jumeirah Essex House won the titles of "North America's Leading Business Hotel" and "United States' Leading Business Hotel" for the second consecutive year.  

A staggering 185,000 industry professionals participated in voting for the awards, which are recognized globally as the foremost acknowledgement of excellence in product and service worldwide. Top industry insiders, government representatives and tourism leaders attended this year's red carpet Gala Awards Ceremony, which took place on October 22 at Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa, Jamaica.

"It's a wonderful privilege to have been recognized consistently in two outstanding categories over the last several years," said Gary Schweikert, General Manager of Jumeirah Essex House and Regional Vice President of Operations for the Americas. "These awards are a testament to the brand's integrity and our commitment and dedication to our guests, and we are immensely proud of this achievement."

Jumeirah Essex House has been the recipient of "North America's Leading Business Hotel" award four times and has twice been named the "United States' Leading Business Hotel." The winners of The Americas Awards Ceremony will automatically be put forward as nominees in their respective global categories. The world category winners will be announced at the Annual Grand Final Gala Ceremony in London this November.

The complete winners' list and pictures from the event are now available on the official WTA website www.worldtravelawards.com

About Jumeirah Essex House

The 509-room Jumeirah Essex House celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2007 by completing a major $90 million refurbishment project to pay homage to the glamour and elegance of its original design. This historic New York City hotel, with a coveted Central Park address, is ideally located in the heart of Manhattan. Jumeirah Essex House is part of the Dubai-based international hospitality group, and sister to the world's most luxurious hotel, Burj Al Arab. Features of the hotel include breathtaking views, outstanding dining and unrivalled conference and banqueting facilities. South Gate, the hotel's spectacular Tony Chi-designed restaurant, featuring renowned chef Kerry Heffernan, has received rave reviews from customers and critics alike.

The Jumeirah Essex House is a recipient of both the Michelin Guide's 2008 "Five Pavilions Award," and the 2008 AAA Four-Diamond Award. The hotel garnered three awards at the 2007 Annual World Travel Awards in New York including "North America's Leading Hotel," "North America's Leading Business Hotel" and "New York's Leading Business Hotel" voted by travel agents worldwide and was ranked second in the "Best Hotel in the U.S." category in Global Traveler Magazine's 2006 GT Tested Awards.  

About Jumeirah Group

Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hospitality company and a member of Dubai Holding, operates a world-class portfolio of hotels and resorts. Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts includes Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah The Meydan and Jumeirah Bab Al Shams in Dubai; Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London; and Jumeirah Essex House in New York. Jumeirah Group also runs the luxury serviced residences brand Jumeirah Living; the spa brand Talise; Jumeirah Restaurants; Wild Wadi Waterpark; The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management; and Sirius, its global loyalty programme. Jumeirah Group has recently unveiled VENU Hotels, a contemporary lifestyle hotel brand.

About the World Travel Awards

The World Travel Awards were conceived in 1993 to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry. Now in their seventeenth year, travel professionals and discerning travelers have come to regard the World Travel Awards as the very best endorsement that a travel product could hope to receive. With thousands of votes cast by travel professionals from 170,000 travel agencies, tour & transport companies and tourism organizations in over 160 countries across the globe, winning a World Travel Award has become one of the highest accolades a travel product or organization can achieve. Attended by top executives of winning companies, the events are highly regarded and well-established as a forum that brings together all areas of travel and tourism in recognition of achievements of the industry.

www.worldtravelawards.com

SOURCE Jumeirah Essex House