Manama was named World’s Leading Business Travel Destination as it welcomed global tourism leaders to Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB) for the World Travel Awards Grand Final 2025.
The awards brought together representatives from across the travel and hospitality sectors and highlighted Bahrain’s growing role as a business events leader and tourism industry innovator.
The event host itself, EWB, secured four major wins: Bahrain’s Best Convention Centre, the Middle East’s Best MICE Event Venue, the World’s Leading Large-Scale Wedding Venue and World’s Best MICE Event Venue.
These accolades will help reinforce EWB’s position as a leading events destination and a key driver of Bahrain’s strategy to attract major exhibitions, conferences and international gatherings.
This year’s Grand Final recognised excellence across 120 categories, including 110 international winners and 10 Bahrain winners. The ceremony welcomed 300 delegates in total, with 202 international participants and 98 from Bahrain, making it one of the most diverse editions of the awards to date.
Gulf Air was also honoured for its Outstanding Contribution to the Airline Industry, underscoring the national carrier’s role in strengthening Bahrain’s global connectivity.
Other Bahrain winners include: World’s Leading Boutique Hotel – Charthouse Bahrain; World’s Leading City Resort – Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa; World’s Leading Family Hotel – Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay; World’s Leading Hotel Penthouse – Royal Penthouse at Conrad Bahrain Financial Harbour; World’s Leading Luxury Island Resort – Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain Resort & Spa; World’s Leading Palace Hotel – Raffles Al Areen Palace Bahrain; and World’s Leading Wedding Hotel – The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain.
The successes across diverse categories reflect the depth of the kingdom’s hospitality landscape.
Tourism Minister and Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) chairperson Fatima Al Sairafi, said that Manama being named World’s Leading Business Travel Destination honours BTEA’s efforts to expand the kingdom’s presence in the global MICE market.
“These achievements demonstrate the strength of Bahrain’s tourism ecosystem and the commitment of our partners. Hosting the World Travel Awards Grand Final and earning multiple recognitions highlights the progress of our tourism and MICE sectors. We look forward to building on this momentum as we continue to showcase Bahrain’s heritage, hospitality and world-class infrastructure to visitors from around the world,” she said.
Graham Cooke, founder of the World Travel Awards, thanked Bahrain for hosting the event and congratulated this year’s winners.
“Bahrain delivered a memorable setting for this year’s Grand Final, bringing together leading names from across the global travel industry,” he said. “We congratulate all the winners on their achievements and the innovation they continue to contribute to our sector. The Grand Final remains an important moment to acknowledge excellence worldwide, and we are pleased to have celebrated this year’s milestones with our partners in the kingdom.”
BTEA chief executive officer and Exhibition World Bahrain chairwoman Sara Buhiji affirmed that this achievement reflects international confidence in the island’s capabilities.
“We are proud that Bahrain has been named the Best Destination for Hosting Grand Weddings, and that the EWB has been recognised as the Best Venue for such events. This confirms our readiness to host major occasions and provide exceptional experiences for our guests.”
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards are regarded as a benchmark for quality across the global tourism industry. With the successful hosting of the 2025 Grand Final, combined with multiple national wins across aviation, hospitality, and MICE infrastructure, Bahrain continues to strengthen its position as a destination of choice for travellers, businesses and major international events.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))