Aussie city named top tourist destination in global travel awards program

An Australian city has reigned supreme in a leading global tourism awards program.

Sydney cleaned-up in the World Travel Awards 2024, taking many top awards across the Oceania region.

The harbour city was named Oceania's Leading City Destination, beating long-standing rival city, Melbourne, which won the gong in 2023 and 2022.

Sydney also beat local competitors Cairns, Gold Coast and Perth, and overseas competitors Auckland and Queenstown in New Zealand.

Sydney Airport was recognised as Oceania's Leading Airport, beating fellow heavyweights Wellington and Christchurch in New Zealand, Faa'a International Airport in Tahiti and Australian airports in Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.

The World Travel Awards is a premier global travel industry awards program, rewarding leaders in the tourism, airline, hotel and hospitality sectors.

Tourism royalty from across Asia and Oceania convened in Manila, Philippines for the awards on September 4, 2024, to recognise the travel brands pushing the boundaries of excellence and innovation.

Sydney also asserted its dominance in the categories of Oceania's Leading Meetings & Conference Destination; Oceania's Leading Hotel, which went to The Langham Sydney; Oceania's Leading New Hotel, which was awarded to W Sydney; and Oceania's Leading Serviced Apartments, which went to Fraser Suites Sydney.

Qantas Airways was recognised as Oceania's Leading Airline Brand, and the best airline in the Oceania region went to Air New Zealand, while the best airport lounge went to Fiji Airways Premier Lounge @ Nadi International Airport.

The heart of Australia, Uluru, was recognised with Oceania's Responsible Tourism Award going to the Ayers Rock Resort, and Wintjiri Wiru - the resort's drone light show - winning Oceania's Leading Tourist Attraction.

Melbourne's Convention and Exhibition Centre won Oceania's Leading Meetings & Conference Centre, and the Parkroyal at Melbourne Airport won Oceania's Leading Airport Hotel.

The best travel agency in Australia went to Flight Centre, while Webjet was named the leading online travel agency in the country.

Avis was named Australia's best rental car company, and the best tour operator in the country was Inspiring Vacations - based in Melbourne - which also won best tour operator across Oceania.

Melbourne gave Sydney a run for its money in the hotel stakes. Australia's Leading Hotel was the Pan Pacific Melbourne, while Australia's best business hotel went to Parkroyal Monash Melbourne.

The Leading Boutique Hotel in the country was COMO The Treasury in Perth, and the best luxury hotel was The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

Sydney Airport will soon have competition from the new Western Sydney International Airport, set to launch in 2026.

The new airport on Sydney's fringe is said to be world-class, built to service 10 million passengers a year, and has support from Qantas and Jetstar.

Singapore Airlines is the first major airline to sign-on, and airport CEO Simon Hickey said the deal was recognition of the airport's unique scheduling that airlines will be able to access.

"This inaugural international airline arrangement is a fantastic milestone for Western Sydney International Airport and reflects the positive response we've had from airlines, especially in regard to the unprecedented opportunities our 24-hour capability unlocks," Mr Hickey said.