America: Virtuoso Award , category “Tourism Board of the Year”

Virtuoso is a network of over 1,000 luxury travel agencies employing 17,500 agents worldwide, with a primary focus on North and South America.
Switzerland Tourism ST fended off competition from Australia, Mexico, New Zealand and Slovenia.

From left: Martin Oester (STS) with ST employees Isabelle Minder and Alex Herrmann. ©Virtuoso

Germany: “Deutscher Reisepreis” (German Travel Prize) , category “Destinations” for the E-Grand Tour of Switzerland

The Deutsche Reisepreis honours the best innovations within the travel and tourism sector, and is considered the “Oscars of the German travel sector”. Switzerland Tourism won the “Destinations” category for the E-Grand Tour of Switzerland.

The jury consists of top management executives from the aviation, hotel and cruise industries, the media, PR and education sectors, and tour operators.

On the right: ST employee Jörg Peter Krebs.

Russia: Business Travel Magazine awards , category “Best Convention Bureau”

The Russian Business Travel Magazine is the MICE sector equivalent of a business tourism magazine. Switzerland Tourism was voted best Convention Bureau by readers, beating France and Israel.

Russia: National Geographic Traveller Award , category “Best Ski Destination”

Around 270,000 readers of the Russian publication of National Geographic cast their vote: Switzerland won 40% of the vote in the “Best Ski Destination” category, followed by Austria with 30% and Georgia with 17%. The candidature was submitted by the Moscow ST branch office. .

UK: Leisure & Travel Awards , category “Best International Destination”

Every year, the Group Leisure & Travel magazine awards the best destinations, attractions and providers in the group travel sector. Winners are chosen by readers of the magazine. Switzerland Tourism beat competition from Ireland, Belgium, New York City, Paris and Cyprus.  

Middle: ST employee Simon Henwood.

India: SAMMIE Awards , category “Best Social Media Brand”

Social Samosa is an Indian online publication that reports on trends, findings and the latest stories within social media marketing. The publication organised the award for the best influencer campaigns. A jury composed of prominent industry leaders selected Switzerland Tourism for the #inlovewithswitzerland campaign and Ranveer Singh presented the SAMMIE Award.

India: Outlook Traveller Award , category “Best International Destination”

Readers of the Indian Outlook Traveller magazine voted for their best international destination from a list that had been preselected by a jury. Switzerland Tourism entered and beat off competition from Australia and Thailand to win.

India: Lonely Planet Magazine Travel Award , category “Best Destination for Romance (International)”

Candidates for the Travel Award from the Indian edition of Lonely Planet magazine were nominated by an expert committee. Readers of the magazine then selected their winner. Switzerland Tourism fought off competition from the Maldives and the Seychelles.

ST employees, far left and second from the right: Ritu Sharma and Claudio Zemp.

 

China: National Tourism Awards & MICE Media , “Best FIT Destination” and “Most Popular MICE Destination for Pharmaceutical and Health Product Customer” categories

Chinese media company Tourism Media is responsible for publications including the National Tourism Magazine and is considered a major player in the sector. In April 2018, Switzerland won the “Best FIT Destination” and “Most Popular MICE Destination for Pharmaceutical and Health Product Customers” categories

China: Travel Weekly’s Industry Awards , category “Best Ski Destination”

Travel Weekly China, which is part of the Northstar Group, is the most influential B2B medium in China. This was the first time Switzerland won the award. The candidature was submitted by the ST branch office in Beijing.

On the right: ST employee Simon Bosshart.

South-East Asia: TTG Travel Awards , category “Best Travel Marketing Effort”

These awards are the highest accolade in the South-East Asian travel sector. They honoured the outstanding achievements of the marketing organisations whose marketing and branding had the most lasting impact on the travel sector.

Pictured here: ST employee Ivan Breiter

South-East Asia: Travel Weekly Asia Awards , “Best Destination in Europe”

Travel Weekly Asia is the leading publication in the travel and hospitality industry sector in South-East Asia. Winners are chosen by its readers. In 2018, Switzerland was selected as the best European destination.

Pictured here: ST employee Ivan Breiter.