Kilimanjaro International Airport takes top spot for second year running. Kilimanjaro joins Tampa International Airport, Abu Dhabi International Airport and City Airport Bremen who were announced as overall winners of the Americas, Asia and Europe heats respectively, earlier in the year.
VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE – Kilimanjaro International Airport has been crowned overall winner of the Routes Africa Marketing Awards for the second year running. The winners of the 4th regional heat of the Routes Marketing Awards were announced last night during the Routes Africa Networking Evening which took place against a stunning backdrop on the Golf Course of the Elephant Hills Hotel & Resort.
Speaking just after receiving the award Mattijs Smith, Managing Director of Kilimanjaro Airport said: “We are very delighted and proud to win the overall Routes Africa award for the second year in a row. This award is a true recognition by our airline customers for strengthening our existing routes and achieving a record growth of 24% in traffic in 2013.”
The annual Routes awards are highly regarded as the most prestigious awards in the industry as they are voted for and judged by the airline network planning community. They provide the airline community with the chance to have their say as to which airport or tourism authority they think provides the best overall marketing services to them whether this relates to their particular relationship, effective results, provision of data and information or innovative techniques to establish new or maintain and develop existing routes.
Katie Bland, Director Routes for UBM Live commented: “We were delighted with the high level of submissions and congratulate all those that were nominated, those recognised as Highly Commended by the panel of judges and of course all of the section winners. Kilimanjaro International Airport has once again shown how seriously it takes network development and their submission included examples of their marketing material and their dedication to improving routes to their airport.”
As overall winner of this regional heat, Kilimanjaro International Airport will be automatically shortlisted for the World Routes Marketing Awards which will be announced in Chicago this September. Kilimanjaro joins Tampa International Airport, Abu Dhabi International Airport and City Airport Bremen who were announced as overall winners of the Americas, Asia and Europe heats respectively, earlier in the year.
Kilimanjaro was also named as the winner from the Under 4 million passengers category, with Durban King Shaka International Airport honoured from the Over 4 million passengers category and Madagascar Tourism Board ranked top in the Destination Marketing Category.
The shortlisted finalists were nominated by airlines and a respected panel of judges, made up of senior members of the airline network planning community from the region, then reviewed the lists and submissions from the nominated airports, in order to determine the winners. The panel consisted of the following experts:
Mrs. Rosemary Ramakagapola, Network Planning Analyst, South African Airways
- Mr. Richard Bodin, Chief Commercial Officer, Fastjet
- Mr. Jonay Lobo Torres, Revenue Management, Binter Canaries
- Miss Cynthia Jepkemboi, Senior Strategic Planning Analyst, Kenya Airways
A complete list of companies shortlisted under each award category is below:
Over 4 Million Passengers
- Durban King Shaka International Airport- Winner
- Casablanca Mohammed V Airport- Highly Commended
- Addis Ababa Bole Airport
- Cape Town International Airport
Under 4 Million Passengers
- Kilimanjaro International Airport- Winner & Overall Winner
- Antananarivo Ivato International Airport- Highly Commended
- Julius Nyerere International Airport
- Maputo International Airport
- Sikhuphe International Airport
- Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport
Destination Marketing Award
- Madagascar Tourism Board- Winner
- Ministry of tourism of Mozambique
- Sao Tome and Principe Tourism Board
- Tanzania Tourist Board
- Tourism KwaZulu-Natal
Photo caption: Kilimanjaro International Airport
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
