The European winners of the 2008 World Travel Awards, dubbed “the Oscars of the travel industry” by the Wall Street Journal, were announced this week at a glittering awards ceremony in Slovakia attended by 300 guests from 19 countries across Europe.

Against stiff competition, the Praia D’El Rey Marriott Hotel, situated 50 minutes north of Lisbon on Portugal’s Silver Coast, was named “Portugal’s Leading Resort” for the second year running.

This caps a highly successful year for the Praia D’El Rey Golf & Beach Resort, already well known as a year round sporting destination by the world’s elite sportsmen. Recent visitors include footballing superhero Cristiano Ronaldo, since the resort’s Marriott hotel is currently the home-from-home for the Portuguese national football team during their World Cup 2010 training sessions.

“We are thrilled to win this prestigious award”, says Jorge Almeida, Resort Director of Praia D’El Rey. “It’s a recognition of how we have grown over the last 10 years to become one of Portugal’s best known resorts, with over 250,000 visitors a year.”

Apart from its 5 star Marriott hotel, the 230-hectare Praia D’El Rey Golf & Beach Resort has an 18 hole golf course with full coaching facilities, water sports, a tennis centre and FIFA-standard football centre, shops and restaurants, and over 800 luxury villas, townhouses and apartments.

Launched in 1993, the World Travel Awards acknowledge excellence in travel and tourism. Now, after fifteen years, both travel professionals and travellers alike regard the awards as an endorsement of quality. Votes are cast by travel professionals from 167,000 travel agencies, tour and transport companies and tourism organizations in over 160 countries worldwide.