The inaugural edition of the Vadodara Travel Agents Association (VTAA) Travel Awards 2024, held on January 11 at the Polo Club in Vadodara, was a remarkable event that brought together the city’s travel and tourism community. For the first time, professionals and their families celebrated together as 24 awards were presented across various categories. The event aimed to position Vadodara as a premier tourist hub in India, showcasing exceptional qualities and services in the travel sector while celebrating excellence and innovation within the industry.
Several prominent travel agents and industry leaders attended the event to show their support and participate in one of the year’s most highly anticipated gatherings. Their presence served as a gesture of recognition for the outstanding performance of the city’s travel fraternity and hospitality services. The guests of honor included Balkrishna Shukla, Chief Whip of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly; Keyur Rokadiya, MLA of Raopura Vidhan Sabha; and Dalip Gupta, General Secretary of ADTOI. During their speeches following the lamp-lighting ceremony, they congratulated the VTAA committee for launching the award show and bringing Vadodara into the spotlight. They assured their full support for tourism initiatives, emphasizing the city’s potential and urging collective efforts to establish Vadodara as a leading tourism hub in the country and ensure it garners global recognition and increased footfalls.
The jury panel, who did an admirable job, included the following members: Harsh Jhaver, CEO of Vandana Travels; Mahendra Singh Panwar, Manager of Vadodara Airport; Bharat Shah, CEO of Sunbeams Travels; Pradeep Chauhan, Director of Innovation at Jindal Group; and Thomas Oommen, Managing Director of Uniglobe Thomas Travel Solutions. Their expertise, integrity, and dedication ensured that the most deserving individuals were recognized for their contributions to the travel industry. While processing the nominations and selecting the winners was challenging, the panel expressed optimism about receiving even more nominations in the next VTAA Awards, reflecting Vadodara’s promising lineup of exciting travel products and services.
The venue provided an ideal setting for the event—vibrant and lively, complemented by a great host. Guests enjoyed incredible dance performances by a local troupe during the awards ceremony. The banqueting facilities were excellent, and it was particularly heartening to see families actively participating, celebrating the achievements of their loved ones and others. Such family involvement, once a common feature in the industry, has significantly diminished over the years, making this event even more special.
The VTAA Awards were supported by TBO.com as the title sponsor, with the event powered by Royal Retreat and Spa, Udaipur, alongside several other partners and supporters. TTJ served as the media partner.
Overall, the event was a commendable effort by the VTAA committee. Speaking to TTJ, Manish Shah, President of VTAA, remarked, “I am happy that our debut VTAA Awards 2024 went smoothly and was appreciated by all who attended. It required a lot of effort, but it was important to recognize our fellow industry professionals for their hard work, passion, and commitment—something that was long overdue. We are certainly looking forward to next year’s awards and hope to make it bigger, with more stakeholders participating to unite and highlight Vadodara’s tourism potential. We aim to work together towards that goal.”
Established in 2020, VTAA was formed to unite travel agents in the Vadodara district. For years, there was no formal body to represent and support travel agents in the region. Under the leadership of Manish Shah, the committee identified this gap and created an association to serve as a unified platform for travel professionals in the area.
Complete List of VTAA Travel Awards 2024 Winners:
Best 3-Star Hotel: Suba Elite
Best 4-Star Hotel: Express Hotels
Best 5-Star Hotel: Madhuban Resort and Spa
Best Adventure and Trekking Tour Operator: Heights and Sights
Best B2B DMC: Nihar Hospitality and Royal Sunshine Holidays
Best Banquet and Convention Centre: LVP Banquets and Conventions
Best Airline Consolidator: Heer Communication and Vicky Tourism Pvt. Ltd.
Best Foreign Exchange Dealer: Thomas Cook Pvt. Ltd.
Best Group Tour Operator (Fixed Departures): Flamingo Transworld Pvt. Ltd.
Best Inbound Tour Operator: Royal Tern Hospitality and Appusine Holidays
Best Luxury Accommodation in Statue of Unity: The Fern Sardar Sarovar Resort
Best Outbound Tour Operator: Vivid Holidays
Best Restaurant: Gujarati Thali – Mandap Restaurant
Best Specialty Restaurant: Mexican Tapas Bar at Madhuban Resort and Spa
Best Tour Operator for Student Groups: Gaj Holidays
Best Tour Operator Promoting Ecotourism in Vadodara: Aabha Holidays
Best Transport Service Provider: Shree Krishna Tourism
Best Travel Agency for Corporate Tours: Vimleshwar Travels
Best Travel Agency by Women Entrepreneurs: Yan Travel World
Best Travel Insurance Provider: Asego Travel LLP
Best Value Accommodation in Statue of Unity: BRG Budget Stay
Best Visa Service Provider for Students and Immigration: Kanan.co
Best Visa Service Provider for Tourists and Business: Maa International
Most Popular Hotel: Grand Mercure Surya Palace Vadodara