“It is an absolute honour to receive this award. I
t couldn’t have come at a better time than this year, as we celebrate our 70th anniversary. Our Birthday celebrations have just started”, commented an elated Hanlie Kotze, Blue Train’s Executive Manager.
World Travel Awards, regarded as ‘the Oscars of the travel industry’, entered its 23th edition and Blue Train- Transnet owned entity- has made great strides in profiling itself globally.
Continued Kotze: “As an iconic brand, we continue to strive for excellence not just in the rail operator business, our area of expertise, but in the travel and tourism industry as a whole.
We continue to offer our guests unsurpassed, memorable experiences and most importantly good value for their money – especially during these tough and trying economic times. We cannot afford not to! Luxury products, like ours, are the first people forgo in tough economic times, when they ‘tighten their belts’ a little.
Our service excellence should not make this an option. We look forward to the Grand Finale where the World Awards will take place in the Maldives Islands later in the year.
The World’s Leading Luxury Train, has eluded us for the past three years. Hopefully this is the year we can reclaim it, as it coincides with our 70th Anniversary. Holding thumbs…” she says.
The Blue Train, one of South Africa’s most well-known tourism icons, offers corporates the opportunity to tailor-make their own Blue Train route. The train can be chartered for strategic meetings, product launches, VIP cocktail parties, lunches, dinners and even wedding receptions, with a variety of different routes as an option.
Other SA brands that were recognized include O.R. Tambo International – Africa’s Leading Airport, Abercrombie and Kent – Africa’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator, Singita Game Reserves – Africa’s Leading Game Reserve Brand and Sun City Resort – Africa’s Leading Resort.
The WTA are attended by senior executives from major travel companies, operators and so, on.
As the adage goes ‘A Window to the Soul of Africa’ this augurs fittingly well with this sought after Blue Jewel!
