Pacific Resort Hotel Group (PRHG) in the Cook Islands have kicked off 2012 in celebration mode after walking away with awards for the “World’s Leading Boutique Island Resort” and “World’s Leading Island Villas” at the 2011 World Travel Awards Grand Final event hosted last night by the Qatar Tourism Authority at Katara Cultural Village in Doha, Qatar.

Pacific Resort Aitutaki has been voted “World’s Leading Boutique Island Resort” for the fourth consecutive year, while Te Manava Luxury Villas & Spa, Rarotonga has been voted “World’s Leading Island Villas” for the second consecutive year.

Hailed as "The Oscars of the Travel Industry" by the Wall Street Journal, the World Travel Awards is recognised worldwide as the ultimate travel accolade. WTA 2011 nominations featured over 5,000 companies in 1,000 categories across 162 countries. The winners were selected by thousands of industry professionals and consumers worldwide who have been voting online.

Graham E. Cooke, President & Founder, World Travel Awards, underlined the remarkable resilience of the global travel and tourism business despite the challenges of the global recession.

He said: “It is during times of economic uncertainty that world-class brands come into their own, continuing to reinvent themselves and grow market share – traits all shared by tonight’s World Travel Award winners.”

The Pacific Resort Hotel Group chief executive officer Greg Stanaway says this award is considered to be the ultimate achievement for the group and for the Cook Islands.