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Best travel articles about Oman within the past five years
Oman Air has announced the winners of the Oman Air Media Awards 2016. The awards celebrate the best of German and Swiss travel and aviation writing and recognise writers' contibutions over the past five years to the success of Oman Air and the destination of Oman.
The winners of each of four categories of the awards were announced at ITB Berlin, the world's leading travel trade show, on 9th March. They were each presented with a framed reproduction of their reports, a certificate and a presentation case of traditional Omani silverware. In addition, an overall winner was chosen and was presented with two business class flights and five-star accommodation in Muscat.
The winners of the two magazine categories were Ina Volkmer and Tina Bremer, whilst Marko Roth won the blogger category and Harald Schmidt won the online media award. Harald Schmidt was also named as the overall winner.
The Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, Paul Gregorowitsch, presented the awards. He said:
"It has been an honour to host the Media Awards during ITB Berlin. They have enabled us to recognize both the exceptional talent at work within Germany's and Switzerland's travel media, and the awe-inspiring source of inspiration that Oman provides for journalists.
"We would like to offer our sincere congratulations to each of the four winners., Ina, Tina Marko and Harald have all published outstanding print, online or video articles about Oman and we are delighted to recognise their work.
"We would also like to thank the very many other journalists throughout German-language media who have helped to raise awareness of Oman, celebrated the many wonderful attractions that the country offers to visitors, and set an extremely high standard in travel writing.
"This year's Oman Air Media Awards come at a crucial time for the Airline. We are currently embarked upon an ambitious expansion programme that will see Oman Air's fleet increase in size to 70 aircraft by 2020. Over the last year, we have taken delivery of more Boeing 737 aircraft, and have unveiled the first two of our iconic new Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Oman Air's expanded fleet will enable us to introduce a wide range of new routes to our network, adding to the 50 destinations to which we already fly.
"As a result of our expansion, Oman Air will be able to introduce many thousands more travellers from around the world to the unique and authentic charms that Oman offers to visitors. And many of those visitors will first hear about Oman, and Oman Air, via the media.
"The Oman Air Media Awards are designed to recognise and acknowledge the very best of that media coverage. We look forward to reading the many articles that we know will be published about Oman over the next 12 months and to recognizing future talent in the years to come."
Each of the winning pieces provided readers and viewers with a wealth of information about Oman and how to get there. Ina Volkmer, writing in Laura magazine, brought the desert to life in a colourful article which also featured the food offered at Nizwa souk and the warm hospitality of the Omani people. Tina Bremer's feature, published in Swiss magazine Bolero, described the balance that the Sultanate of Oman successfully walks between tradition and progress. It follows a road trip which takes in the capital city of Muscat and the modernity of the Royal Opera House, the rose gardens of Jabal Akhdar and a romantic desert camp. Hospitality was again the focus of Harald Schmidt's online feature for the reisestories.de travel website. Dr Schmidt was invited to stay with an Omani oil worker and to experience life in the Sultanate. His article is rich in information about Oman, it history and culture, whilst stressing the friendliness and hospitality offered by Omanis to their guests. Marko Roth's winning entry in the Bloggers category of the awards was an outstanding film about Oman, which was posted at easywriters.de.
The awards were organized by Oman Air's Marketing Department along with the Corporate Communications and Media department with support from Oman Air Office in Germany.
Oman has long been a sought-after destination for air travellers from Germany and Switzerland. Oman Air offers direct flights to Muscat from Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich, as well as services from other European destinations, such as London, Paris and Milan. The Sultanate of Oman offers German-speaking travellers a heartfelt welcome, together with a rich history, authentic culture and breathtaking scenery. In addition, Oman's superb hotels and resorts sector continues to expand, providing guests with an enviable choice of accommodation and world-class cuisine. As a result, Germany and Switzerland provide a significant proportion of overseas visitors to Oman, and numbers continue to grow.
Corporate Communications & Media
Oman Air
About Oman Air:
Oman Air is the flagship carrier of the Sultanate of Oman and an Official 4 Star Airline (Skytrax 2011). Founded in 1993, the airline has since witnessed massive growth and has played a major role in making Muscat an important traffic hub in the Middle East, supporting the commercial, industrial and tourism sectors.
The airline currently operates direct international flights from Muscat to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Madina, Tehran and Kuwait, in the Gulf region, as well as Cairo, Beirut and Amman within the wider Middle East region.
In addition, Oman Air flies to eleven destinations in India (Goa, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Delhi, Lucknow, Bangalore, Kozhikode and Jaipur); Chittagong and Dhaka in Bangladesh; Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore in Pakistan; Kathmandu in Nepal; and Colombo in Sri Lanka. The airline also flies to the Maldives, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Jakarta, Zanzibar and Dar Es Salaam. Its European destinations are London, Milan, Munich, Frankfurt, Paris and Zurich.
Oman Air has codeshare agreements with a number of airline partners. These are: Emirates Airlines for services between Dubai and Muscat; Ethiopian Airlines for flights between Muscat and Addis Ababa; Royal Jordanian, enabling that airline's customers to fly with Oman Air between Muscat and Amman and Oman Air's customers to fly with Royal Jordanian between Amman and Beirut; Turkish Airlines for flights between Muscat and Istanbul; Sri Lankan Airlines, enabling Oman Air's customers to book with Sri Lankan Airlines from Muscat to Singapore, Male, and China via Colombo, and Sri Lankan Airlines' customers to book onto Oman Air's flights from Colombo to Zurich via the Omani Capital of Muscat; Oman Air has also codeshare agreement with Malaysian Airlines, KLM and Garuda Airlines. Recently Oman Air has signed a codeshare agreement with Thai Airways as well offering travellers better connectivity and increased choice.
Currently Oman Air's fleet consists of two Boeing 787 Dreamliners, six Airbus 330-300s, four Airbus 330-200s, five Boeing 737-900s, 18 Boeing 737-800 and four Embraer 175s, and two Dreamliners. Two more Dreamliners will join the fleet soon. By 2018, Oman Air's total fleet size is expected to be around 57 aircraft, rising to 70 aircraft by 2020.
Oman Air's outstanding aircraft interiors include its First Class Mini Suite, which provides each of the six First Class passengers with direct aisle access and converts to the longest lie-flat seat in the skies. The A330's outstanding Business Class seats each provide direct aisle access, ample storage space and the latest technological amenities. Economy Class seats offer adjustable head and leg rests, together with generous leg and elbow room. State of the art in-flight entertainment systems feature individual seatback screens, audio and video on demand and live satellite TV. In addition, Oman Air has pioneered both mobile telephony and Internet connectivity on board its flights and this is available in all three classes.
Superb new First and Business Class lounges have been opened at Muscat International Airport, featuring elegant and tranquil relaxation areas, complimentary spa treatments and à la carte dining. In addition, premium check-in facilities and a First Class lounge-to-aircraft limousine service are offered to passengers at Muscat.
Oman Air's commitment to quality, comfort and a seamless passenger experience has resulted in acclaim at the Skytrax World Airline Awards, including: Best Business Class Seat in the World (2011, 2012); Service Excellence, Middle East (2011); and Best Staff Service, Middle East (2014). The World Travel Awards have also honoured Oman Air with World's Leading Airline - Economy Class 2014, Best Business Class Airline - Middle East 2014, and Best Economy Class Airline - Middle East 2013 and 2014. Further awards include Best Luxury Airline, Middle East (Business Destinations Awards 2011, 2012, 2013); Best In-flight Connectivity & Communications award at The 2011 Passenger Choice Awards; as well as recognition in the TravelPlus Amenity Bag Awards 2010 (three Gold, one Silver), 2011 (two Gold, one bronze), 2012 (one Gold) and 2013 (one Gold); the Business Traveller Cellars in the Sky Awards 2010 (Silver) and 2012 (two Gold). Over the last year, Oman Air has also won two awards at the Arab Tourism Media awards, and three categories of the Oman Web Awards, as has received the Readers' Choice Award at the Saveur Culinary Travel Awards, in recognition of the extraordinarily high standards of inflight cuisine. In addition, the airline was ranked highly in the American Express Executive Travel magazine's list of the world's best airlines, and in Business Insider's World's Best Airlines 2014.
Oman Air scooped four awards at the Oman Airports Management Company Second Annual Awards ceremony, on February 2015. The national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman was recognized as one of the top five airlines by number of passengers carried at Muscat International Airport. It also received an award as one of the top three airlines at Salalah International Airport, as well as receiving accolades in the Non-Aeronautical and Stakeholder of the Year 2014 categories.
Oman Air won two awards at the World Travel Awards Middle East 2015, where the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman came top in the 'Middle East's Leading Airline - Business Class' and 'Middle East's Leading Airline - Economy Class' categories. Oman Air was also named as the winner of the 'Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East' award at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2015.
At the WorldTravel Awards 2015, the National Carrier was named the 'World's Leading Airline Economy Class 2015' as well as airline's lounge at Muscat International Airport was named 'World's Leading Airport Lounge - Business Class 2015'.
Oman Air also won the Best International Airline Award 2015 at the North India Travel Awards held in India. More recently Wings of Oman received 'Best In-flight Magazine' award at the prestigious World Marketing Congress's Global Marketing Excellence awards held in Mumbai, India.
© Press Release 2016
