The Ghana Tourism Authority has been named for Africa's Leading Tourist Board 2016 award in World Travel Awards.

Other nominees are the Egyptian Tourist Authority, Gambia Tourism Board, Kenya Tourism Board, Moroccan National Tourism Organisation, Namibia Tourism Board, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, South Africa Tourism, Tanzania Tourist Board and Zanzibar Commission for Tourism.

The WTA recently unveiled the nominees for the upcoming Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2016.

The first event on the annual Grand Tour, the ceremony will this year be hosted by Diamonds La Gemma dell'Est in Zanzibar, Tanzania, on April 9.

With more than 1,500 nominations now revealed, voting is expected to be highly competitive right up until the February 29 deadline.

World Travel Awards President Graham Cooke said: “This is always an exciting time of year for World Travel Awards, as we unveil the nominees for the first Gala Ceremony of the year. As we have come to expect it is a stellar list, incorporating the leading lights of hospitality from across Africa and the Indian Ocean. With just four weeks of voting ahead of us I urge voters from around the world to cast their ballots at the first opportunity and to make their voices heard as we being the Grand Tour 2016.”

Each year WTA covers the globe with a series of regional Gala Ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective successes within each key geographical region.

Each WTA Gala Ceremony offers unrivalled networking opportunities to members of the travel and tourism industry, with the events welcoming government and industry leaders as well as international print and broadcast media.

WTA was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.

Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Below is the full list of nominees in the various categories in the Africa section:

Africa's Leading Airline - Business Class 2016:

EgyptAir

Ethiopian Airlines

Kenya Airways

Royal Air Maroc

South African Airways

Africa's Leading Airline - Economy Class 2016:

Air Namibia

EgyptAir

Ethiopian Airlines

Kenya Airways

LAM - Mozambique Airlines

Mango

Precision Air

Royal Air Maroc

South African Airways

Tunis Air

Africa's Leading Airline 2016:

EgyptAir

Ethiopian Airlines

Kenya Airways

Royal Air Maroc

South African Airways

Tunisair

Africa's Leading Airport 2016:

Cairo International Airport, Egypt

Cape Town International Airport, South Africa

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi

Julius Nyerere International Airport, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

King Shaka International Airport, Durban, South Africa

Mohammed V International Airport, Morocco

O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa

Africa's Leading Inflight Magazine 2016:

Horus (EgyptAir)

khuluma (Kulula)

La Gazelle (Tunisair)

Msafiri (Kenya Airways)

RAM Magazine (Royal Air Maroc)

Sawubona (South African Airways)

Selamta Magazine (Ethiopian Airlines)

Africa's Leading Low-Cost Airline 2016:

Air Arabia

fastjet

Fly540

Kulula

Mango

Car

Africa's Leading Business Car Rental Company 2016:

Avis

Budget

Europcar

Hertz

Thrifty

Africa's Leading Car Rental Company 2016:

Avis

Budget

Europcar

Hertz

Thrifty

Cruise

Africa's Leading Cruise Line 2016:

Discover Egypt, Nile Cruises

Oceania Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Royal Caribbean International

Silversea Cruises

Sonesta Nile Cruises

Africa's Leading Cruise Port 2016:

Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Port of Cape Town, South Africa

Port of Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

Port of Durban, South Africa

Port of Mombasa, Kenya

Port of Zanzibar, Tanzania

Africa's Leading River Cruise Company 2016:

Avalon Waterways

Discover Egypt, Nile Cruises

Oberoi Cruises

Pangolin Voyager

Sonesta Nile Cruises

Viking River Cruises

Destination

Africa's Leading Beach Destination 2016:

Bazaruto, Mozambique

Cape Town, South Africa

Diani Beach, Kenya

Plettenberg Bay, South Africa

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Africa's Leading Destination 2016:

Cape Town, South Africa

Durban, South Africa

El Gouna, Red Sea, Egypt

Johannesburg, South Africa

Luxor, Egypt

Marrakech, Morocco

Mombasa, Kenya

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Victoria Falls, Zambia

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Africa's Leading Meetings & Conference Destination 2016:

Cape Town, South Africa

Durban, South Africa

Nairobi, Kenya

Africa's Leading National Park 2016:

Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana

Etosha National Park, Namibia

Kidepo Valley National Park, Uganda

Kruger National Park, South Africa

Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Africa's Leading Tourist Attraction 2016:

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Robben Island, South Africa

Table Mountain, South Africa

V&A Waterfront, South Africa

Africa's Leading Tourist Board 2016:

Egyptian Tourist Authority

Gambia Tourism Board

Ghana Tourism Authority

Kenya Tourism Board

Moroccan National Tourism Organisation

Namibia Tourism Board

Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation

South Africa Tourism

Tanzania Tourist Board

Zanzibar Commission for Tourism

General

Africa's Responsible Tourism Award 2016:

&Beyond

Azura Benguerra Island, Mozambique

Fair Trade Tourism

Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps, Kenya

Monkey Valley Resort, South Africa

Private Safaris

Starwood Hotels & Resorts

Twiga Tours

Hotels & Resorts

Africa's Leading All-Inclusive Resort 2016:

Diamonds Dream of Africa, Kenya

Diamonds La Gemma dell'Est, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Hideaway of Nungwi Resort & Spa, Zanzibar

Hilton Hurghada Plaza, Egypt

Africa's Leading Beach Resort 2016:

AfroChic Diani Beach, Kenya

Almanara Luxury Resort, Kenya

Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort & Spa, Mozambique

Bluebay Beach Resort & Spa, Zanzibar

Diamonds La Gemma dell'Est, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Karafuu Beach Resort & Spa, Zanzibar

Sultan Gardens Resort, Egypt

Swahili Beach, Kenya

The Majlis Resort, Kenya

Africa's Leading Boutique Hotel 2016:

Azura Benguerra Island, Mozambique

Birkenhead House, South Africa

Camps Bay Retreat, South Africa

Giraffe Manor, Kenya

Hotel & Ryad Art Place Marrakech

La Villa des Orangers, Morocco

Lion in the Sun, Kenya

No5 Boutique Art Hotel, South Africa

Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, South Africa

The Last Word Long Beach, South Africa

The Peech Boutique Hotel, South Africa

Tribe Hotel, Kenya

Villa Monticello Boutique Hotel

Africa's Leading Boutique Hotel Brand 2016:

African Pride Hotels

Elewana Collection

Hunters Hotels Group

Mantis Collection

Red Carnation Hotels

The Collection By Liz McGrath

The Last Word

The Royal Portfolio

Africa's Leading Business Hotel 2016:

Conrad Cairo, Egypt

Fairmont The Norfolk Hotel, Kenya

Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano, Egypt.

Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, Egypt

Hilton Durban, South Africa

L Mansion Marrakech Guest Palace, Morocco

Radisson Blu Hotel Sandton, Johannesburg

Radisson Blu Hotel, Dakar

Sandton Sun, South Africa

Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche, Morocco

Sofitel Marrakech Palais Impérial

The Wheatbaker, Lagos

Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Nigeria

Tribe Hotel, Kenya

Africa's Leading Casino Resort 2016:

Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, Morocco

Peermont D'oreale Grande at Emperors Palace, South Africa

Sun City Resort

The Palazzo Montecasino, South Africa

Wild Coast Sun, South Africa

Africa's Leading City Hotel 2016:

Dar es Salaam Serena Hotel, Dar es salam, Tanzania

Fairmont The Norfolk Hotel, Kenya

Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano, Egypt

Hemingways Nairobi, Kenya

Hilton Durban, South Africa

Hyatt Regency Casablanca, Morocco

InterContinental Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi Serena Hotel, Kenya

Pepperclub Hotel & Spa, South Africa

Sandton Sun, South Africa

Sheraton Casablanca Hotel & Towers, Morocco

Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche, Morocco

The Michaelangelo, South Africa

Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Nigeria

Africa's Leading Conference Hotel 2016:

African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel, South Africa

Djibouti Palace Kempinski, Djibouti

Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, Egypt

InterContinental Citystars Cairo, Egypt

JW Marriott Hotel Cairo, Egypt

Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa

Sandton Sun, South Africa

Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani, South Africa

Sun City Resort, South Africa

The Westin Cape Town, South Africa

Africa's Leading Design Hotel 2016:

Babylonstoren’s Farm Hotel, South Africa

Birkenhead House, South Africa

Hotel Les Deux Tours, Morocco

MannaBay, South Africa

The Olive Exclusive All Suite Hotel, Namibia

The Peech Boutique Hotel

The Robertson Small Hotel, South Africa

Tribe Hotel, Kenya

Africa's Leading Family Resort 2016:

Amani Tiwi Beach Resort, Kenya

Hilton Sharm Dreams Resort, Egypt

Hurghada Marriott Beach Resort, Egypt

Leopard Beach Resort & Spa, Kenya

One&Only Cape Town, South Africa

Sultan Gardens Resort, Egypt

Sun City Resort, South Africa

Wild Coast Sun, South Africa

Africa's Leading Green Hotel 2016:

Hilton Hurghada Plaza, Egypt

Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge, Kenya

Nairobi Serena Hotel, Kenya

Nkwichi Lodge, Mozambique

The Aberdare Country Club, Kenya

The Phantom Forest Eco-reserve, South Africa

Africa's Leading Hotel 2016:

Arabella Hotel & Spa, South Africa

Cape Grace, South Africa

Conrad Pezula Resort & Spa, South Africa

Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, Kenya

Fairmont The Norfolk Hotel, Kenya

Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, Egypt

Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca, Morocco

Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, Johannesburg, South Africa

Hilton Cairo Zamalek Residences, Egypt

La Mamounia, Marrakech, Morocco

Palais Namaskar, Marrakech, Morocco

Royal Mansour Marrakech, Morocco

Sahara Palace Marrakech, Morocco

Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, South Africa

Selman Marrakech, Morocco

The Palace of the Lost City, South Africa

Africa's Leading Hotel Brand 2016:

African Pride Hotels

Conrad Hotels & Resorts

Hilton Hotels & Resorts

InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

Mantis Collection

ONOMO Hotels

Protea Hotels

Serena Hotels

Sofitel

Sun International

Tsogo Sun

Africa's Leading Hotel Residences 2016:

Cape Grace, South Africa

Cape Royale Luxury Hotel, South Africa

Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Hilton Cairo Zamalek Residences, Egypt

Michelangelo Towers, South Africa

Palacina The Residence & The Suites, Kenya

Palmeraie Village, Morocco

Pepperclub Hotel & Spa, South Africa

Taj Cape Town, South Africa

The Residences at Leopard Beach Resort & Spa

Africa's Leading Hotel Suite 2016:

Churchill Suite @ Mena House Hotel, Cairo, Egypt

Livia's Presidential Suite @ Peermont D'oreale Grande at Emperors Palace, South Africa

Nelson Mandela Platinum Suite @ Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, South Africa

Pool Suite @ Palais Namaskar, Morocco

Presidential Suite @ Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, South Africa

Presidential Suite @ Four Seasons Resort Marrakech

Presidential Suite @ Savoy Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Royal Suite @ Sahara Palace Marrakech, Morocco

The Royal Suite @ Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca, Morocco

The Royal Suite @ Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, Johannesburg, South Africa

Africa's Leading Luxury Hotel Villa 2016:

Chongwe Safaris, Chongwe River House, Zambia

Grand Riad @ Royal Mansour, Morocco

Queen Cleopatra Villa @ Royal Savoy Villas, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Riad Deux Chambres @ Selman Marrakech

Royal Villa @ Four Seasons Resort Marrakech, Morocco

The Cliff villa @ Alfajiri Villas, Kenya

Villa Namaskar @ Palais Namaskar, Morocco

Villa Two @ Ellerman House, South Africa

Africa's Leading Luxury Lodge 2016:

&Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, Namibia

Chinzombo, Norman Carr Safaris, Zambia

Limalimo Lodge, Ethiopia

Palala Boutique Game Lodge & Spa, South Africa

Royal Malewane, South Africa

Sarova Salt Lick Game Lodge

Singita Pamushana Lodge, Zimbabwe

Singita Sasakwa Lodge, Tanzania

Thanda Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Africa's Leading Luxury Private Villa 2016:

Cottar's Bush Villa, Maasai Mara, Kenya

Molori Clifton, Cape Town, South Africa

Tarkuni @ Tswalu Kalahari, South Africa

Villa Ezzahra, Marrakech, Morocco

Villa iZulu @ Thanda Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Villa Santorini, Mozambique

Africa's Leading MICE Hotel 2016:

Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza, Egypt

Four Seasons Resort Marrakech, Morocco

InterContinental Citystars Cairo, Egypt

Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, Morocco

Palais Namaskar, Marrakech, Morocco

Safari Park Hotel & Casino, Kenya

Sandton Sun, South Africa

Sun City Resort, South Africa

The Palazzo Montecasino, South Africa

The Westin Cape Town, South Africa

Africa's Leading New Hotel 2016:

Four Points by Sheraton Oran, Algeria

Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca, Morocco

Hilton Alexandria King’s Ranch, Egypt

Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Ghana

Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech, Morocco

President Walmont Hotel, Malawi

Radisson Blu Hotel, Nairobi Upper Hill, Kenya

Radisson Blu Le Vendome Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa

Radisson Blu Okoume Palace Hotel, Libreville, Gabon

The Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo, Egypt

The Westin Soma Bay Golf Resort & Spa, Egypt

Africa's Leading Private Island Resort 2016:

&Beyond Mnemba Island Lodge, Zanzibar

Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort & Spa, Mozambique

Azura Quilalea Private Island, Mozambique

Chapwani Private Island, Zanzibar

Manda Bay, Kenya

Rusinga Island Lodge, Kenya

The Funzi Keys, Kenya

Vamizi Island

Africa's Leading Resort 2016:

Alfajiri Villas, Kenya

Breezes Beach Club, Tanzania

Four Seasons Resort Marrakech

Karafuu Beach Resort & Spa, Tanzania

Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech, Morocco

One&Only Cape Town, South Africa

Palmeraie Resort, Morocco

Royal Savoy Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Sultan Gardens Resort, Egypt

Sun City Resort, South Africa

Africa's Leading Serviced Apartments 2016:

129 On Kloof Nek, South Africa

Cowrie Shell Beach Apartments, Kenya

Ebb Tide Apartments, South Africa

Lawhill Luxury Apartments, South Africa

Marriott Executive Apartments Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Africa's Leading Sports Resort 2016:

Champagne Sports Resort, South Africa

Conrad Pezula Resort & Spa, South Africa

Fairmont Zimbali Resort, South Africa

Fancourt, South Africa

Legend Golf & Safari Resort, South Africa

Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, Morocco

Palmeraie Resort, Morocco

Royal Palm Marrakech, Morocco

Sun City Resort, South Africa

The Steigenberger Golf Resort, Egypt

Meetings & Conventions

Africa's Leading Meetings & Conference Centre 2016:

Cairo International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Egypt

Cape Town International Convention Centre, South Africa

Durban International Convention Centre, South Africa

Sandton Convention Centre, South Africa

The Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Kenya

Rail

Africa's Leading Luxury Train 2016:

Rovos Rail

The Blue Train

Safari

Africa's Leading Conservation Company 2016:

&Beyond

African Conservation Experience

African Impact

Edge Of Africa

Mala Mala Game Reserve

Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa

Singita

Africa's Leading Game Reserve Brand 2016:

&Beyond

Legend Hospitality Group

Shamwari Group

Singita Game Reserves

Africa's Leading Private Game Reserve 2016:

Ongava Game Lodge and Reserve, Namibia

Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Shambala Private Reserve, South Africa

Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa

Stanley & Livingstone Private Game Reserve, Zimbabwe

Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Africa's Leading Safari Company 2016:

African Welcome Safaris

Eyes on Africa

Go2Africa

Private Safaris

Rhino Africa

Sun Safaris

Twiga Tours

Africa's Leading Safari Lodge 2016:

Borana Lodge, Kenya

Eagles Crag Lodge @ Shamwari Game Reserve, South Africa

Earth Lodge at Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti, Tanzania

Kicheche Bush Camp, Kenya

Kingfisher Lodge @ Entabeni Safari Conservancy, South Africa

Loisaba, Kenya

Londolozi Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Ngerende Island Lodge, Kenya

ol Donyo Lodge, Kenya

Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero, Botswana

Singita Ebony Lodge, South Africa

Sirikoi, Kenya

Thanda Safari Lodge, South Africa

Africa's Leading Tented Safari Camp 2016:

Dwyka Tented Lodge at Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, South Africa

Elephant Pepper Camp Masai Mara, Kenya

Finch Hattons, Kenya

Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps, Kenya

Honeyguide Tented Safari Camp Khoka Moya, South Africa

Jongomero Camp, Tanzania

Mahali Mzuri, Kenya

Mumbo Island

Singita Sabora Camp, Tanzania

Wolwedans Private Camp, Namibia

Spa

Africa's Leading Spa Resort 2016:

Anantara Bazaruto Island Resort & Spa, Mozambique

Arabella Hotel & Spa, South Africa

Conrad Pezula Resort & Spa, South Africa

Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa, Kenya

Es Saadi Gardens & Resort, Marrakech, Morocco

Leopard Beach Resort & Spa, Kenya

Mandarin Oriental, Marrakech, Morocco

One&Only Cape Town, South Africa

Selman Marrakech, Morocco

The Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh, Egypt

The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa, South Africa

Travel Agencies & Tour Operators

Africa's Leading Business Travel Agency 2016:

Carson Wagonlit Travel

Club Travel Corporate, South Africa

Duma Travel

FCm Travel Solutions

Giltedge Corporate Travel

Hemingways Expeditions

Pen Travel South Africa

Sure Travel, South Africa

Travel with Flair

Africa's Leading Destination Management Company 2016:

Destination Kenya

Emeco Travel Egypt

Green Route Africa

Tourvest Destination Management, South Africa

Unitours Maroc

Africa's Leading Luxury Tour Operator 2016:

Abercrombie & Kent

Cox & Kings

Elegant Resorts

Giltedge Travel

Kobo Safaris

Kuoni Group

Micato Safaris

Pollmans Tours & Safaris

Pulse Africa

Rhino Africa

Yampu Tours

Africa's Leading Online Travel Agency 2016:

AAHolidays.co.za

Africa Point

Flightsite.co.za

Pick n Pay Travel

Travel.co.za

Travelstart.co.za

Africa's Leading Travel Agency 2016:

Club Travel, South Africa

Flight Centre, South Africa

Flight Site, South Africa

Kuoni Travel

Sure Giltedge Corporate Travel, South Africa

Sure Travel, South Africa

Travel Choice Egypt

Africa's Leading Travel Management Company 2016:

American Express Global Business Travel, South Africa

Carlson Wagonlit Travel

Club Travel Corporate, South Africa

FCm Travel Solutions

Hemingways Expeditions

HRG Kenya - Elite Travel Services

HRG Rennies Travel, South Africa

Skylink Travel and Tours Ltd

Sure Giltedge Travel, South Africa

Travel with Flair South Africa