After being voted the world’s best city for travellers in 2009 in an online poll by Travel + Leisure magazine, Udaipur was again awarded as the favorite Indian Leisure Destination at the first Condé Nast Traveller India Readers’ Travel Awards (RTA) held at The Leela Palace, New Delhi.

The favorite leisure Hotel of India also went to Udaipur’s The Oberoi Udaivilas and favorite boutique Hotel in India was bagged by Devi Garh Fort Palace of Udaipur.

These awards are given on the basis of results derived from a poll conducted for the readers of ‘The Condé Nast Traveller’, a famous travel magazine. As the selection is done by the readers, the RTA are considered to be one of the most genuine awards.

In this poll the Indian readers of the magazine were to give scores to their favorite destinations, hotels, airlines, spas, airports etc. on several parameters unique to each category. Five random winners from the readers who took part in the poll got a lucky chance to stay at luxury hotels in Phuket, Dubai, Singapore, Tokyo and Bangkok.

The Chief Guest Subodh Kant Sahay, Minister of Tourism, Government of India, presented the Lifetime Achievement Awards in the award ceremony. Omar Abdullah, Bina Kak, Captain Nair, Raymond Bickson, Nakul Anand, Vikram Oberoi, Vijay Mallya, Marcel Hungerbuehler, Lekha Poddar, Priti &Priya Paul, Vir Sanghvi were some of the other eminent personalities from the world of tourism present at the ceremony.

The flagship of favorite Indian city was given to Mumbai. Kingfisher Airlines bagged the award of favorite airline for business travel within India and Singapore Airlines was voted as the favorite airline for business travel overseas. Thomas Cook is the favorite Tour operator for Indians.

Thailand and London won India’s favorite overseas destination and favorite overseas cities respectively.

Subodh Kant Sahay, Minister of Tourism said, “Condé Nast Traveller has extended a great influence to Indian tourism. Now that it is functioning in India, this is the perfect time to promote Indian tourist destinations and to attract more tourists with its help.”

DivyaThani Daswani, Editor, Condé Nast Traveller India said, “Asia has gained the focus of the world’s travel industry for its growth. At this time the launch of India’s own Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards is the best that could have happened to Indian tourism. Luxury travelling is getting popular among Indians and the travel market is expected to reach $40 billion in the next five years, now it is important to know choices of Indian travellers.”