Organized by Gaceta3, it is the only event in the Region that brings together the country's main tourism companies each year.
The grand Balneario Resort Las Arenas Valencia was the setting for the 3rd Edition of the Gala for the awarding of the Tourism Leaders of the Valencian Community.
More than two hundred professionals from the cruise, hotel chain, airline, tour operator, reservation center, car rental, bed bank, tourism institution, banking, and tourism consulting and innovation sectors gathered to meet the leading companies at this year's awards. These awards, created to recognize the sector in the Valencian Region, are determined through a survey of travel agents in the region and the criteria of the event's organizing publication.
The gala was presided over by Carmen Sahuquillo – Director of Tourism Promotion of the Valencian Community, Ramón Gómez Ferrer – General Director of the Port Authority of Valencia, Jorge Lamirán – President of the UACV (Union of Travel Agencies of the Community and Vice President of the Valencian Business Association of Travel Agents), Eva Blasco – representative in Spain of ECCTA, European Confederation of Travel Agencies, and member of the Board of Directors of CEAV, Miguel Capdevila – Territorial Director of Bankia in Valencia and Castellón, and Rafael Miñana – General Director of the Gaceta del Transporte Turismo y Negocios de la Comunidad Valenciana.
Also present were representatives from the Valencia Provincial Council, the Valencia Tourism Foundation, the Valencia Conference Centre, the Hotel Union, the Valencian Shipping Association, the Association of Journalists and Writers of Tourism, the Hospitality Federation, and several members of the Socialist Group of the Valencia City Council.
The event was hosted by renowned journalist Francisco Grau, and another great figure in the entertainment world, comedian Paco Calonge, brought smiles to the audience's faces as only he can, honed by years of experience as master of ceremonies on numerous cruises around the globe. The gala began with a minute of silence in remembrance of and solidarity with the victims of the Germanwings plane crash, followed by a statement from Lufthansa, a member of the same group, thanking the organizers for the award they had planned to accept. They explained that their immediate priority was assisting those affected, offering them all possible support, and highlighting their strong commitment to the Valencian market with the addition of new flight frequencies to Germany from Valencia. The award-winning companies were: Costa Cruises, Pullmantur Cruises, MSC Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Politours, Viajes El Corte Inglés, Viajes Levante, Grupo Barceló, Viajes Transvia, Viajes Europa Travel, Viajes Nautalia, Consultia Travel, Panavision Tours, Grupo Globalia, Mapa Tours, Aqua Travel, TUI Spain, New Travelers, Iberia-IAG, Air France, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Balneario Resort Las Arenas Valencia, Hotel Neptuno, Aquavip Travel Incoming, Fundación Turismo Valencia, Gourmet Catering & Espacios Valencia, Diputación de Valencia, Patronato de Turismo Valencia Terra i Mar, and finally, as professional of the year, Francisco Marco – Royal Caribbean's Delegate for the Northeast region
According to Rafael Miñana, Director of Gaceta del Transporte y Turismo (Transport and Tourism Gazette) and organizer of the event, “with these awards, we want tourism to be recognized and strengthened as a fundamental pillar of the Spanish economy, and we will continue working to ensure that this sector, so important to the Valencian Community and to Spain, receives all the support it deserves. That's why Gaceta3 is the platform for learning about all the latest developments, but also the voice of conscience for the institutions, because we will be there to remind them that we need their help to evolve and grow. Before the event concluded, he offered some heartfelt words in tribute to the professional career of a great friend and much-loved figure in the sector, Lorenzo Membrives, who had been the Levante delegate for VARIG Brazilian Airlines for almost his entire career and who recently passed away.
To conclude the event, a raffle for trips was held and a cocktail reception was celebrated for all attendees
