(Seychelles News Agency) - Seychelles' national airline is clearly doing something right.

Air Seychelles won four major awards at the World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2016 on Saturday. The travel awards crowned Air Seychelles as the Indian Ocean's leading airline, and also named it the region's best in business class, economy class and cabin crew service. 

Air Seychelles’ Chief Executive, Roy Kinnear, who attended the award ceremony in Zanzibar says the airline is ‘proud’ of the recognitions achieved in 2016, adding that this shows its ‘strategy of putting guests first is working.’

“Being recognised for these achievements by industry professionals is incredibly motivational and we look forward to building on our reputation as a leading airline in the coming years,” Kinnear said in a statement issued on Sunday.

While this is Air Seychelles’ first time winning the Indian Ocean’s leading economy class title, the regional award for best business class and cabin crew service have both been a keeper for three consecutive years. It’s also the airline’s second consecutive year winning the Indian Ocean leading airline title.

Air Seychelles currently offers flights to Abu Dhabi, Antananarivo, Johannesburg, Mauritius, Mumbai, Paris and Beijing. The airline also operates domestic flights and charter services throughout the Indian Ocean archipelago.

The airline was a wholly-government entity until 2012, when the UAE’s Etihad Airways bought a 40 percent stake in the company, investing $45 million in the airline with the aim of turning the company around after several prior years of losses. 

The travel awards crowned Air Seychelles as the Indian Ocean's leading airline, and also named it the region's best in business class, economy class and cabin crew service.  (Air Seychelles) Photo License: CC-BY

Commenting on the World Travel Awards, the airline’s chairman, Joel Morgan, also the Seychelles transport minister, said: “Air Seychelles continues to push the boundaries of what can be achieved by a boutique airline and by doing so it is making a valuable contribution to our tourism-based economy.”

In other areas of regional airline business, Maldives’ Ibrahim Nasir International Airport is the Indian Ocean's leading airport. The region’s leading airport lounge has been designated to The Amédée Maingard Lounge at the Mauritius International Airport.

The World Travel Awards, established in 1993, recognise the very best travel organisations in the world through a global vote by travel professionals.

Awards are presented for excellence in providing services in different categories of the world’s travel and tourism industry including air services, car rental services, spas, travel agencies and tour operators, hotels and resorts among others.

The awards are first given on a regional basis, with the winners qualifying for the grand final of the World Travel Award. This year's grand final will be held in December, in the neighbouring Indian Ocean island of Maldives.

Other Seychelles' businesses in the travel and tourism industry are winners of the 23rd World Travel Awards for the Indian Ocean in their respective category.

Seychelles is the leading cruise destination and Port Victoria the leading cruise port.

Constance Ephelia, located at Port Launay on the Seychelles west coast on the main island, Mahé, is the region’s leading green resort while Four Seasons Seychelles in Baie Lazare, in South Mahé, is the Indian Ocean's leading hotel residences.

Two resorts located on other islands of the 115-island archipelago are also regional winners. Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa on Silhouette island is the Indian Ocean's leading spa resort and Praslin island’s Raffles hotel is the Indian Ocean's leading villa resort.

The Seychelles Tourism Board has retained the title for the Indian Ocean's Leading Tourist Board won in 2015.

Other Seychelles award winners

Seychelles' Leading Boutique Hotel               Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa

Seychelles' Leading Conference Hotel           Eden Bleu Hotel

Seychelles' Leading Family Resort                Constance Ephélia

Seychelles' Leading Green Resort                 Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa

Seychelles' Leading Hotel                             Constance Lémuria Seychelles

Seychelles' Leading Hotel Suite                     Two Bedroom Presidential Villa @ Hilton Seychelles                                                                                        Northolme Resort and Spa   

Seychelles' Leading Luxury Hotel Villa            Owners Signature Villa @ Enchanted Island Resort

Seychelles' Leading Resort                            Four Seasons Resort Seychelles

Seychelles' Leading Spa Resort                     Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa