NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WTM London -- Lindblad Expeditions, DER Committed to the World Initiative by DER Touristik and Tompkins Conservation were presented with the 2016 World Tourism Awards today, 7 November 2016, the opening day of World Travel Market London at Excel Centre. Peter Greenberg, CBS News Travel Editor, multi Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter as well as world renowned travel expert, hosted the Awards presentation.

The World Tourism Awards, celebrating its 19th Anniversary, are co-sponsored by

Corinthia Hotels, The New York Times, United Airlines and Reed Travel Exhibitions. Inaugurated in 1997, the World Tourism Awards were established to recognise "individuals, companies, organisations, destinations and attractions for outstanding initiatives related to the travel and tourism industry, and in fostering sustainable tourism and developing programmes that give back to local communities."

Presenting the Awards on behalf of the sponsors were Fiona Harris, Director of International PR, Corinthia Hotels, Patrick Falconer, Managing Director – UK, The New York Times, Bob Schumacher, Managing Director Sales, UK and Ireland, United Airlines, and Charlie Cracknell, Senior Exhibitions Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

The first award honoured Tompkins Conservation "in recognition for its 25 years of work establishing new protected areas, recovering imperiled species, supporting leading-edge activism, and promoting healthy communities in Chile and Argentina through the creation of national parks." Accepting the Award on behalf of Tompkins Conservation was Kristine McDivitt Tompkins, Co-Founder.

The second award honoured the DER Committed to the World Initiative by DER Touristik "in recognition of its Give Education a Home program, which since 2014 has funded through the DER Touristik Foundation e.V., the construction and expansion of more than 20 schools in 15 countries around the world, providing children and young people with a better education and future." Accepting the award on behalf of DER Touristik Group, was CEO, Sören Hartmann.

The third award honoured Lindblad Expeditions "in recognition of its commitment to conservation, research, education and community development in the geographies they explore, and their establishment of the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic Fund. Together with their guests, Lindblad has raised over $12.7 million for critical projects since 1997." Accepting the Award on behalf of Lindblad Expeditions was CEO and President, Sven Lindblad...

The World Tourism Award itself, Inspire, was specially designed and handcrafted on the Mediterranean Island of Malta by Mdina Glass, and celebrates the qualities of leadership and vision that inspire others to reach new heights.

The World Tourism Award ceremony was followed by a reception hosted by United Airlines.

ATTACHED: Photo Caption From Left to Right Peter Greenberg, CBS News Travel Editor, Patrick Falconer, Managing Director – UK, The New York Times, Sven Lindblad, CEO and President, Lindblad Expeditions, Bob Schumacher, Managing Director Sales, UK and Ireland, United Airlines, Kristine McDivitt Tompkins, Co-Founder, Tompkins Conservation, Fiona Harris, Director of International PR, Corinthia Hotels, Sören Hartmann, CEO, DER Touristik Group, Charlie Cracknell, Senior Exhibitions Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, Karen Hoffman, President, The Bradford Group, Bianca Pappas, Director of Media Relations & Client Services, The Bradford Group

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About the World Tourism Awards
The World Tourism Awards, celebrating its 18th Anniversary, are presented annually at World Travel Market London and sponsored by Corinthia Hotels, New York Times, United Airlines and Reed Travel Exhibitions. It was inaugurated to "recognize individuals, companies, organisations, destinations and attractions for outstanding initiatives related to the travel and tourism industry, and in fostering sustainable tourism and developing programmes that give back to local communities." The World Tourism Award is organized by The Bradford Group on behalf of the sponsors.

About World Travel Market London
WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend three-day business-to-business exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. Almost 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international press, embark on ExCeL - London every November to network, negotiate and discover the latest industry opinion and trends at WTM London. WTM London is the event where the travel industry conducts and concludes its deals. WTM London will generate around £2.5 billion of travel industry contracts. WTM London is part of Reed Travel Exhibition's World Travel Market events, which also includes Arabian Travel Market, World Travel Market Latin America and World Travel Market Africa.
 
Reed Travel Exhibitions
Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) is the world's leading provider of exhibitions in the travel and tourism industry. Its wide-ranging portfolio of events around the globe covers leisure travel, luxury travel, meetings, incentives and business travel, as well as golf, ski and spa travel. RTE, which organises more than 22 events around the world, includes three divisions; World Travel Market, IBTM Events and International Luxury Travel Market. RTE is a business unit of Reed Exhibitions.

A photo accompanying this release is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=41842