Abu Dhabi:The Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has announced 70 finalists for the inaugural Visitor Experience Awards. These finalists were shortlisted from approximately 350 applications across eight categories, highlighting the emirate's commitment to high standards of service and hospitality.
According to Wam, the Awards aim to recognize organizations and frontline professionals who contribute to exceptional visitor experiences in Abu Dhabi. This initiative is part of DCT Abu Dhabi's broader efforts to promote a culture of excellence and innovation while enhancing visitor experiences.
The finalists represent a wide spectrum of Abu Dhabi's tourism ecosystem, including sectors such as events, aviation, hospitality, restaurants and cafés, museums, and cultural sites. Additionally, shopping malls, mobility services, attractions, cruise terminals, tour operators, and tour guides are also represented among the nominees.
The Awards are divided into two streams Business Awards and Frontliner Awards. The Business Awards categories include Most Innovative Visitor Experience, Best Emirati Cultural Experience, Leader in Inclusive Experience, and Business Resilience Award. The Frontliner Awards categories encompass Visitor Experience Superstar, Unsung Hero Award, Connectivity Champion Award, and Outstanding Tour Guide Award.
The initiative serves to highlight outstanding practices across the tourism sector and encourages continuous improvement in service quality. By involving participants from diverse visitor touchpoints, the Awards reinforce a shared commitment to delivering consistent, high-quality experiences throughout Abu Dhabi.
The 70 finalists will undergo further assessment by a jury panel composed of 30 senior leaders and subject matter experts from both the public and private sectors. These jury members were chosen for their expertise in visitor experience, tourism, hospitality, and culture, and they represent key visitor touchpoints such as museums, attractions, and hotels.
Each application was initially reviewed and assessed against established criteria before the finalists were selected. In the next stage, at least three jury members will assess the shortlisted entries in each category, with 24 winners to be selected across the eight categories. First, second, and third places will be recognized in each.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony later this year, which will be attended by leaders and stakeholders from the tourism sector. The Visitor Experience (VX) function of DCT Abu Dhabi oversees the Awards as part of a broader program aimed at embedding excellence and strengthening the quality of the visitor journey. The Awards, alongside the Visitor Experience Guidelines and VX Academy, are pivotal in advancing Abu Dhabi's vision of a world-class tourism and cultural ecosystem.