For the first time Expedia has recognised 12 hotels from South Asia, a majority of them from India, for its ‘Expedia Insiders Select Awards’. Started in the USA and Canada in 2007, Expedia Insiders Select Awards is an annual award recognising the very best hotels available on Expedia’s 30 branded travel sites worldwide, as judged by the experiences of Expedia’s customers.

The awards were given away by Jasdev Singh, Director – Indian Subcontinent, Expedia at a function held at the new Expedia corporate office in DLF Cyber City in Gurgaon (NCR). The function coincided with the launch of the 45,000 square feet corporate office. The awardees included hospitality brands such as Indian Hotels Company Limited, Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, Four Points By Sheraton Jaipur, Lemon Tree Hotels and Fortune Hotels. Stand alone, unbranded hotels like Ajanta Hotel, New Delhi; Casa Severina, Goa; and Hotel Taj Resorts, Agra, also made it to the select list.

Speaking on the occasion, Singh said that the list was based on three parameters – reviews by customers; value rating; and market intelligence. Hardly two per cent of the hotels Expedia represent come into the contention for awards and only half percent won awards, he added. “We are keen to take our growth forward in the South-Asia region in a big way in the days ahead. We will be investing more on best technology talent in the coming months,” he said.

The winners from South Asia are Taj Lands End, Mumbai; Trident, Nariman Point, Mumbai; Hotel Ajanta, New Delhi; Lemon Tree Amarante Beach Resort, Goa; Hotel Taj Resorts, Goa; ITC Mughal, Agra; The Grand, New Delhi; Four Points By Sheraton Jaipur; The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai; The Leela, Mumbai; Casa Severina, Goa; and Kantipur Temple House, Kathmandu, Nepal.