Valletta’s Iniala Harbour House has been awarded as Europe’s Leading New Boutique Hotel for 2021 by the World Travel Awards, which serve to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry, it announced on Monday.

The hotel explained that the annual awards programme is recognised as one of the most prestigious and comprehensive in the global hospitality industry, with the brand being recognised globally as an ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.

As such, receiving the award, the Iniala House Team said it “takes pride” in being recognised as the leading new boutique hotel in Europe.

The hotel, a part of Iniala Group, is situated on the St Barbara Bastion, overlooking Valletta’s Grand Harbour. According to the company, it aims to bring an “unprecedented” level of luxury and experiential travel to the Maltese Islands.

Other winners at the awards included InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, which was recognised as Europe’s Leading Hotel Brand.

The World Travel Awards also gave Malta-specific awards to a number of companies, including the Westin Dragonara Resort, which was recognised as Malta’s Leading Resort, and InterContinental Malta, which won as the country’s Leading Business Hotel, the Leading Hotel, and for its Presidential Suite, which was the Leading Hotel Suite.