Auckland has beaten-off stiff competition to take the title of Australasia's top destination at the 2012 World Travel Awards.

The city of sails managed to fight-off the challenges of Sydney, Bora Bora, the Whitsunday Islands and Fiji's Yasawa to take the award, which is regarded as one - if not the most -  prestigious in world travel.

It also marks the second time in three years that Auckland has taken the win in the category.

Speaking today, Auckland mayor Len Brown described the award as "a great Labour Weekend present" for the city.

Auckland will now go on to represent Australasia when the city competes at the World Travel Awards Grand Final in New Delhi on December 12.

Meanwhile, in the aftermath of last year's Rugby World Cup and this weekend's hosting of the World Triathlon's Grand Final, Auckland has also been named as a finalist in the Sport City Award category at this year's International Sports Event Management Awards.

For this award the city will go toe-to-toe with Copenhagen, Düsseldorf, Glasgow, London, Manchester, and Melbourne.

"This recognition coming as it does on the weekend we host the ITU World Triathlon Series Grand Final and a year after the Rugby World Cup is another feather in the cap for Auckland as we work to become a great events and tourism destination," Brown also said today

"These events mean more visitors for Auckland, more money pumped into our local economy, more visibility for Auckland on the international stage and most importantly more jobs for Aucklanders."

Earlier this year Auckland was named in the world's top ten most liveable cities by London-based Monocle Magazine and also by the Economist's Global Livability Survey.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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