LONDON (December 04 2008): The Aga Khan Cultural Service, part of the Aga Khan Development Network, has won the award for, 'Best for Conservation of Cultural Heritage' at this year's Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards for its Shigar Fort - Palace restoration project in Pakistan.

At a ceremony hosted at World Travel Market (WTM), Docklands, London, in November, the Awards were handed out by Justin Francis, Managing Director of responsibletravel.com, organisers and founders of the Awards, and Amanda Wills, Managing Director of Virgin Holidays, headline sponsor of the Awards.

The judges said: "The sensitive restoration of this historic building and its development as a hotel has placed the property once again at the heart of the community as a cultural and economic asset bringing employment, microenterprise opportunities, and social and cultural empowerment for men and women." The hotel operations of Shigar Fort Residence are managed by Serena Hotels, Pakistan and the award was received by Azam Jamil (Corporate Director Sales and Marketing for Serena Hotels).-PR

Copyright Business Recorder, 2008