New York, NY – Croatia continues to draw recognition from the travel industry, as it's been honored with a TravelAge West 2017 Editor's Pick Award nomination in the category of Top Trending Destination as part of the TravelAge West WAVE (Western Agents' Votes of Excellence) Awards.

Croatia's natural beauty, dramatic architecture, eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites and eight magnificent National Parks makes it the perfect destination for travel agents to recommend as the ultimate vacation for their clients, as the country confirmed 16.3 million tourist arrivals in 2016.

Situated along the beautiful Adriatic Sea, the country's stunning 3,625 miles of coastline dotted by more one thousand islands with endless crystal-clear blue waters has amazed many visitors. The country may have gained the attention of many U.S. travelers through HBO's blockbuster epic fantasy series Game of Thrones, which has helped to put Dubrovnik on the map, as the setting for King's Landing, however, many quickly recognize that there's much more to Croatia than just a filming location. The draw for many visitors is a combination of its rich history, charming towns, well-preserved culture, award-winning culinary and wine scene, and of course, the warm hospitality of its people.  

Now in its twelfth year, the goal of TravelAge West's WAVE (Western Agents' Vote of Excellence) Awards is to give travel agents in the West the opportunity to recognize the outstanding qualities and services of their travel-supplier partners. Travel agents can vote here: www.travelagewest.com/WAVE/Vote

The Editor's Picks were chosen by Editor-in-Chief Kenneth Shapiro and the entire editorial team of TravelAge West. Review methods included product analysis, on-site visits, a survey of a select group of travel agents and online research.

“The WAVE Awards provide travel agents in the West with a powerful voice,” said Shapiro. “By participating in the program agents can reward the travel companies that support their businesses.”

Ina Rodin, Croatian National Tourist Office's Director North America, said, “We are honored to be nominated by TravelAge West for its 2017 WAVE Awards in the Top Trending Destination category. We have focused a tremendous amount of effort to showcase and promote the richness of Croatia's tourist offerings in order to inspire U.S. travelers to visit the country. We are humbled to see that our efforts are being realized through high demand from the travel industry, increased interest from members of the U.S. media through prominent press coverage in several top-tier publications, as well as overall visitor numbers from the U.S.

In addition to this distinction, Editor's Pick honorees are also in the running for a WAVE Award, to be determined by a TravelAge West readers' choice poll conducted during the month of April. The voting is open to readers of the print and online publication, and will be available at www.travelagewest.com/WAVE-Awards

Editor's Pick recipients will be celebrated at the WAVE Awards Gala on June 15 at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina Del Rey, in Marina del Rey, Calif., where the readers' choice winners will be announced as well. TravelAge West will include a special WAVE Awards section in the July 17 issue, highlighting award winners.

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TravelAge West is the leading trade magazine for travel agents and the travel industry in the 15 Western U.S. states. Serving more than 21,000 readers for 47 years, the biweekly magazine is a main source of news and product information for the region's agents and travel executives. TravelAgeWest.com is a two-time winner of a Gold Award from the North American Travel Journalists Association for Best Travel Journalism Website. TravelAge West is a part of Northstar Travel Group LLC, a worldwide provider of information, news and data for the travel and hospitality industry. Northstar Travel Group is based in Secaucus, N.J.

About Croatia

Stretching along the Adriatic Sea, just a stone's throw from Central Europe, Croatia is a country defined by a rich cultural legacy. Today, history perfectly combines with a youthful spirit and vibrant energy that prove irresistible to those seeking diversity. Breath-taking natural beauty, endless coastlines, diverse gastronomy, adventure, sports and wellness, can be enjoyed all year round. Whether exploring the old city of Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, island hopping around the Split archipelago, truffle hunting in Istria, paragliding across the Plitvice Lakes, delving into Zagreb's streets and hidden passages, birdwatching in Kopacki rit, partying the night away at Zrce beach in Novalja or taking time out with the family on Zlatni Rat beach, there truly is something for everyone in Croatia.

For more information, visit: http://croatia.hr

Media requests, please contact Ms. Truc Nguyen, truc@trucnnguyen.com