Costa Cruises, the first international company to open the cruise market in China in July 2006, received three international in November: the “China Award 2008" from the Italy-China Foundation/Class Editori, the “Best Brand Campaign 2008” from Travel Weekly China and the “Top Cruise Line of Popularity 2008” from World Traveller Media.
The Italy-China Foundation/Class Editori presented the “China Award 2008” to Costa Cruises in the "Lombard Elite" category, for companies that have distinguished themselves in relations with China for having represented the best of “made in Italy”. Costa Cruises was selected by a jury chaired by Cesare Romiti, president of the Italy-China Foundation, and Paolo Panerai, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Class Editori. The awards ceremony was held during a charity dinner at the Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan on 27 November. The Italy-China Foundation was set up and created by Cesare Romiti to improve Italy’s image and activities in China.
Costa Cruises received the "Best Brand Campaign 2008" from Travel Weekly, China’s magazine dedicated to the trade.
During the “China International Travel Mart 2008”, one of China’s travel sector trade and consumer shows, Costa Crociere received the "Top Cruise Lines of Popularity" award as the most popular cruise company from World Traveller Media, the only media group dedicated to tourism in China. The company already received this award in 2007.
Costa Cruises, the leading Italian company in Europe, was the first international cruise company to operate regular cruises in China and in Asia. Operations began on 3 July 2006 in Shanghai with the Costa Allegra. During the first two years of cruises in China (July 2006 – July 2008) approximately 75,000 Guests took a cruise vacation on the Costa Allegra, a figure that included nearly 50,000 Chinese.