I just attended the 15th annual GT Tested Reader Survey awards. This was my first time, and I must say, it was an amazing experience with an impressive array of winners, both new and old. I had the opportunity to assist Terry Waite in presenting the awards and, by some miracle, it went without a hitch. One of our winners received 11 awards; they must be doing something right! Keep in mind, these are voted by our readers, which requires respondents to actually think and fill out an unprompted ballot, so they must really love the products and/or services they receive.

For me, these awards provided valuable insight into the quality these businesses offer and what our readers value. Is it the beautiful ocean view at a particular hotel or is it the customer service an airline offers? Perhaps it’s the cleanliness of the rental car that puts the winner at the top of the list.

As it turns out, the common theme of the evening that I believe makes our winners win is the level of professionalism, high-quality products and services and the seriousness they take in their brand. Everyone I spoke with understood the value of the award they won and what it means to their companies — talk about standing out in a crowd! These guys really do!

So, next time you’re in LA in mid-December, make sure to come and see us. It’s a great way to hobnob with the best of the best, catch up with friends, capture the lovely views and place bets on who will be the first to take a dive in the pool.

Can’t wait to see you at the next stop!

— Marie Edwards, director of sales