As business travelers, we often take advantage of only a small part of what the destinations we visit and the hotels where we stay have to offer. In the last year, I have seen the sunrise over the water at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach as I prepared for my day of meetings. I took a glimpse at the roof deck and pool at the Ritz-Carlton in Los Angeles during a mid afternoon break. I drove past skaters on Havnegade ice rink in Copenhagen while rushing to a meeting.

Though it may seem unfortunate to visit these places and not experience all they have to offer, I prefer to think of these observations as invaluable research opportunities. Business travelers take vacations, too. When we do, we know exactly where we want to go and what we want to do.

In this spirit, Global Traveler is thrilled to announce that our readers’ expertise in the leisure travel market will soon be shared with the world. Within our annual Luxury Book, distributed with the May issue of GT, we officially announce our first-ever GT Leisure Awards. Our audience will vote for eight months on the best of the best in destinations, resorts, tour operators and cruise lines.

The cumulative recommendations of our well-traveled readers is not something to miss and will be sure to guide my personal travel plans for years to come.

— Danielle Hudena, director of sales and marketing