It is that time of year — you may think I’m about to say the holidays, but no, I mean FXExpress Publications, Inc.’s largest awards celebration of the year, the annual GT Tested Reader Survey awards.

Each year our readers, in print and online, vote for their favorites in many categories focused on the travel industry. The readership includes avid travelers; their experience affords them the opportunity to make current and reasonable assessments of the possible candidates in each category. We as a team will venture to Beverly Hills next week to celebrate the awards on the rooftop of the iconic The Peninsula Beverly Hills to honor the reader-voted winners in style. Here are some photos from last year’s event!

These awards are not the only series of awards we celebrate; throughout the year and across all brands, we also have the following: Wherever Awards, Leisure Lifestyle Awards, The Trazees, and Wines on the Wing. The brands cater to individuals, young professional travelers and families/groups. The awards are designed to both give readers a voice and also offer an opportunity to recognize superb services or products offered by these fine travel partners.

The awards mean more now than ever before in our changing landscape of communication between consumer and business. Taking advantage of having a voice is crucial if you’d like your opinion heard, and companies should encourage votes and celebrate the acknowledgement when positive feedback is received. The choices and availability of multiple sources for air travel, ground transportation, luggage, car rental, lodging and cruising are just a few of the many categories which our readers assess.

As we approach 2020, I encourage you to keep an eye out for the voting ballots, cast your votes. Organizations, consider the impact these praises have on long-term loyalty. I congratulate all the winners in this year’s GT Tested Reader Survey awards and look forward to seeing who rises to the top for 2020.

— Stephanie Makowski, account executive