The results are in! For the 12th consecutive year, Global Traveler conducted its GT Tested Reader Survey, asking frequent business and luxury travelers to name the best in a variety of travel-related categories. More than 22,000 people responded. Global Traveler’s inaugural awards were celebrated in 2004.
The survey honors airlines, hotels, loyalty programs and travel-related products in more than 80 categories. GT’s distinguished readers vote for their favorites in the world of travel in an open-ended survey running in the magazine and online from January to August each year. The results of the survey are announced in the December 2015 issue, available now.
GT readers are frequent premium travelers averaging nine international and 13 domestic round-trip flights a year, with an average household income of $372,900 per year. Global Traveler’s elite readers spend an average 50 nights per year in hotels. A whopping 63 percent regularly travel in business class.
This year’s roster of highly regarded winners includes Singapore Airlines (Best Airline in the World and Best Airline for Business Class), China Airlines (Best Airline for International First Class and Best Business-Class Seat Design) and EVA AIR (Best Flight Airline for New Service Launch and Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents). Other top winners are Air India (Best Airline in Central/South Asia & India), airberlin (Best Trans-Atlantic Airline), Andaz (Best Lifestyle Hotel Chain), The Address Downtown Dubai (Individual Hotel in the World), Seoul (Best MICE City) and IHG Rewards Club (Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World).
Global Traveler’s consistent, unbiased reporting for the past 12 years ranks the GT Tested Reader Survey awards among the most highly regarded in the industry.
“For 12 years, both our survey and our publication has remained industry leaders in our niche, and that is truly cause for celebration,” said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler. “Our readers know the best of the best in the business, as they are traveling daily, flying these very airlines and staying at all of these hotels. Many companies are familiar faces, while other travel providers are debuting on the list of winners — but all provide an unrivaled level of service. Congratulations to all the winners. We look forward to celebrating at our annual event, held this year for the fifth time at the award-winning Peninsula Beverly Hills.”
This year’s winners will be feted at a cocktail reception Dec. 8 at The Peninsula Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, Calif. For more information, check out the December 2015 issue of Global Traveler or visit our website at globaltravelerusa.com. A complete recap of the night’s festivities will be featured in the March 2016 issue.
A complete list of winners is as follows:
Best Airline in the World
Singapore Airlines
Best Airline Alliance
oneworld
Best Aircraft Type
Airbus A380
Best Airline Website
JetBlue.com
Best Airline for International First Class
Cathay Pacific Airways
Best Airline for Business Class
Singapore Airlines
Best Airline for Domestic First Class
Virgin America
Best Airline for Onboard Service
Asiana Airlines
Best Airline for Flight Attendants
Asiana Airlines
Best Flight Attendant Uniforms
China Airlines
Best Airline Cuisine
Alitalia
Best Airline for Security
EL AL Israel Airlines
Best Business-Class Seat Design
China Airlines
Best First-Class Seat Design
Etihad Airways
Best Airline for New Service Launch
EVA AIR (IAH to TPE)
Best Frequent-Flyer Program
United MileagePlus
Best Frequent-Flyer Elite-Level Program
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles Pualani Platinum Membership
Best Frequent-Flyer Bonus Program
United MileagePlus
Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption
LifeMiles (Avianca TACA)
Best Frequent-Flyer Customer Service, Americas
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles
Best Airline in North America
Delta Air Lines
Best Airline to South America
LAN Airlines
Best Airline in Mexico
Aeromexico
Best Airline to Australia and New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Best Airline in the South Pacific
Air Tahiti Nui
Best Airline in Europe
TAP Portugal/airberlin (TIE)
Best Airline in Eastern Europe
Aeroflot
Best Airline in Africa
South African Airways
Best Airline in the Middle East
Etihad Airways
Best Airline in North Asia (excluding China)
China Airlines
Best Airline in China
Hainan Airlines
Best Airline in Central/South Asia and India
Air India
Best Airline to Japan
All Nippon Airways
Best Trans-Atlantic Airline
airberlin
Best Trans-Pacific Airline
United Airlines
Best Airport in the World
Incheon International Airport
Best Airport in North America
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Best Airport Lounges
American Airlines Admirals Club
Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents
EVA Air
Best Airport Dining
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Best Duty-Free Shops
Dubai Duty Free
Best Hotel in the World
The Address Downtown Dubai
Best International Hotel Chain
The Ritz-Carlton
Best Domestic Hotel Chain
The Ritz-Carlton
Best Lifestyle Hotel
Andaz
Best Airport Hotel
Crowne Plaza Singapore Changi Airport
Best MICE Hotel
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Best Hotel Club Floor
Grand Hyatt Grand Club
Best Hotel Website
RitzCarlton.com
Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World
IHG Rewards Club
Best Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program
Hilton Honors Diamond
Best Frequent-Stay Customer Service, Americas
Hilton HHonors
Best Frequent-Stay Bonus Program
Hilton HHonors
Best Frequent-Stay Award Redemption
Starwood Preferred Guest
Best Hotel in the United States
The Peninsula Beverly Hills
Best European Hotel Chain
Kempinski Hotels
Best Hotel Chain in Asia
Grand Hyatt
Best Hotel in South Korea
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Best Hotel Chain in Latin America
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Best Hotel Chain in Mexico
Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts
Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East
The Address Hotels + Resorts
Best Overseas Delivery Program
Porsche
Best Car Rental Company
Hertz
Best Tourism Destination
Ireland
Best MICE City
Seoul
Best WiFi Service
Boingo Wireless
Best Wireless Service in the World
T-Mobile
Best Noise-Canceling Headset
Sony Digital Noise-Canceling Headphones
Best Luggage Brand
Briggs & Riley Travelware
Best Credit Card
United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase
Best Credit Card Rewards Program
United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card
Marriott Rewards Credit Card from Chase
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Promotions
Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Benefits
Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Redemptions
The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card from Chase
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Promotions
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select Card
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Benefits
Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Redemptions
United MileagePlus Explorer Card from Chase
Best Cruise Line Affinity Credit Card
Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature Credit Card
Global Traveler will also recognize the following Wines on the Wing award winners at the reception: All Nippon Airways (Best International First-Class Wines on the Wing, Best International First-Class Champagne, Best International First-Class White Wine and Best International Business-Class Wines on the Wing); American Airlines (Best International First-Class White Wine and Best International First-Class Red Wine); Hainan Airlines (Best International Business-Class Champagne); British Airways (Best International Business-Class White Wine); Fiji Airways (Best International Business-Class Red Wine and Best International First- or Business-Class Sparkling Wine); oneworld (Best Airline Alliance Wines on the Wing); Delta Air Lines (Best North American Wines on the Wing and Best North American White Wine); and Virgin America (Best North American Sparkling Wine and Best North American Red Wine). The results of the Wines on the Wing airline wine survey were announced in the August 2015 issue.
About the Survey
Global Traveler conducted an open-ended survey of its readers to determine the best in more than 80 travel-related categories. The survey was conducted from Jan. 1, 2015, to Aug. 31, 2015. Questionnaires were available in subscriber copies of the magazine, online at globaltravelerusa.com/awards-survey-ballot and through direct mail and email. Only questionnaires with more than 50 percent of the questions answered were considered. An outside accounting firm, Citrin Cooperman LLP, tabulated the results. Employees of the magazine and members of the travel industry were barred from participation.
About Global Traveler
Global Traveler, the only AAM-audited U.S.-based magazine for the international business traveler, is a business travel and lifestyle publication with an AAM-audited paid circulation of 111,000+.
About FXEXpress Publications, Inc.
FXExpress Publications, Inc., based in Yardley, Pa., is a privately held company publishing Global Traveler, China Global Traveler, eFlyer USA, eFlyer Asia, Trazee Travel and several annuals; and also operating globaltravelerusa.com, globaltravelerusa.com/blog, china-globaltraveler.com and trazeetravel.com.
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