Global Traveler Announces 12th Annual GT Tested Reader Survey Awards

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.