The results are in! For the 16th 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 September. The results of the survey are announced in the December 2019 issue, available now.
GT readers are frequent premium travelers averaging 9 international and 11 domestic round-trip flights a year, with an average household income of $312,000 per year. Global
Traveler’s elite readers spend an average 60 nights per year in hotels, mostly 4- and 5-star properties. A whopping 72 percent regularly travel in first and business class.
“Wow, I can’t believe we’re celebrating our sweet 16th! It’s an honor to once again award the best of the best in the travel industry, alongside my team and our friends and clients,” said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler. “As we award another elite group of the travel industry’s exceptional providers, we also need to thank our readers who vote yearly in the survey. This well-traveled, in-the-know group truly knows the stand-out stars of the industry. We celebrate all travelers tonight, and commemorate another year in the wonderful world of travel. Congratulations!”
This year’s winners will be feted at a cocktail reception Dec. 11, 2019, at The Peninsula Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, California. For more information, check out the December 2019 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 2020 issue.
A complete list of winners is as follows:
Best Overall Airline in the World
Singapore Airlines
Fifth Consecutive Year
Best Airline Alliance
oneworld
10th Consecutive Year
Best Aircraft Type
Airbus A350
Best Airline Website
AA.com
Third Consecutive Year
Fastest-Growing Airline, Trans-Pacific
American Airlines
Third Consecutive Year
Best Airline for International First Class
Lufthansa
Best Airline for Business Class
Turkish Airlines
Third Consecutive Year
Best Airline for Domestic First Class
American Airlines
Fourth Consecutive Year
Best Airline Lounges
Delta SkyClubs
Best Airline for Onboard Service
Asiana Airlines
16th Consecutive Year
Best Airline for Flight Attendants
Asiana Airlines
16th Consecutive Year
Best Airline Cuisine
Alitalia
10th Consecutive Year
Best Flight Attendant Uniforms
Delta Air Lines
Best Airline for Security
EL AL Israel Airlines
13th Consecutive Year
Best Business-Class Seat Design
Alitalia
Second Consecutive Year
Best First-Class Seat Design
Air France
Second Consecutive Year
Best Airline for New Service Launch
Air France (CDG–DFW)
Best Corporate Program for Business Travelers
Turkish Airlines Corporate Club
Second Consecutive Year
Best Overall Frequent-Flyer Program
United Airlines MileagePlus®
16th Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Flyer Elite-Level Program
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Diamond Medallion
Best Frequent-Flyer Bonus Program
United MileagePlus®
Seventh Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption
LifeMiles (Avianca)
Best Frequent-Flyer Customer Service
American Airlines AAdvantage
Second Consecutive Year
Best Airline in North America
Air Canada
Best Airline to South America
LATAM Airlines Group
Sixth Consecutive Year
Best Airline in Mexico
Aeromexico
10th Consecutive Year
Best Airline in Australia and New Zealand
Virgin Australia
Best Airline in the South Pacific
Air Tahiti Nui
Second Consecutive Year
Best Airline in Europe
TAP Air Portugal
Ninth Consecutive Year
Best Airline in Eastern Europe
LOT Polish Airlines
Third Consecutive Year
Best Airline in Africa
South African Airways
16th Consecutive Year
Best Airline in the Middle East
Emirates
Second Consecutive Year
Best Airline in North Asia
China Airlines
Seventh Consecutive Year
Best Airline in China
Hainan Airlines
Seventh Consecutive Year
Best Airline in Central/South Asia & India
Air India
Sixth Consecutive Year
Best Airline to Japan
Japan Airlines
Third Consecutive Year
Best Trans-Atlantic Airline
Brussels Airlines
Second Consecutive Year
Best Trans-Pacific Airline
Japan Airlines
Third Consecutive Year
Best Overall Airport in the World
Singapore Changi Airport
Fourth Consecutive Year
Best Airport in North America
Chicago O’Hare International Airport
16th Consecutive Year
Best Airport in Asia
Incheon International Airport
Third Consecutive Year
Best Airport in Africa
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
Second Consecutive Year
Best Airport in Europe
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Second Consecutive Year
Best Airport in the Middle East
Hamad International Airport
Third Consecutive Year
Best Airport in South America
El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá
Second Consecutive Year
Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents
Turkish Airlines
Third Consecutive Year
Best Airport Dining
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Sixth Consecutive Year
Best Airport Shopping
Miami International Airport
Fastest-Growing U.S. Airport
Ontario International Airport, Ontario, California
Second Consecutive Year
Best Duty-Free Shopping in the World
Dubai Duty Free
13th Consecutive Year
Best Duty-Free Shopping in Asia
Singapore Changi Airport
Third Consecutive Year
Best Duty-Free Shopping in Africa
Seychelles International Airport
Best Duty-Free Shopping in Europe
Munich Airport
Best Duty-Free Shopping in the Middle East
Dubai Duty Free
Third Consecutive Year
Best International Hotel Chain
The Ritz-Carlton
Fifth Consecutive Year
Best Domestic Hotel Chain
The Ritz-Carlton
Fifth Consecutive Year
Best Lifestyle Hotel
Moxy Hotels
Best MICE Hotel
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Fifth Consecutive Year
Best Hotel Website
IHG.com
Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World
InterContinental Hotels Group
IHG® Rewards Club
15th Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Best Frequent-Stay Bonus Program
IHG® Rewards Club
Best Frequent-Stay Award Redemption
World of Hyatt
Best Frequent-Stay Customer Service
Marriott Bonvoy
Best Hotel in the United States
The Peninsula Beverly Hills
Ninth Consecutive Year
Best Hotel in Asia
Mandarin Oriental, Taipei
Third Consecutive Year
Best Hotel in South Korea
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Eighth Consecutive Year
Best Hotel in Europe
Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski, Munich
Best European Hotel Chain
St. Regis
Fourth Consecutive Year
Best Hotel Chain in Asia
Oberoi Hotels
Best Hotel Chain in Latin America
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Best Hotel Chain in Mexico
Fiesta Americana
Ninth Consecutive Year
Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East
Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts
Second Consecutive Year
Best Hotel in the Middle East
Burj Al Arab Jumeirah
Second Consecutive Year
Best Individual Hotel in the World
The Address Hotel Downtown Dubai
Best Overseas Delivery Program
Volvo
Fourth Consecutive Year
Best Rental Car Company
Hertz
Sixth Consecutive Year
Best Airport Parking
The Parking Spot
Best Tourism Destination
India
Best MICE City
Seoul
Fifth Consecutive Year
Best WiFi Service
Boingo Wireless
Ninth Consecutive Year
Best Luggage Brand
Briggs & Riley
10th Consecutive Year
Best Hotel App
Hilton Hotels
Best Airline App
American Airlines
Second Consecutive Year
Best Small- to Mid-Sized Business Program
IHG Business Edge
Best Overall Credit Card
United MileagePlus® Club Card from Chase
Eighth Consecutive Year
Best Credit Card Rewards Programs
United MileagePlus® Club Card from Chase
Eighth Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card from Chase
Eighth Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Promotions
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Benefits
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Redemptions
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card from Chase
Best Credit Card Special Events
Citi Entertainment
Best Small Business Credit Card
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Card from Bank of America
Eighth Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Promotions
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World EliteTM Mastercard®
Sixth Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Benefits
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Card from Bank of America
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Redemptions
United Explorer Card from Chase
Seventh Consecutive Year
Best Cruise Line Affinity Credit Card
Princess Cruises Visa Signature Card from Barclays
Second Consecutive Year
Global Traveler will also recognize the following Wines on the Wing award winners at the reception: Etihad Airways (Best International Business-Class Wines on the Wing, Best Red Wine International Business Class, Best Champagne International Business Class); American Airlines (Best International First-Class Wines, Best North American Wines on the Wing, Best North American White Wine); Aeromexico (Best Champagne International Business Class, Best North American Sparkling Wine); Air France (Best Champagne International First Class); All Nippon Airways (Best White Wine International Business Class, Best Red Wine International First Class); Singapore Airlines (Best White Wine International First Class); Alaska Airlines (Best North American Red Wine); and oneworld (Best Alliance Wines on the Wing). The results of the Wines on the Wing airline wine survey were announced in the August 2019 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–Sept. 30, 2019. Questionnaires were available in subscriber copies of the magazine, online at globaltravelerusa.com/gt-tested-awards-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
With nearly 550,000 readers, Global Traveler connects brands with U.S.-based frequent, affluent travelers. According to MediaMark Research (Gfk MRI), GT readers have an average net worth of $2 million and 50 percent are CEOs and owners of companies. Our readers average nine domestic flights per year and 93 percent travel internationally on a regular basis (11 round-trips in the last three years), mostly in first and business class. More than 55 percent stay in 4- and 5-star hotels, at an average 60 nights per year. Four special editions — Leisure Lifestyle Edition, Global City Guidebook, Class Act Guide and The Trazee Book — complement 12 monthly issues. Each year, Global Traveler awards the GT Tested Reader Survey awards, the Leisure Lifestyle Awards and the Wines on the Wing awards (business- and first-class wine survey).
About FXExpress Publications, Inc.
FXExpress Publications, Inc., based in Yardley, Pa., is a privately held company publishing Global Traveler, globaltravelerusa.com, FX Excursions, eFlyer USA, eFlyer Asia and several annuals. WhereverFamily LLC publishes whereverfamily.com and its related brands, and Trazee Travel, LLC publishes trazeetravel.com.
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