FOR THE NINTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR, The Peninsula Beverly Hills hosted Global Traveler’s GT Tested Reader Survey awards. On a beautiful evening overlooking the lights of Los Angeles from the hotel’s rooftop, we lauded the winners of our sweet 16th awards. It was truly a night to remember as we celebrated those travel companies consistently going above and beyond, as voted by our readers. In addition to honoring those winners, we also feted the Airline and Hotel of the Year; winners of our 2019 Wines on the Wing airline wine competition; and Quint Status, Hall of Fame and Crystal Status winners, those companies that won the same GT Tested Reader Survey award for the fifth, 10th and 15th consecutive years, respectively.
A number of sponsors joined in the festivities including United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase, United Explorer Card from Chase, Air Canada, Ontario International Airport and China Airlines. Liz Watts & Company electrified with Hawai’ian-themed entertainment and fire dancing.
We were also honored to welcome Jacob Adoram Hendrickson on behalf of Water Mission. He broke a world record for being the first person to row the entire Pacific Ocean without stopping or receiving support. He rowed 7,145 miles across the ocean as a fundraising effort for Water Mission, focused on building safe water, sanitation and hygiene solutions around the world so every- one has access to clean, safe water. Learn more at watermission.org.
Be part of the action as we recap the night’s festivities on the following pages.
WINNER’S CIRCLE
Best Overall Airline in the World
Singaporea 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 Sky Club
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
Paris (CDG)–Dallas (DFW)
Best Corporate Program for Business Travelers
Turkish Airlines Corporate Club
Second Consecutive Year
Best Overall Frequent-Flyer Program
United 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
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
IHG Rewards Club
15th Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite
Best Frequent-Stay Bonus Program
HG Rewards Club
Best Frequent-Stay Award Redemption
World of Hyatt
Best Frequent-Stay Customer Service
Marriott Bonvoy
Second Consecutive Year
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 Hotels & Resorts
Fourth Consecutive Year
Best Hotel Chain in Asia
Oberoi Hotels & Resorts
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 Small-Business Credit Card
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Best Credit Card Special Events
Citi Entertainment
Best Credit Card Rewards Programs
United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase
Eighth Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa Card from Chase
Eighth Consecutive Year
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Promotions
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card from American Express
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Benefits
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card from American Express
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Redemptions
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa Card from Chase
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 Elite 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
AIRLINE AND HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Airline of the Year
Air Canada
Hotel of the Year
Hyatt Hotels
QUINT STATUS
Best Overall Airline in the World
Singapore Airlines
Fifth Consecutive Year
Best International Hotel Chain
The Ritz-Carlton
Fifth Consecutive Year
Best Domestic Hotel Chain
The Ritz-Carlton
Fifth Consecutive Year
Best MICE Hotel
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Fifth Consecutive Year
Best MICE City
Seoul
Fifth Consecutive Year
HALL OF FAME
Best Airline Alliance
oneworld
10th Consecutive Year
Best Airline Cuisine
Alitalia
10th Consecutive Year
Best Airline in Mexico
Aeromexico
10th Consecutive Year
Best Luggage Brand
Briggs & Riley
10th Consecutive Year
CRYSTAL STATUS
Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World
IHG Rewards Club
15th Consecutive Year
WINES ON THE WING
Best International Business-Class Wines on the Wing
Etihad Airways
Best International First-Class Wines on the Wing
American Airlines
Best Champagne International Business Class
Aeromexico
Best Champagne International Business Class
Etihad Airways
Best Champagne International First Class
Air France
Best White Wine International Business Class
All Nippon Airways
Best White Wine International First Class
Singapore Airlines
Best Red Wine International Business Class
Etihad Airways
Best Red Wine International First Class
All Nippon Airways
Best Alliance Wines on the Wing
oneworld
Best North American Wines on the Wing
American Airlines
Best North American Sparkling Wine
Aeromexico
Best North American White Wine
American Airlines
Best North American Red Wine
Alaska Airlines
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- Jacob Adoram Hendrickson; Tara From, director, member management, United Airlines
-
- Jacob Adoram Hendrickson; Byeongok Jeong, executive director, Korea Tourism Organization
-
- Jacob Adoram Hendrickson; Kristen Bowdoin, managing director, Chase Bank Credit Cards
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- Jacob Adoram Hendrickson; Evelyn St. Germain, director for leisure travel, Posadas
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- Jacob Adoram Hendrickson; Offer Nissenbaum, managing director, The Peninsula Beverly Hills
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- Jacob Adoram Hendrickson; Doug Abbott, director, IHG Business Edge, InterContinental Hotels Group
-
- Jacob Adoram Hendrickson; Mark Thorpe, CEO, Ontario International Airport
-
- Jacob Adoram Hendrickson; Robert Warren, assistant director, business retention and development, Miami International Airport
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- Jacob Adoram Hendrickson; Khaled Aylouch, public relations and communications manager, Hamad International Airport
-
- Jacob Adoram Hendrickson; Ana Maria Restrepo, marketing and CX director, El Dorado International Airport
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- Jacob Adoram Hendrickson; Amber Ritter, chief commercial officer, Chicago Department of Aviation
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- Eoghan Slye, vice president, marketing, Hertz
-
- Jennifer Plasket, senior vice president, deposit sales and marketing, Bank of America
-
- Diederik Scheepstra, commercial director, USA, Air France
-
- Yoram Elgrabi, managing director, North and Central America, EL AL Israel Airlines
-
- Karan Berry, general manager, Mandarin Oriental, Taipei
-
- Ethan Grossman, food and beverage product manager, Alaska Airlines
-
- Diane Shaffer, manager, Volvo Overseas Delivery
-
- John Boettcher, vice president, membership and business development, oneworld
-
- Jeff Forsythe, senior specialist, corporate sales, American Airlines
-
- Mert Dorman, senior vice president, Turkish Airlines Corporate Club
-
- Jiho Choi, marketing director, regional headquarters, the Americas, Asiana Airlines
-
- Guiseppe Careddu, country manager, director, USA & Canada, Alitalia Airlines
-
- Andrew Yiu, managing director, product design, Air Canada
-
- Chee Chian Seah, vice president, Western USA, Singapore Airlines
-
- Chris Palmer, director of sales, Americas, Virgin Australia
-
- Nick Panza, vice president, Americas, Air Tahiti Nui
-
- Michal Czernicki, spokesperson, LOT Polish Airlines
-
- Fern Ottavio, sales and marketing manager, North America, TAP Air Portugal
-
- Jayson Goh, managing director, airport operations management, Changi Airport Group
-
- Julie Vargo, vice president, consumer marketing, Boingo Wireless
-
- Ed Curry, director of sales and marketing, The Ritz-Carlton
-
- Matthew Schlitz, general manager, Chase Bank Credit Cards
-
- Umar Chaudhry, director, sales development, South African Airways
-
- Porsche Hsu, marketing director, the Americas, China Airlines
-
- Kai Zhou, regional general manager, Hainan Airlines
-
- Hideki Takarada, vice president, marketing & sales, the Americas, Japan Airlines
-
- Christophe Allard, director, North America, Brussels Airlines
-
- Shannon Patterson, senior vice president, customer engagement centers, Marriott Bonvoy
-
- Ersen Engin, general manager, Turkish Airlines
-
- Peter Tippen, head of marketing, global loyalty program, IHG Rewards Club, InterContinental Hotels Group
-
- Keiji Omae, vice president and director, sales and marketing, All Nippon Airways
-
- Lisa Arias, regional vice president, Hyatt
-
- Ana Tomicevic, director of brand marketing & partnerships for Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International
-
- Samantha Steckbeck, vice president, leisure sales, Oberoi Group
-
- Samantha Caesar, head of brand loyalty and engagement, The Parking Spot
-
- Joshua Sloser, senior vice president of product, Hilton Worldwide
-
- Brad Kanfer, marketing vice president, Capital One Financial Corporation
-
- David Kovach, senior vice president, global entertainment, Citibank
-
- Gerald Hoesl, account manager, Lufthansa Group
-
- Andrés Castañeda, senior vice president digital and CX, Aeromexico
-
- Maaike van see Windt, director aviation marketing, cargo and customer experience, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
-
- Kristina Hunt, vice president, Marriott credit card product, American Express; Kelly Graham, director, co-brand product management, American Express
-
- Kamal Roul, regional manager, the Americas, Air India
-
- V. Senthur Kumaran, assistant director, India Tourism
-
- Kristin Smith, segment management, Barclays
-
- David Kammann, financial director, CFO, North America Card, Citibank
-
- Clay McConnell, head of communications, Airbus
-
- Ekrem Dimbilogu, director, onboard brand experience and uniform design, Delta Air Lines
-
- Claude Roussel, managing director, Sky Club, Delta Air Lines
-
- Joel Goldowsky, regional sales director, eastern and north central USA, Emirates
-
- Paola Penarete, vice president, North America, Caribbean and Asia, LATAM Airlines
-
- April Shapiro, general manager, SkyMiles, Delta Air Lines
-
- Sinead El Sibai, vice president, marketing, Dubai Duty Free
-
- Matt Vincett, CEO, LifeMiles, Avianca Airlines
-
- Vincent Frascogna, vice president, Americas, global sales, Etihad Airways
-
- Richard Krulik, CEO, Briggs & Riley
-
- Nikhil Takalkar, vice president, loyalty operations, Marriott International
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