AS THE SUN SET in California May 18, industry elite gathered at The Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills to celebrate the world’s best in leisure travel.

Now in its fifth year, the Global Traveler Leisure Lifestyle Awards pay tribute to standout destinations, airlines, cruise lines and hotels in the leisure and lifestyle travel categories. For the second year in a row, we commemorated our award winners with a memorable affair at the Sofitel’s beautiful rooftop venue overlooking Beverly Hills. After receiving traditional Hawai’ian welcome leis, our guests enjoyed a pleasant evening of themed food, music and cocktails as well as a surprise: authentic Hawai’ian dance and ukulele performances by Liz Watts and Company.

Our Leisure Lifestyle winners weren’t the only ones to bring home an award that night. Global Traveler publisher and CEO Francis X. Gallagher was also presented with a Best Boss award by our editorial coordinator, Jenna Payesko.

The ideally located Sofitel Los Angeles sits at the corner of La Cienega and Beverly Boulevard, near Rodeo Drive and Sunset Boulevard. The French-inspired luxury hotel goes above and beyond for its guests and offers memorable, elegant events. Our 2017 Leisure Lifestyle Awards fête was no exception. Thank you to everyone who joined us and to the Sofitel for another fabulous event.

Global Traveler’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards highlight the best of the best in leisure travel and lifestyle. Nominations come from our elite Globility Board as well as our experienced, well-traveled magazine staff. Our esteemed Advisory Board selects the final winners.

WINNERS’ CIRCLE

BEST HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS
Spain

BEST BEACHES
Cayman Islands

BEST ADVENTURE TRAVEL DESTINATION
Thailand

BEST CARIBBEAN ISLAND
U.S. Virgin Islands

BEST ISLAND IN EUROPE
Santoríni

BEST ISLAND PACIFIC RIM
Cook Islands

BEST FAMILY CRUISE LINE
Royal Caribbean International

BEST LUXURY CRUISE LINE
Silversea Cruises

BEST CRUISE LINE SUITES
Crystal Cruises Penthouse

BEST ADVENTURE CRUISE LINE
UnCruise Adventures

BEST SMALL-SHIP CRUISE LINE
Paul Gauguin Cruises

BEST LARGE-SHIP CRUISE LINE
Cunard Line

BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE
AmaWaterways

BEST CRUISE LINE ENTERTAINMENT
Royal Caribbean International

BEST CRUISE LINE DINING
Azamara Club Cruises

BEST CRUISE SHIP EXCURSIONS
Princess Cruises

BEST CRUISE LINE REWARDS PROGRAM
Royal Caribbean International
Crown & Anchor Society

FAVORITE CRUISE SHIP
ms Koningsdam
Holland America Line

BEST LUXURY LEISURE HOTEL GROUP IN THE WORLD
Meliá Hotels International

BEST HOTEL CHAIN RESORTS
Westin Hotels & Resorts

BEST PET-FRIENDLY HOTEL
Kimpton Hotels & Resorts

BEST FAMILY RESORT CHAIN IN THE WORLD
Westin Hotels & Resorts

BEST LEISURE AIRLINE
Hawaiian Airlines

BEST PREMIUM-ECONOMY CLASS
Lufthansa

BEST PET-FRIENDLY AIRLINE
United Airlines

BEST LUXURY VEHICLE
Mercedes-Benz

FAVORITE LUXURY FASHION BRAND
Ralph Lauren

FAVORITE LUXURY WATCH BRAND
TAG Heuer

FAVORITE LUXURY JEWELRY BRAND
David Yurman

FAVORITE ATHLEISURE BRAND
Fabletics

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

BEST CUSTOMIZED SERVICE
The Peninsula Beverly Hills

BEST ENVIRONMENTAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Alaska Airlines

BEST OUTSTANDING INNOVATIONS
United Airlines

BEST SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
National Geographic Expeditions