Step right up as Global Traveler reveals the winners of the 2011 GT Tested Reader Survey awards. From impressive long-haul carriers to standout ground services, the travel industry put on a memorable performance in 2011.
Our readers toured cities and countries worldwide before voting for the best in nearly 70 categories covering airlines, hotels and travel products. Over an eight-month voting period, frequent travelers selected their favorites. This year marks the eighth edition of the survey.
Welcome to the Big Top — here are the winners.
AMAZING ACROBATS
Every great trip begins with getting there. These winners excel at transporting travelers to top destinations.
For the eighth consecutive year, Singapore Airlines earns the title of Best Airline in the World, continuing its dominance in the survey’s history.
Emirates and British Airways take honors for Best Airline for First Class and Best Airline for Business Class, respectively. Domestically, American Airlines is voted Best Airline for Domestic First Class for the fifth straight year. Air Canada is named Best Airline in North America for the seventh consecutive year. Scandinavian Airlines wins Best Airline for Premium Economy Class.
Seat design is central to the inflight experience. Swiss International Air Lines has been voted Best First-Class Seat Design each year since that category was introduced, while Virgin Atlantic claims Best Business-Class Seat Design for 2011.
Asiana Airlines is a crowd favorite this year, earning Best Airline for Onboard Service, Best Airline for Flight Attendants and Best Trans-Pacific Airline. Lufthansa is recognized as Best Trans-Atlantic Airline.
Regional winners include LAN Airlines (Best Airline in Central/South America), Aeromexico (Best Airline in Mexico), V Australia (Best Airline to Australia and New Zealand), and Air Tahiti Nui (Best Airline in the South Pacific). In Asia, standout carriers include Korean Air (Best Airline in North Asia; Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents), Thai Airways (Best Airline in Southeast Asia), Hainan Airlines (Best Airline in China), Jet Airways (Best Airline in Central/South Asia and India) and All Nippon Airways (Best Airline to Japan). TAP Portugal is Best Airline in Europe, South African Airways is Best Airline in Africa for the eighth year running, and Emirates leads in the Middle East.
Every element matters in delivering a memorable journey. Below are awards that recognize the full travel experience, from airports and lounges to cuisine and aircraft.
Internationally, Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN) is named Best Airport in the World for a sixth consecutive year. In North America, Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) is voted Best Airport in North America for the eighth straight year. For dining, Singapore’s Changi International Airport (SIN) is recognized for Best Airport Dining.
Alitalia wins Best Airline Cuisine, continuing its streak since the category’s introduction. EL AL Israel Airlines is voted Best Airline for Security for the fifth consecutive year. United Club takes Best Airport Lounges. The Boeing 747 is named Best Aircraft Type for the fifth year in a row, and oneworld is recognized as Best Airline Alliance for the second consecutive year.
Sit back and relax — the show is just getting started.
WELCOME TO THE BIG TOP
The GT Tested Reader Survey Awards evolve with the industry. This year we added categories that reflect current travel trends.
Private jet travel continues to grow, so we introduced four new categories for Best Private Jet Company by region. The inaugural winners are Deer Jet (Asia), Delta Private Jets (Americas), Air Partner (Europe) and Royal Jet (Middle East).
The Address Hotel Downtown Dubai is named Best Hotel in the World, a fitting winner given its luxury and proximity to the Burj Khalifa.
We also added Best Hotel Chain in Mexico; FiestAmericana, part of the Posadas group, takes that honor. A new Best Overseas Delivery Program category recognizes the combined experience of driving a new car overseas and having it delivered at home — Audi tops this list. We also introduced Best Noise-Canceling Headset, won by Sony for its adjustable, lightweight, foldable designs favored by travelers.
REIGNING RINGMASTERS
After a great flight, travelers expect hotels that deliver an equally impressive performance. Readers rewarded properties and brands that consistently exceed expectations.
The Peninsula Hotels is voted Best International Hotel Chain. The group operates nine five-star properties worldwide, including locations in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, New York and Beverly Hills. The Peninsula Beverly Hills is named Best Hotel in the United States and Best Hotel in the Western United States.
The Ritz-Carlton earns Best Domestic Hotel Chain, with nearly 40 U.S. properties. Jumeirah Essex House in New York City wins Best Hotel in the Eastern United States for the fourth consecutive year, while Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts is recognized as Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East for the sixth year running.
Hyatt wins two categories: Andaz is named Best Lifestyle Hotel and Grand Hyatt’s Grand Club wins Best Hotel Club Floor. Other regional hotel winners include St. Regis as Best European Hotel Chain, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts as Best Hotel Chain in Asia, and Sheraton Hotels and Resorts as Best Hotel Chain in Latin America for the eighth straight year.
Readers also selected favorite destinations: Oregon is Best Domestic Tourism Destination; Philadelphia is Best Domestic Business City; Barcelona is Best International Business City; and South Africa is Best International Tourism Destination. The Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, takes Best Spa, and Bandon Dunes in Oregon is named Best Golf Resort.
The survey recognizes many other categories across rewards programs, travel essentials and services. InterContinental Hotels Group Priority Club Rewards is voted Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World for the seventh year. United’s MileagePlus wins Best Frequent-Flyer Program for the eighth time, and American Express Membership Rewards is again Best Credit Card Rewards Program.
Apple’s iPad is named Best Travel Gadget. Verizon is recognized as Best Wireless Service in the World, and Boingo Wireless wins Best WiFi Service. Briggs & Riley is voted Best Luggage Brand.
Tour operator Lindblad Expeditions wins Best Tour Operator. Dubai Duty Free is named Best Duty-Free Shops for the fifth consecutive year.
THE VOTING PROCESS
The GT Tested Awards survey ran from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31, 2011. Open-ended questionnaires were available in the magazine, online and via direct mail and email. Only questionnaires with more than 50 percent of questions answered were counted. Magazine employees and travel industry members were not eligible to participate. More than 36,000 qualifying surveys were received.
SELECTED RANKINGS
BEST AIRLINE IN THE WORLD
1. Singapore Airlines
2. British Airways
3. Lufthansa
4. Asiana Airlines
5. Swiss International Air Lines, Ltd.
6. Virgin Atlantic Airways
7. Emirates
8. Cathay Pacific Airways
9. Korean Air
10. Qantas
BEST AIRLINE FOR FIRST CLASS
1. Emirates
2. British Airways
3. Lufthansa
4. Singapore Airlines
5. Cathay Pacific Airways
6. Jet Airways
7. Qantas
8. Korean Air
9. Etihad Airways
10. Qatar Airways
BEST AIRLINE FOR BUSINESS CLASS
1. British Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Emirates
4. Cathay Pacific Airways
5. Lufthansa
6. Air Canada
7. Jet Airways
8. Korean Air
9. Asiana Airlines
10. United Airlines
BEST FIRST-CLASS SEAT DESIGN
1. Swiss International Air Lines, Ltd.
2. Singapore Airlines
3. United Airlines
4. Emirates
5. Asiana Airlines
6. TAM
7. British Airways
8. Qantas
9. Cathay Pacific Airways
10. Etihad Airways
BEST AIRPORT IN THE WORLD
1. Incheon International Airport
2. Changi International Airport
3. Munich Airport
4. London Heathrow Airport
5. Amsterdam Schiphol
6. Hong Kong International Airport
7. Kuala Lumpur International Airport
8. Kansai International Airport
9. Centrair Nagoya
10. Zürich Airport
BEST HOTEL IN THE WORLD
1. The Address Hotel Downtown Dubai
2. Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris
3. Hotel Cipriani Venice
4. Hôtel de Crillon Paris
5. Claridge’s Hotel, London
6. Burj Al Arab, Dubai
7. Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai
8. Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
9. Emirates Palace Hotel Abu Dhabi
10. The Peninsula Beverly Hills
BEST INTERNATIONAL HOTEL CHAIN
1. The Peninsula Hotels
2. Park Hyatt
3. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
4. InterContinental Hotels and Resorts
5. The Ritz-Carlton
BEST HOTEL REWARDS PROGRAM IN THE WORLD
1. InterContinental Hotels Group Priority Club Rewards
2. Marriott Rewards
3. Hilton HHonors
4. Starwood Preferred Guest
5. Shangri-La Hotels Golden Circle
BEST TRAVEL GADGET
1. iPad
2. iPhone
3. Sony Digital Headsets
4. Amazon Kindle e-Reader
5. BlackBerry
CHAMPION CONFECTIONS
The Wines on the Wing competition, judged by 31 wine experts and featuring 28 airline entries, produced these top winners: OpenSkies for Best Business-Class Wines on the Wing; Asiana Airlines for Best First-Class Wines on the Wing; Etihad Airways for Best Business-Class White Wine; EL AL Israel Airlines for Best First-Class White Wine; South African Airways for Best Business-Class Sparkling Wine; V Australia for Best Business-Class Champagne; Asiana Airlines for Best First-Class Champagne and Best First-Class Red Wine (tie with Lufthansa for Best First-Class Red Wine); TAP Portugal for Best Business-Class Red Wine; and American Airlines for several North American categories. SkyTeam, represented by Alitalia and Delta Air Lines, won Best Alliance Wines on the Wing.
2011 winners, take a bow — you are part of one of the greatest shows on Earth.
SELECTED WINE AWARDS
Best Business-Class Wines on the Wing: OpenSkies
Best First-Class Wines on the Wing: Asiana Airlines
Best Business-Class White Wine: Etihad Airways
Best First-Class White Wine: EL AL Israel Airlines
Best Business-Class Sparkling Wine: South African Airways
Best Business-Class Champagne: V Australia
Best First-Class Champagne: Asiana Airlines
Best Business-Class Red Wine: TAP Portugal
Best First-Class Red Wine: Lufthansa and Asiana Airlines (tie)
Best North American Wines on the Wing / Best North American Sparkling Wine / Best North American Red Wine: American Airlines
Best North American White Wine: US Airways
Best Alliance Wines on the Wing: SkyTeam (Alitalia and Delta Air Lines)