GT Reader Survey Awards 2016: Winners, Insights & Highlights

The travel industry’s leaders gathered once again at The Peninsula Beverly Hills to celebrate Global Traveler’s 2016 GT Tested Reader Survey awards. The evening honored Wines on the Wing winners, Airline and Hotel of the Year, Hall of Fame inductees and Quint Status recipients. The 2016 event marked the 13th year of these prestigious awards and the sixth time the ceremony was held at The Peninsula Beverly Hills.

More than 200 industry guests enjoyed the hotel’s acclaimed hospitality. Comedian and motivational speaker Mack Dryden served as guest of honor on behalf of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the event also launched Global Traveler’s annual charity auction benefiting LLS.

Global Traveler’s GT Tested Reader Survey awards are among the most respected distinctions in luxury business travel, based on responses to an open-ended reader survey. Chase Bank Credit Cards, a multiple winner and Quint Status honoree, sponsored the evening and hosted a Dom Pérignon raffle. Notable attendees and raffle winners included David Rezaieh, vice president, airline relations, Downtown Travel; Bernard Siew, vice president, process and system innovation, airport operations management, Changi Airport Group; Gunter Saurwein, vice president, the Americas, Qatar Airways; Jean-Christophe Murat, member, Global Traveler Globility Board; and Chema Alvarado, director, sales, oneworld. China Airlines, Airline of the Year, also supported the celebration.

WINNERS’ CIRCLE

Aeroflot
Best Airline in Eastern Europe

Aeromexico
Best Airline in Mexico

Air Canada
Best Airline in North America

Air India
Best Airline in Central/South Asia & India

Air Tahiti Nui
Best Airline in the South Pacific

Alitalia
Best Airline Cuisine

All Nippon Airways
Best Airline to Japan

American Airlines
Best Airline for Domestic First Class
Best Red Wine International First Class
Best Red Wine International Business Class
Best North American Wines on the Wing
Best North American Sparkling Wine
Best North American White Wine
Best North American Red Wine

American Express
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Promotions
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Benefits
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Benefits

Asiana Airlines
Best Airline for Onboard Service
Best Airline for Flight Attendants

Avianca
Best Frequent-Flyer Customer Service, Americas
Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption

Bank of America
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card (Quint Status)

Boingo Wireless
Best WiFi Service

Briggs & Riley
Best Luggage Brand

British Airways
Best Champagne International First Class

Chase Bank Credit Cards
Best Credit Card (Quint Status)
Best Small-Business Credit Card
Best Credit Card Special Events
Best Credit Card Rewards Program (Quint Status)
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card (Quint Status)
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Redemptions
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Redemptions

Chicago O’Hare International Airport
Best Airport in North America

China Airlines
Airline of the Year
Best Business-Class Seat Design
Best Airline in North Asia (excluding China)

Citibank
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Promotions

Delta Air Lines
Best Airport Lounges

Dubai Duty Free
Best Duty-Free Shops (Hall of Fame)

EL AL Israel Airlines
Best Airline for Security (Hall of Fame)

Emirates
Best White Wine International First Class

EVA Air
Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents

Grupo Posadas
Best Hotel Chain in Mexico

Hainan Airlines
Fastest-Growing Airline in Asia
Best Airline in China (Quint Status)

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Best Airport Dining

Hawaiian Airlines
Best Frequent-Flyer Elite-Level Program

Hertz
Best Car Rental Company

Hyatt
Best Airport Hotel
Best Lifestyle Hotel
Best Frequent-Stay Customer Service, Americas

IHG Rewards Club
Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World

Ireland
Best Tourism Destination (Quint Status)

JetBlue
Best Airline Website

Jumeirah International
Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East
Best Individual Hotel in the World

LATAM Airlines Group
Best Airline to South America

Lotte Hotel, Seoul
Best Hotel in South Korea (Quint Status)
Best MICE Hotel

Lufthansa
Best Trans-Atlantic Airline

Marriott Rewards
Best Frequent-Stay Award Redemption

Meliá Hotels International
Hotel of the Year

Omni Hotels & Resorts
Best Frequent-Stay Bonus Program

oneworld
Best Airline Alliance

The Peninsula Beverly Hills
Best Hotel in the United States

Qantas Airways
Best Airline to Australia and New Zealand

Qatar Airways
Best Airline for International First Class
Best First-Class Seat Design
Best Airline in the Middle East

The Ritz-Carlton
Best International Hotel Chain
Best Domestic Hotel Chain
Best Hotel Club Floor
Best Hotel Website

Seoul
Best MICE City

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Best Hotel Chain in Latin America

Singapore Airlines
Best Overall Airline in the World
Best Airline for Business Class
Best International First Class Wines on the Wing
Best Champagne International First Class
Best International Business Class Wines on the Wing
Best Champagne International Business Class

Singapore Changi Airport
Best Overall Airport in the World

South African Airways
Best Airline in Africa

Tamron
Best Photographic Equipment

TAP Portugal
Best Airline for New Service Launch
Best Airline in Europe
Best White Wine International Business Class

United Airlines
Best Trans-Pacific Airline
Best Overall Frequent-Flyer Program
Best Frequent-Flyer Bonus Program

Verizon Wireless
Best Wireless Service in the World

Volvo
Best Overseas Delivery Program