April marks the midpoint of voting for the 2016 GT Tested Reader Survey awards. The annual open-ended ballot, run in the magazine and online from January through August, gives readers—the true travel experts—a chance to name their favorites across industry categories, from airlines and hotels to rewards programs and travel products.
With only a few months left to cast ballots, Global Traveler highlights brands that are close to reaching important milestones in the survey, including eligibility for the 10-Year Hall of Fame and the five-year Quint Status.
Hall of Fame
When Global Traveler celebrated the 10th anniversary of the GT Tested Reader Survey awards in 2013, we honored those winners that had dominated their categories throughout the survey’s history by inducting them into the inaugural Hall of Fame. That first group included Singapore Airlines (Best Airline in the World), Asiana Airlines (Best Airline for Onboard Service and Best Airline for Flight Attendants), United MileagePlus (Best Frequent-Flyer Program), South African Airways (Best Airline in Africa), Chicago O’Hare International Airport (Best Airport in North America) and Sheraton Hotels & Resorts (Best Hotel Chain in Latin America).
Later Hall of Fame inductees included Incheon Airport (Best Overall Airport in the World), Air Canada (Best Airline in North America) and IHG Rewards Club (Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World).
The companies currently positioned to claim their 10th win and earn Hall of Fame status in 2016 include:
EL AL Israel Airlines
Best Airline for Security
Dubai Duty Free
Best Duty-Free Shops
The Address Downtown Dubai
Best Individual Hotel in the World
Quint Status
Quint Status recognizes brands that win the top spot in their categories for five consecutive years. Past Quint honorees include oneworld (Best Airline Alliance), Alitalia (Best Airline Cuisine), Aeromexico (Best Airline in Mexico), TAP Portugal (Best Airline in Europe), Andaz (Best Lifestyle Hotel), The Peninsula Beverly Hills (Best Hotel in the United States), Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts (Best Hotel Chain in Mexico), Boingo Wireless (Best WiFi Service) and Briggs & Riley (Best Luggage Brand).
The organizations vying to earn Quint Status for the fifth consecutive year in 2016 include:
Lotte Hotel Seoul
Best Hotel in South Korea
Ireland
Best Tourism Destination
United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase
Best Credit Card
Best Credit Card Rewards Program
Marriott Rewards Visa Signature Card from Chase
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card
How to Vote
To participate in the 2016 GT Tested Reader Survey awards and support the brands you want to see win—or to help them reach Hall of Fame or Quint milestones—complete the ballot on page 57 of the print edition or visit our ballot page at globaltravelerusa.com/gt-tested-awards-ballot.
Airline and Hotel of the Year
In 2016 we also present our sixth annual Airline of the Year and Hotel of the Year awards. Last year’s winners were Turkish Airlines and The Ritz-Carlton; this year the awards will pass to new honorees selected by the Global Traveler team.
These two awards are chosen by a panel of Global Traveler staff and Advisory Board members rather than by reader vote. Selections are based on professional experience and independent analysis of financial performance, occupancy, load factors, on-time performance, safety records, brand strength and onboard offerings.
The 2016 Airline of the Year nominees, as selected by the Global Traveler editorial team, are:
Aer Lingus
Aeromexico
Alitalia
American Airlines
Brussels Airlines
China Airlines
Delta Air Lines
EVA Air
LATAM
Lufthansa
Singapore Airlines
Swiss International Air Lines
The 2016 Hotel of the Year nominees, as selected by the Global Traveler editorial team, are:
Aman Resorts
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Hyatt Hotels
InterContinental Hotels
Langham Hotels
Meliá Hotels
The Peninsula Hotels
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Latin America
The winners will be announced in our December 2016 issue.