As the sun set over Los Angeles on May 18, industry leaders gathered at the Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills to celebrate excellence in leisure travel.
Now in its fifth year, the Global Traveler Leisure Lifestyle Awards honor outstanding destinations, airlines, cruise lines and hotels across leisure and lifestyle travel. For the second consecutive year, the awards were celebrated on the Sofitel’s rooftop, offering guests sweeping views of Beverly Hills. Attendees received traditional Hawaiian leis and enjoyed an evening of themed cuisine, live music and cocktails, capped by surprise performances of authentic Hawaiian dance and ukulele by Liz Watts and Company.
In addition to the category winners, Global Traveler publisher and CEO Francis X. Gallagher received a Best Boss award presented by editorial coordinator Jenna Payesko.
Perfectly situated at the corner of La Cienega and Beverly Boulevard near Rodeo Drive and Sunset Boulevard, the French-inspired Sofitel Los Angeles consistently delivers refined, memorable events. The 2017 Leisure Lifestyle Awards were no exception—our thanks to everyone who attended and to the Sofitel for hosting an outstanding evening.
The Leisure Lifestyle Awards showcase the top names in leisure travel and lifestyle. Nominations are submitted by our Globility Board and the experienced staff of Global Traveler, and final winners are selected by our Advisory Board.
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
- Juergen Stuetz, vice president of sales, marketing and distribution, Meliá Hotels International
- Christian Mani, marketing manager, Cook Islands Tourism
- Diane Moore, president, Paul Gauguin Cruises
- Jackie Barney, vice president of marketing, National Geographic Expeditions
- Jacqueline Drumheller, sustainability manager, Alaska Airlines
- Steve Smotrys, director of sales, and Jamie Paiko, director of marketing, Cunard Line
- Chantelle Foran, manager of shore excursions, Princess Cruises
- Tim Jacox, president and COO, UnCruise Adventures
- Mary Beth Wressell, vice president, marketing communications, Holland America Line
-
Grigoria Kamaterou, director, Greek National
Tourism Organization
- Scott Daniels, director, hotel operations, Azamara Club Cruises
- Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler; Edie Rodriguez, Crystal Cruises
- Kittipong Prapatong, director, Tourism Authority of Thailand
- Mark Dunkerley, CEO, Hawaiian Airlines
- Brian Povinelli, senior vice president, global brand leader, Westin Hotels & Resorts
- Offer Nissenbaum, managing director, The Peninsula Beverly Hills
- Roberto Castro, director of marketing, Silversea Cruises
- Kate Gebo, vice president, office of the CEO, and Mark Krolick, vice president of marketing, United Airlines
- Vivian Cervantes, key account manager, United Cargo
- Martina Hupach, general manager of sales, Lufthansa
- Neelia Ross, deputy commissioner, U.S. Virgin Islands
- Kristin Karst, co-owner and executive vice president, and Rudi Schreiner, co-owner and president, AmaWaterways
- Jesus Ignacio Perez Cidoncha, media manager, Tourist Office of Spain New York