Trazees Awards 2019 Winners and Highlights

Millennials have been called many things, including the “Wanderlust Generation.” Regardless of labels, their influence on travel is unmistakable: social media fuels inspiration and drives bookings, and mobile reservations have surged thanks to this cohort. A study by Eventbrite found millennials prioritize experiences and allocate more of their income to events and travel. With roughly $1.3 trillion in spending power, this group represents a lucrative market, and the travel industry has taken notice.

Which travel brands resonate most with millennials? To find out, readers of trazeetravel.com — the sister site to Global Traveler and whereverfamily.com — nominated their favorites. Trazee Travel, a resource for travelers aged 25–40 offering news, tips and reviews, collected reader nominations from December 2018 through March 2019 for the fifth annual The Trazees awards.

Below are the top travel companies and destinations that captured the hearts of engaged, social-media-savvy millennial travelers worldwide. Congratulations to all winners.

Starting with airlines and airports, American Airlines takes the crown as Favorite International Airline for the second straight year and also repeats as Favorite Airline Website. Its alliance, oneworld, becomes a three-time Favorite Airline Alliance winner.

Readers named the Airbus A350 Favorite Aircraft Type. Several winning carriers operate or have ordered the A350: China Southern Airlines (Favorite Airline in Asia) has A350s on order; Delta Air Lines (Favorite Airline App) and LATAM Airlines Group (Favorite Airline in Central/South America) already fly them; Etihad Airways (Favorite Airline in the Middle East) and United Airlines (Favorite Green Airline) have pending orders.

United MileagePlus is once again the Favorite Frequent-Flyer Program, earning a second consecutive win. South African Airways earns Quint Status after winning Favorite Airline in Africa for the fifth consecutive year. Other airline winners include Air Canada (Favorite Airline in North America), JetBlue (Favorite Low-Cost Airline), TAP Air Portugal (two-time Favorite Airline in Europe) and Interjet (Favorite Airline in Mexico, first-time winner).

Airports that impressed millennial travelers include Hamad International Airport in Doha, named Favorite Overall Airport in the World. DOH also wins Favorite Airport in the Middle East for the second consecutive year, Favorite Duty-Free Shopping overall and Favorite Duty-Free Shopping in the Middle East.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport earns Quint Status as Favorite Airport in North America for the fifth straight year and also secures Favorite Airport Dining for the third consecutive year.

Other airport winners span the globe: Singapore Changi is Favorite Airport in Asia; Incheon Airport wins Favorite Airport Shopping; Kansai International earns Favorite Duty-Free Shopping in Asia; Helsinki Airport is Favorite Airport in Europe; Brussels Airport takes Favorite Duty-Free Shopping in Europe; Mohammed V International in Casablanca is Favorite Airport in Africa while Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Mauritius International Airport wins Favorite Duty-Free in Africa. In Central/South America, Bogotá El Dorado and Montevideo Carrasco top the lists for Favorite Airport and Favorite Duty-Free Shopping, respectively.

When it comes to lodging, InterContinental Hotels Group appears multiple times: InterContinental Hotels & Resorts is Favorite Hotel Chain, intercontinental.com is Favorite Hotel Website, and IHG Rewards Club is Favorite Hotel Rewards Program in the World. Aloft Hotels wins Favorite Hotel Chain in Asia and Favorite Green Hotel.

Individual hotel honors go to Hotel Zephyr in San Francisco (Favorite Individual Hotel) and 21C Museum Hotel Oklahoma City (Favorite Individual Lifestyle Hotel). Other winners include Moxy (Favorite Hotel Chain in Europe), Sol by Meliá (Favorite Hotel Chain in Central/South America), and Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts (Favorite Hotel Chain in the Middle East). Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts reaches Quint Status as Favorite Hotel Chain in Mexico.

Destinations earning repeat recognition include Ireland (Favorite Country), Aruba (Favorite Honeymoon Destination), Taiwan (Favorite Adventure Destination) and Asheville, North Carolina (Favorite Foodie City). New additions to the list are Barcelona, Spain (Favorite Worldwide City) and Tampa Bay, Florida (Friendliest City).

Other notable winners include Hertz (Favorite Car Rental Company), GOWAY (Favorite Tour Operator), Tumi (Favorite Luggage Brand), United Explorer Card from Chase (Favorite Credit Card) and U River Cruises (Favorite Cruise Line).

Congratulations to the 2019 Trazees winners for making a meaningful impression on the wanderlust generation. As millennials continue to explore the world, these brands and destinations will likely remain influential in shaping how and where they travel.

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

In addition to reader-voted winners, Trazee Travel recognizes companies that go above and beyond with Special Achievement Awards. These honors highlight innovation and leadership in the travel industry.

Ontario International Airport in Southern California earns Favorite Alternative Airport for offering travelers an efficient and less congested alternative to Los Angeles International. In April 2019 the airport experienced a 7 percent passenger increase, reflecting growing traveler interest.

Speed and convenience matter to go-now, do-now travelers. CLEAR is named Favorite Travel Experience Improvement for using biometric verification — such as iris scans and fingerprints — to expedite identity checks. CLEAR partners with Delta Air Lines, Major League Baseball and Hertz to streamline the travel experience.

Hurtigruten Cruises receives the Favorite Environmentally Conscious Cruise Line award for its sustainability efforts, which include partnering with local communities, introducing hybrid-powered expedition ships, eliminating single-use plastics and supporting conservation through the Hurtigruten Foundation.

FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE
1. American Airlines
2. United Airlines
3. Delta Air Lines
4. Emirates
5. Asiana Airlines

FAVORITE AIRLINE ALLIANCE
1. oneworld
2. Star Alliance
3. SkyTeam

FAVORITE AIRCRAFT TYPE
1. Airbus A350
2. Boeing 787
3. Boeing 777
4. Airbus A380
5. Airbus A330

FAVORITE AIRLINE WEBSITE
1. aa.com
2. united.com
3. delta.com
4. jetblue.com
5. southwest.com

FAVORITE FREQUENT-FLYER PROGRAM
1. United MileagePlus
2. American Airlines AAdvantage
3. Delta SkyMiles
4. Alaska Mileage Plan
5. JetBlue TrueBlue

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN NORTH AMERICA
1. Air Canada
2. United Airlines
3. Delta Air Lines
4. American Airlines
5. Alaska Airlines

FAVORITE LOW-COST AIRLINE
1. JetBlue
2. Norwegian Air
3. Southwest Airlines
4. Spirit Airlines
5. Frontier

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN CENTRAL/ SOUTH AMERICA
1. LATAM Airlines Group
2. Avianca
3. Aerolineas Argentinas
4. Aeromexico
5. Copa Airlines

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN EUROPE
1. TAP Air Portugal
2. Brussels Airlines
3. Turkish Airlines
4. Austrian Airlines
5. British Airways

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN AFRICA
1. South African Airways
2. Kenya Airways
3. Air Namibia
4. Air Seychelles
5. Ethiopian Airlines

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN THE MIDDLE EAST
1. Etihad Airways
2. Qatar Airways
3. Emirates
4. EL AL Israel Airlines
5. Royal Jordanian

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN ASIA
1. China Southern Airlines
2. Asiana Airlines
3. China Airlines
4. Korean Air
5. Hong Kong Airlines

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN MEXICO
1. Interjet
2. Aeromexico
3. Volaris
4. VivaAerobus

FAVORITE GREEN AIRLINE
1. United Airlines
2. Lufthansa
3. TAP Air Portugal
4. American Airlines
5. Delta Air Lines

FAVORITE AIRLINE APP
1. Delta Air Lines
2. Alaska Airlines
3. United Airlines
4. American Airlines
5. Singapore Airlines

FAVORITE OVERALL AIRPORT IN THE WORLD
1. Hamad International Airport, Doha
2. Munich Airport
3. Singapore Changi Airport
4. Incheon Airport
5. San Francisco International Airport

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
2. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
3. Pittsburgh International Airport
4. San Francisco International Airport
5. George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN ASIA
1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Kansai International Airport
3. Tokyo Haneda International Airport
4. Incheon Airport
5. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN EUROPE
1. Helsinki Airport
2. Munich Airport
3. Vienna International Airport
4. Zürich Airport
5. Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport, Rome

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN THE MIDDLE EAST
1. Hamad International Airport, Doha
2. Dubai International Airport
3. Abu Dhabi International Airport
4. Bahrain International Airport
5. Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Medina

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN AFRICA
1. Mohammed V International Airport, Casablanca
2. King Shaka International Airport, Durban, South Africa
3. Cape Town International Airport
4. Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria
5. Port Elizabeth International Airport

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN CENTRAL/ SOUTH AMERICA
1. Bogotá El Dorado International Airport
2. Montevideo Carrasco International Airport
3. Medellín José María Cordova International Airport
4. Quito International Airport
5. Jorge Chávez International Airport, Peru

FAVORITE AIRPORT DINING
1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
2. Singapore Changi Airport
3. Hamad International Airport, Doha
4. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
5. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

FAVORITE AIRPORT SHOPPING
1. Incheon Airport
2. Denver International Airport
3. Dubai International Airport
4. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
5. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
1. Hamad International Airport, Doha
2. Dubai Duty Free
3. Incheon Airport
4. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
5. Hong Kong International Airport

FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPPING IN THE MIDDLE EAST
1. Hamad International Airport, Doha
2. Dubai Duty Free
3. Abu Dhabi International Airport
4. Bahrain Duty Free
5. Amman Queen Alia International Airport, Jordan

FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPPING IN AFRICA
1. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Mauritius International Airport
2. Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
3. King Shaka International Airport, Durban, South Africa
4. Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nigeria
5. Port Elizabeth International Airport

FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPPING IN ASIA
1. Kansai International Airport
2. Incheon Airport
3. Singapore Changi Airport
4. Tokyo Haneda International Airport
5. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport

FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPPING IN EUROPE
1. Brussels Airport
2. London Heathrow Airport
3. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
4. Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport, Rome
5. Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris

FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPPING IN CENTRAL/SOUTH AMERICA
1. Montevideo Carrasco International Airport
2. Bogotá El Dorado International Airport
3. Medellín José María Cordova International Airport
4. Quito International Airport
5. Jorge Chávez International Airport, Peru

FAVORITE INDIVIDUAL HOTEL
1. Hotel Zephyr, San Francisco
2. Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles
3. Moxy New Orleans
4. COQ, Paris
5. Freehand Miami, Miami Beach

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN
1. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
2. Aloft Hotels
3. Canopy by Hilton
4. Hyatt Place
5. EVEN Hotels

FAVORITE INDIVIDUAL LIFESTYLE HOTEL
1. 21C Museum Hotel, Oklahoma City
2. ME Miami
3. INNSIDE New York NoMad
4. COQ Hotel, Paris
5. Hotel Zeta, San Francisco

FAVORITE HOTEL WEBSITE
1. intercontinental.com
2. andaz.com
3. marriott.com
4. westin.com
5. hilton.com

FAVORITE HOTEL REWARDS PROGRAM IN THE WORLD
1. IHG Rewards Club
2. Marriott Bonvoy
3. Hilton Honors
4. Sol Meliá MAS Rewards
5. Radisson Rewards

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN ASIA
1. Aloft Hotels
2. Moxy
3. W Hotels
4. Hyatt Centric
5. The Ritz-Carlton

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN EUROPE
1. Moxy
2. Hotel Indigo
3. The Ritz-Carlton
4. Canopy by Hilton
5. Westin Hotels & Resorts

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN CENTRAL/ SOUTH AMERICA
1. Sol Meliá
2. Westin Hotels & Resorts
3. Sheraton Latin America
4. Riu Hotels & Resorts
5. Barcelo Hotels & Resorts

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN MEXICO
1. Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts
2. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
3. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
4. Westin Hotels & Resorts
5. W Hotels

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN THE MIDDLE EAST
1. Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts
2. Aloft Hotels
3. Marriott International
4. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
5. Address Hotels + Resorts

FAVORITE GREEN HOTEL
1. Aloft Hotels
2. Sofitel Hotels & Resorts
3. Hilton Hotels
4. Marriott International
5. Element Hotels

FAVORITE COUNTRY
1. Ireland
2. Greece
3. Spain
4. South Africa
5. United Kingdom

FAVORITE WORLDWIDE CITY
1. Barcelona, Spain
2. Bangkok, Thailand
3. Singapore
4. Dublin, Ireland
5. Hong Kong

FAVORITE HONEYMOON DESTINATION
1. Aruba
2. Greece
3. Cook Islands
4. Turks & Caicos
5. St. Lucia

FAVORITE ADVENTURE DESTINATION
1. Taiwan
2. India
3. Thailand
4. New Zealand
5. Austria

FAVORITE FOODIE CITY
1. Asheville, North Carolina
2. Chicago, Illinois
3. Rome
4. Paris
5. New York City, New York

FRIENDLIEST CITY
1. Tampa Bay, Florida
2. Nashville, Tennessee
3. Chicago, Illinois
4. Atlanta, Georgia
5. Denver, Colorado

FAVORITE CAR RENTAL COMPANY
1. Hertz
2. Sixt
3. National Car Rental
4. Avis
5. Enterprise

FAVORITE TOUR OPERATOR
1. GOWAY
2. Abercrombie & Kent
3. Top Deck
4. Contiki
5. Red Savannah

FAVORITE LUGGAGE BRAND
1. Tumi
2. Swiss Army
3. Samsonite
4. Delsey
5. TravelPro

FAVORITE CREDIT CARD
1. United Explorer Card by Chase
2. American Express Green
3. American Express Gold Delta SkyMiles
4. Venture Card from Capital One
5. Chase Ink

FAVORITE CRUISE LINE
1. U River Cruises
2. Royal Caribbean International
3. Norwegian Cruise Line
4. Princess Cruises
5. Carnival Cruises

QUINT STATUS 2019

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN AFRICA
South African Airways

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport