For the 12th consecutive year, Global Traveler recognizes the industry’s top performers, naming the 2022 Airline of the Year and Hotel of the Year.
As border restrictions ease, travel providers are expanding and enhancing networks, rebuilding teams and preparing for post-pandemic recovery. With in-person meetings and events returning and customer demand surging, it is timely to honor brands that are clearly leading the way through a rapidly changing travel landscape.
This year we celebrate Singapore Airlines and Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, two storied travel brands known for their enduring legacies and consistent excellence. Both continue to evolve, setting industry standards with innovation, meticulous attention to detail and exceptional customer care.
Each year, a select group of Global Traveler staff, Advisory Board members and our subscriber Globility Board select the winners based on a range of criteria. They review nominees’ financial performance, operational metrics such as loading and boarding times, safety procedures, onboard offerings like menus and entertainment, and the overall strength of the brand.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES
AIRLINE OF THE YEAR
Marking 75 years of service, Singapore Airlines has built a reputation for innovation and impeccable customer service, placing it among the world’s leading carriers. The airline has long been a frequent recipient of awards for service, premium cabins and technological advancements, yet it continually reinvests in the passenger experience through design updates, new products and forward-looking initiatives.
Founded in 1947 as Malayan Airways Limited, the airline initially operated a handful of weekly flights to nearby cities. It later became Malaysian Airlines Limited and then Malaysia-Singapore Airlines before splitting in 1972 into Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airline System. Since then, Singapore Airlines has achieved numerous aviation milestones.
Highlights across the decades include pioneering long-haul operations with early Boeing 747 services, launching the International Culinary Panel in 1998 to elevate inflight dining, and introducing personal audio and video on-demand systems for all classes in 2001. The carrier has also been an early adopter of new aircraft models, including the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, Airbus A350 variants and the double-deck Airbus A380.
Today Singapore Airlines operates a modern, fuel-efficient fleet of more than 150 aircraft and remains a key member of the Star Alliance. Its investments in cabin comfort, inflight entertainment and culinary offerings reflect a sustained commitment to passenger comfort and innovation.
PHOTO: © SINGAPORE AIRLINES
The carrier has steadily introduced new cabin products across all travel classes, enhancing design, dining and entertainment while adopting technologies to smooth the travel journey. In 2015 it added premium economy, and more recently it unveiled refreshed economy and business cabins on Boeing 737-8s with lie-flat business seats.
Singapore Airlines’ A380 Suites represent the pinnacle of inflight luxury: swivel and reclining leather seating that convert into adjustable beds, private sliding doors and window blinds, enhanced entertainment systems that retain personal playlists, refined gourmet dining and spacious lavatories stocked with premium amenities. For couples, adjoining suites can be combined to form a double suite with a full double bed, delivering a dramatic luxury experience.
WALDORF ASTORIA HOTELS AND RESORTS
HOTEL OF THE YEAR
PHOTO: © WALDORF ASTORIA CHICAGO
Hilton’s flagship luxury brand continues to expand into iconic destinations, offering memorable experiences, personalized service and culinary expertise. Each Waldorf Astoria property honors the brand’s heritage while creating a distinct sense of place that reflects the history and character of its location.
The brand’s origins trace back to the Gilded Age in New York. William Waldorf Astor opened the original Waldorf Hotel in 1893, and in 1897 John Jacob Astor IV opened the neighboring Astoria Hotel. The two properties were eventually joined by a marble corridor known as Peacock Alley, which became a celebrated social thoroughfare.
From its earliest days, the Waldorf-Astoria symbolized opulence and set the standard for American hospitality. The hotel moved to its current Park Avenue address in 1931, where its Art Deco design and grand public spaces welcomed presidents, royalty and cultural figures, establishing a global reputation for luxury.
PHOTO: © WALDORF ASTORIA CHICAGO
Innovations introduced by the brand were once considered daring: it was among the first hotels to offer electricity on every floor and private bathrooms in each room, features that redefined guest expectations. It also pioneered 24-hour room service, establishing hallmarks of luxury hospitality.
Conrad Hilton secured management rights in 1949, and Hilton Hotels Corp. acquired the Waldorf-Astoria in 1972, growing it into the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts luxury division. Today the brand operates more than 30 properties across 15 countries and territories, with additional openings and conversions planned.
Waldorf Astoria is expanding into new markets, including a debut in Australia with Waldorf Astoria Sydney planned to open as part of the One Circular Quay development. The 28-floor, 220-room hotel will feature a spa, the signature Peacock Alley lounge, multiple dining venues and a rooftop bar. The brand will also open Waldorf Astoria Hanoi in 2025 after converting the Hilton Hanoi Opera, offering dining outlets, a spa, fitness facilities and a pool.
Other regional openings include Waldorf Astoria Kuala Lumpur, Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan and Waldorf Astoria Xi’an. Meanwhile, the iconic Waldorf Astoria New York is undergoing a significant restoration and redesign, including a residential component and a renewed façade to restore its original Art Deco grandeur.
For enduring relevance, unwavering standards of luxury and service, and a steady embrace of thoughtful innovation, we are proud to honor Singapore Airlines and Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts as this year’s winners.