For the 13th consecutive year, Global Traveler recognizes excellence across the travel industry, naming its 2023 Airline of the Year and Hotel of the Year.
This year’s honors go to American Airlines as Airline of the Year and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts as Hotel of the Year. Both brands lead the industry by embracing new technologies and trends while maintaining a strong focus on the safety and well-being of guests and employees.
Each year, a select group of Global Traveler staff and Advisory Board members evaluate nominees across multiple factors to determine the winners. They review financial performance, operational records, boarding and loading efficiency, safety protocols, onboard service and menus, and overall brand image. Receiving this accolade reflects sustained achievement and leadership in the travel sector.
AMERICAN AIRLINES
AIRLINE OF THE YEAR
© American Airlines
Founded more than 95 years ago, American Airlines has a long history of innovation. The carrier was among the first to hire both the first Black and the first female U.S. commercial airline pilots, and it introduced the first loyalty program among major carriers. Those milestones reflect a legacy of pioneering service and inclusivity.
American’s origins trace to 1926, when Charles A. Lindbergh, then chief pilot of Robertson Aircraft Corp., flew a DH-4 biplane to Chicago. Robertson Aircraft was one of the predecessors that evolved into today’s American Airlines. About a decade later the airline was the first to operate the Douglas DC-3 in commercial service on the New York–Chicago route, and it soon began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
In the 1940s American introduced airport lounges for passengers and operated the world’s first scheduled air cargo service from New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The carrier also launched trans-Atlantic services through American Overseas Airlines, marking a major expansion in international operations.
Over the decades American continued to introduce industry firsts, including opening the world’s first dedicated flight attendant training facility in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1957, and co-founding the oneworld alliance with partners such as British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas. These moves helped shape global standards for service and partnership.
Today American keeps expanding its network and services. This year the airline launched more than 50 new routes, serving over 350 destinations worldwide, and it plans additional capacity on routes to Las Vegas ahead of major events like Super Bowl LVIII.
© American Airlines
American has also enhanced business travel rewards with AAdvantage Business, a program that rewards both travelers and qualifying companies with AAdvantage miles and Loyal Points for bookings made on aa.com or the American app. The program is designed to offer practical tools and tangible rewards for both organizations and individual travelers.
“American has built something no one else offers,” said Scott Laurence, senior vice president, Partnerships and Retailing, American Airlines. “We want to reward both the companies doing business with us and the traveler who’s actually flying in the airplane seat. It’s a win-win. We’ve designed a simple program that goes above and beyond in delivering rewards and tools that benefit everyone.”
Community engagement is another priority. American partnered with the CR Smith Museum to introduce an educational initiative aimed at inspiring future aviation professionals. The multiyear Aviation Career Pathway program targets middle and high school students with aviation STEM education and exposure to industry careers, beginning in the Dallas Independent School District with plans to expand.
Sustainability remains central to the airline’s strategy, which aims for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. American is focusing on more fuel-efficient operations and aircraft, increasing use of low-carbon fuels, and pursuing fleet renewal that has resulted in one of the youngest mainline fleets among U.S. carriers. Recent actions include large sustainable aviation fuel agreements and investments in companies developing low-carbon and hydrogen-powered aviation technologies.
FOUR SEASONS HOTELS AND RESORTS
HOTEL OF THE YEAR
With an extensive portfolio of luxury properties around the world, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is Global Traveler’s 2023 Hotel of the Year.
The company began in 1961 with its first hotel and over more than six decades has reshaped luxury hospitality by emphasizing personalized service and consistent quality. Founder Isadore Sharp started with a single project and soon expanded to multiple properties that established the signature Four Seasons approach to guest care and design.
Expansion in the 1970s, including a landmark property in London, set a global tone for the brand’s service standards. In the 1980s Four Seasons opened flagship hotels in cities such as Philadelphia, Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles and Chicago, then broadened its reach into Europe and Asia to build a truly international portfolio.
By its fifth decade the company had grown to more than 50 properties across nearly every continent and introduced Four Seasons Private Residences and other branded residential offerings, extending its commitment to thoughtful design and attentive service into urban and resort living.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Four Seasons launched an enhanced health and safety program, LEAD WITH CARE, reinforcing trust, care and flexibility for guests and residents while maintaining service standards across properties.
Environmental stewardship and community impact are integral to Four Seasons’ operations. The company’s Four Seasons for Good program focuses on Planet (environmental impact) and People (social impact), aligning actions with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and supporting local communities where properties operate.
© Four Seasons Hotels
Examples of sustainability initiatives include the Four Seasons Resort Marrakech, which upgraded its hot water system to a hybrid solar-and-electric arrangement. The system also recovers waste heat from air-conditioning units to reduce electricity use, and it can power down in unoccupied buildings to conserve energy. Such measures demonstrate how property-level investments can reduce environmental impact.
Four Seasons also supports social initiatives that empower local communities. The Helping Girls Dream Big program brings together young women from St. Kitts and Nevis for a two-week Girls Illuminated course that builds skills, fosters connections and encourages participants to articulate and pursue their future ambitions.
Across its global portfolio, Four Seasons partners with sustainability leaders in and outside the hospitality sector to drive positive change while continuing to deliver the luxury service that defines the brand.