Leisure Lifestyle Awards 2018 Highlights and Winners Recap

With a picture-perfect sunset as the backdrop, Global Traveler honored the winners of the 2018 Leisure Lifestyle Awards during a cocktail reception at The Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.

Now in its sixth year, the Global Traveler Leisure Lifestyle Awards recognize excellence across destinations, airlines, cruise lines and hotels in leisure and lifestyle travel. Sofitel’s rooftop venue overlooking Beverly Hills hosted the event for the third consecutive year as winners and guests gathered to celebrate.

The cruise-themed evening featured sailor-inspired swing performances by Liz Watts and Company, while a live band played selections spanning multiple decades.

Winners’ Circle

Best Historical Attractions
Turkey

Best Beaches
Costa Rica

Best Adventure Travel Destination
Thailand
Second Consecutive Year

Best Caribbean Island
Saint Lucia

Best Island in Europe
Santoríni
Fifth Consecutive Year

Best Island Pacific Rim
Cook Islands
Third Consecutive Year

Best Leisure Destination in the United States
Nashville

Best Leisure Destination in Europe
Lisbon

Best Leisure Destination in Asia
Taipei

Best Leisure Destination in Latin/South America
Buenos Aires

Best Leisure Destination in Mexico
Cabo San Lucas

Best Weekend Destination in the United States
Savannah

Best Weekend Destination in the World
Bermuda

Best Glamping Destination
The Resort at Paws Up

Best Babymoon Destination
Key West

Best North American Ski Destination
Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Best International Ski Destination
Whistler, British Columbia

Best Family Cruise Line
Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best Cruise Line Spa
Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best Luxury Cruise Line
Silversea Cruises
Third Consecutive Year

Best Cruise Line Suites
Silversea Cruises

Best Adventure Cruise Line
Windstar Cruises

Best Small-Ship Cruise Line
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Third Consecutive Year

Best Large-Ship Cruise Line
Cunard Line
Third Consecutive Year

Best River Cruise Line
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Best Cruise Line Entertainment
MSC Cruises

Best Cruise Line Dining
Viking Cruises

Best Cruise Ship Excursions
Princess Cruises
Third Consecutive Year

Best Cruise Line Rewards Program
MSC Voyagers Club

Favorite Cruise Ship
Celebrity Reflection
Celebrity Cruises

Best Luxury Leisure Hotel Group in the World
Meliá Hotels International
Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Hotel Chain Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts
Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Pet-Friendly Hotel
Westin Hotels & Resorts

Best Family Resort Chain in the World
Westin Hotels & Resorts
Second Consecutive Year

Best All-Inclusive Resorts
Sandals Resorts

Best Leisure Airline
Hawaiian Airlines
Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Premium-Economy Class
Scandinavian Airlines

Best Airport for Layovers
Hamad International Airport

Best Airport for Recreation
Munich Airport

Best Airline for Onboard Entertainment
Asiana Airlines

Best Luxury Vehicle
Maserati

Best Luxury Watch Brand
TAG Heuer
Third Consecutive Year

Best Liquor Brand
Johnnie Walker Blue

Best Luxury Tour Operator
Elegant Resorts

Best Leisure Car Rental
Hertz

Cruise Line of the Year
Azamara Club Cruises

Special Achievement Awards

Outstanding Customized Services
Denver International Airport

Outstanding Environmental Achievements
Hurtigruten Cruise Line

Outstanding Innovations
Singapore Changi Airport

Outstanding Social Responsibility
Omni Hotels & Resorts

Max Knagge, general manager, Americas, Scandinavian Airlines
Max Knagge, general manager, Americas, Scandinavian Airlines
Angela Geissler, director of accounts, North America, Munich Airport
Angela Geissler, director of accounts, North America, Munich Airport
John Petersen, general manager, North America, Cook Islands Tourism
John Petersen, general manager, North America, Cook Islands Tourism

Rui Horta, president, general assembly, Visit Lisboa
Rui Horta, president, general assembly, Visit Lisboa
Brad Shih, director, Taiwan Tourism Bureau
Brad Shih, director, Taiwan Tourism Bureau
Sermin Ozduran, director, Turkish Tourism Board, Turkish Culture and Tourism Organization
Sermin Ozduran, director, Turkish Tourism Board, Turkish Culture and Tourism Organization

Sobhana Sucharitakul, marketing manager, Tourism Authority of Thailand
Sobhana Sucharitakul, marketing manager, Tourism Authority of Thailand
Chantelle Foran, operations and product development manager, Princess Cruises; Mayra Herrera, marketing manager, Princess Cruises
Chantelle Foran, operations and product development manager, Princess Cruises; Mayra Herrera, marketing manager, Princess Cruises
Peter Ingram, CEO, Hawaiian Airlines
Peter Ingram, CEO, Hawaiian Airlines

Robert Castro, director of marketing, Silversea Cruises
Robert Castro, director of marketing, Silversea Cruises
Diane Moore, president, Paul Gauguin Cruises
Diane Moore, president, Paul Gauguin Cruises
Jaime Paiko, senior director, marketing, Cunard Line
Jaime Paiko, senior director, marketing, Cunard Line

Shirnett Fleet, vice president, marketing, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Line
Shirnett Fleet, vice president, marketing, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Line
Marilys Ward, strategic marketing manager, Celebrity Cruises; Cynthia Rose, regional marketing manager, Celebrity Cruises
Marilys Ward, strategic marketing manager, Celebrity Cruises; Cynthia Rose, regional marketing manager, Celebrity Cruises
Stacey Stegman, senior vice president of communications, Denver International Airport
Stacey Stegman, senior vice president of communications, Denver International Airport

Lori Goldspiel, director of sales, Azamara Club Cruises
Lori Goldspiel, director of sales, Azamara Club Cruises
Dayalan Nayager, global travel managing director, Diageo
Dayalan Nayager, global travel managing director, Diageo
Brian Povinelli, senior vice president, global brand leader, Westin & Le Méridien, Marriott International
Brian Povinelli, senior vice president, global brand leader, Westin & Le Méridien, Marriott International

Honorable Dominic Fedee, minister, Saint Lucia Tourism
Honorable Dominic Fedee, minister, Saint Lucia Tourism
Eoghan Slye, senior director, media and integration, Hertz
Eoghan Slye, senior director, media and integration, Hertz
Grigoria Kamaterou, director, Greek National Tourism Organization
Grigoria Kamaterou, director, Greek National Tourism Organization

Honorable Jamahl S. Simmons, JP, MP, minister of economic development and tourism, Bermuda Department of Tourism
Honorable Jamahl S. Simmons, JP, MP, minister of economic development and tourism, Bermuda Department of Tourism
Jason Montague, president & CEO, Regent Seven Seas Cruises; Randall Soy, executive vice president of sales, Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Jason Montague, president & CEO, Regent Seven Seas Cruises; Randall Soy, executive vice president of sales, Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Ji-Ho Choi, deputy general manager, marketing & sales, the Americas, Asiana Airlines
Ji-Ho Choi, deputy general manager, marketing & sales, the Americas, Asiana Airlines

Bill Harber, president, Hurtigruten Cruise Line
Bill Harber, president, Hurtigruten Cruise Line