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Travel Stars Shine Brightest

The 2020 Best in Business Travel Awards highlight resilience, innovation and staying power

The Best in Business Travel Awards are celebrating 32 years of honoring the star performers in the industry, making it one of the longest-running readers’ choice awards in travel. In years past, these awards have generally been a reflection of steady, incremental improvements that the industry’s leaders have developed – innovative products, added routes, new thinking in service levels and technology, all the steps that travel providers take to make life on the road easier for you, the readers of Business Traveler.  

In many ways, 2020 has been a year like no other. The challenges of COVID-19 have caused wrenching changes throughout the travel industry. The weight of cross-border bans, countrywide lockdowns and pure fear that crushed global travel at the beginning of March continues now and into the foreseeable future. This has left our readers with a dilemma: When I cast my vote for the Best in Business Travel, do I choose those providers who were doing a great job before the pandemic, or the ones who have really picked up the ball since?

However, the present circumstances are not so very different from crises in the past, and the way the top performers are responding is much as they always have responded to challenges. In fact, there’s no better time for the stars of travel to shine than when they are put to the test. When the gauntlet is thrown down, it’s these industry leaders who pick it up and respond with creativity and drive. That’s the hallmark of the Best in Business Travel Award winners.

And that’s the kind of innovative thinking we find throughout this year’s selections. As always, the categories include the best in class in global travel, the best airlines and business hotel chains by regions, as well as the best meetings destinations, car rental, leisure experiences, services and products. A total of 54 categories in all – representing an increase of eight new categories over last year’s awards. We see this broadening interest as good omen for the future of travel, as more of our readers explore ways to enrich their travel experiences. Again this year, the lists include the top three vote-getters in each category, highlighting both winners and finalists.

Since 1988, Business Traveler has been asking our readers to cast their votes for who does travel better than anybody else in the world. Today, in a year of almost unimaginable tumult, the 2020 Best in Business Travel Awards are sounding a powerful note of confidence in the future of this industry, and in the ability of its leading companies to rise above all the challenges and changes this crisis – or any other – can produce, and provide the best of the best the world of travel has to offer.

AIRLINES 

BEST IN GLOBAL TRAVEL

Best Overall Airline in the World

Winner

Singapore Airlines

Finalists

Qatar Airways

Emirates

Best Airline in the World for International Travel

Winner

Etihad Airways

Finalists

Singapore Airlines

Delta Air Lines

Best Airline Alliance

Winner

oneworld

Finalists

Star Alliance

SkyTeam

Airline with Best First Class Service in the World

Winner

Singapore Airlines

Finalists

Emirates

Etihad Airways

Airline with Best Business Class Service in the World

Winner

Singapore Airlines

Finalists

Qatar Airways

Emirates

Airline with Best Premium Economy Service in the World

Winner

Singapore Airlines

Finalists

Cathay Pacific Airways

Air Canada

Airline with Best Economy Class Service in the World

Winner

Delta Air Lines

Finalists

Singapore Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Best Airline Cuisine in Business Class

Winner

Singapore Airlines

Finalists

Delta Air Lines

Qatar Airways

Best Overall Inflight Experience in the World

Winner

Singapore Airlines

Finalists

Delta Air Lines

Qatar Airways

Airline with Best Overall Customer Service

Winner

Delta Air Lines

Finalists

Singapore Airlines

Southwest Airlines

Best Airline Corporate Program

Winner

Turkish Airlines

Finalists

Delta Air Lines

Alaska Airlines/Virgin America

Best Airlines By Region

Best North American Airline for International Travel

Winner

Air Canada

Finalists

Delta Air Lines

United Airlines

Best Airline for North American Travel

Winner

JetBlue

Finalists

Delta Air Lines

Alaska Airlines/Virgin America

Best Airline in Africa

Winner

Ethiopian Airlines

Finalists

South African Airways

Kenya Airways

Best Airline in Asia

Winner

Cathay Pacific Airways

Finalists

Singapore Airlines

EVA Air

Best Airline in the Middle East

Winner

Emirates

Finalists

Qatar Airways

Etihad Airways

Best Airline in South/Latin America

Winner

LATAM

Finalists

Avianca

Aerolineas Argentinas

Best Airline in Western Europe

Winner

British Airways

Finalists

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Lufthansa

Best Airline in Central & Eastern Europe

Winner

LOT Polish Airlines

Finalists

Turkish Airlines

Lufthansa

BEST AIR TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

Best North American Airline for Business Class Service

Winner

United Airlines

Finalists

Delta Air Lines

American Airlines

Best North American Airline for Premium Economy Service

Winner

Delta Air Lines

Finalists

United Airlines

American Airlines

Best Business Class to Africa

Winner

South African Airways

Finalists

Qatar Airways

Turkish Airlines

Best Business Class to Asia

Winner

Singapore Airlines

Finalists

Cathay Pacific Airways

Korean Air

Best Business Class to Western Europe

Winner

British Airways

Finalists

Lufthansa

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Best Business Class to Central and Eastern Europe

Winner

Lufthansa

Finalists

Turkish Airlines

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Best Business Class to the Middle East

Winner

Emirates

Finalists

Qatar Airways

Etihad Airways

Best Business Class to South/Latin America

Winner

LATAM

Finalists

Delta Air Lines

COPA Panama

Best Business Class to Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific

Winner

Qantas

Finalists

Air New Zealand

Singapore Airlines

Best North American Airline for Inflight Experience

Winner

Air Canada

Finalists

JetBlue

Delta Air Lines

Best Airline for Transpacific Service

Winner

Cathay Pacific Airways

Finalists

Singapore Airlines

ANA (All Nippon Airways)

Best Airlines for Transatlantic Service

Winner

British Airways

Finalists

Virgin Atlantic

Lufthansa

HOTELS

BEST HOTEL EXPERIENCE

Best Luxury Hotel Brand

Winner

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Finalists

The Ritz-Carlton

The Peninsula Hotels

Best Boutique Hotel Brand

Winner

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants

Finalists

Autograph Collection Hotels

Leading Hotels of the World

Best Business Hotel Brand in the World

Winner

Marriott International

Finalists

Hilton Hotels and Resorts

IHG

BEST HOTELS BY REGION

Best Business Hotel Brand in Asia

Winner

Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts

Finalists

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group

The Peninsula Hotels

Best Business Hotel Brand in Europe

Winner

Hilton Hotels and Resorts

Finalists

Marriott International

IHG

Best Business Hotel Brand in the Middle East

Winner

Jumeirah Group

Finalists

Marriott International

Hyatt

Best Business Hotel Brand in North America

Winner

Marriott International

Finalists

Hilton Hotels and Resorts

Hyatt

Best Business Hotel Brand in South/Latin America

Winner

Marriott International

Finalists

Hyatt

IHG

LOYALTY

BEST LOYALTY PROGRAMS

Best Frequent Flyer Program

Winner

Delta Air Lines – SkyMiles

Finalists

United Airlines – MileagePlus

Southwest – Rapid Rewards

Best Hotel Loyalty Program

Winner

Marriott Bonvoy

Finalists

Hilton Honors

World of Hyatt

Best Credit Card Rewards Program

Winner

American Express

Finalist

Capital One

ON THE GROUND

BEST CONNECTIONS ON THE GROUND

Best US Meeting Destination

Winner

Las Vegas

Finalists

New York City

San Diego

Best International Meeting Destination

Winner

Seoul

Finalists

London

Paris

Best Airport in the World

Winner

Singapore Changi (SIN)

Finalists

Seoul Incheon International (ICN)

Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)

Airport with Best Duty-Free Shopping

Winner

Seoul Incheon International (ICN)

Finalists

Dubai International (DXB)

Singapore Changi (SIN)

Best Car Rental Company in North America

Winner

National

Finalists

Hertz

Avis

Best Car Rental Company in the World

Winner

Hertz

Finalists

Enterprise

Sixt

Best Credit Card

Winner

American Express

Finalists

Chase Sapphire

Visa

Best Travel App

Winner

Trip Advisor

Finalists

Expedia

Kayak

Best Luggage Brand

Winner

Tumi

Finalists

Travel Pro

Briggs & Riley

LEISURE

BEST LEISURE EXPERIENCES

Best Luxury Cruise Line

Winner

Celebrity Cruises

Finalists

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Crystal Cruises

Best Luxury Resort

Winner

The Brando (Tahiti)

Finalists

Two Farms (Vermont)

Four Seasons (Maldives)

Best Golf Resort

Winner

Pebble Beach Golf Resort (US)

Finalists

Cape Wickham Links (Tasmania)

Bandon Dunes / Trails Resort (US)

Lets Go There

Best in Business Travel Award Winners provide vital leadership in the effort to inspire America’s travelers

The US Travel Association and an industrywide collaboration of 75 travel companies have launched a major advertising campaign, Let’s Go There. The campaign is designed to encourage Americans to dream about, plan for and – eventually – return to traveling for both business and pleasure.

It’s no coincidence that among the participants in the coalition are over a dozen winners or finalists in the 2020 Best of Business Travel Awards; it highlights once again the importance of the leadership, innovation and creative thinking these organizations bring, not only to their own businesses, but to the travel community globally. Let’s Go There Coalition supporting organizations that have also been recognized by Business Traveler readers in this year’s awards include:

• American Airlines

• American Express

• Chase

• Delta Air Lines

• Enterprise

• Expedia

• Hilton Hotels and Resorts

• Hyatt

• IHG Hotels and Resorts

• JetBlue

• Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

• Marriott International

• Marriott Bonvoy

• United Airlines

• Visa

These travel industry stars are joined by other leading companies such as Disney, Pepsico, Google, Amazon and Sabre, organizations like the US Chamber of Commerce, Brand USA, the American Society of Travel Advisors and Airlines for America, and dozens of city and state convention and tourism authorities.

Restoring Optimism 

The Let’s Go There campaign is based on recent research that shows people gain an emotional benefit when they plan travel, or even when they just think about future trips. The poll conducted by Michelle Gielan, founder of the Institute for Applied Positive Research, found 97 percent of respondents said that having a trip planned makes them happier, while 71 percent said they felt greater levels of energy when they had a trip planned in the next six months.

Indeed, despite the pandemic, there are early signs that travelers are beginning to feel confident about traveling again. Inmarsat’s recent ‘Passenger Confidence Tracker’ survey of 9,500 airline passengers found that nearly half of those polled worldwide (47 percent) say they expect to feel ready to fly within the next six months. Among US travelers, that number jumps to 60 percent. Perhaps more telling, the percentage of Americans who say they won’t fly again until there’s a vaccine falls to just 8 percent.

The message is clear: Americans are looking forward to getting back on the road. So the aim of the Let’s Go There campaign is to encourage travelers to go ahead and make their plans to travel now, and through that endeavor, to lift spirits and take the first steps toward restoring optimism – both about travel and about the future. Then as the momentum builds, travelers and would-be travelers can be confident that the industry is prepared to welcome them back.

The Let’s Go There Coalition spans practically every segment of the American travel industry. These leaders recognized the need to come together “as colleagues, not competitors,” with a united message, says Roger Dow, CEO of US Travel.

The organizations have come together to address the precipitous drop in travel caused by the coronavirus pandemic, initially with a safety-first message in the #TravelConfidently campaign. Now the time has come to reinvigorate travel and renew the sense of adventure and discovery that only travel can deliver.

The direct consumer campaign will include digital, broadcast, video and social platforms, as well as providing campaign-themed material for distribution by individual industry organizations across their own channels.

The message of Let’s Go There will:

• Trigger the emotional connection to travel that Americans are missing and inspire them to look forward again to the joy of travel

• Remind Americans of the restorative power of optimism and anticipation of travel

• Encourage Americans to take the first step and make travel plans

• Take an active role in the country’s recovery.

“There is pleasure in planning travel, and when the moment is right, the industry is committed to being well-prepared for the safe return of travelers,” Dow says. “When it’s time for you, we’ll be ready.”