2019 Best in Business Travel Awards
The votes are tallied, and the results are in. It’s time to announce the award winners for 2019
November 30, 2019

For over three decades, you, the readers of Business Traveler, have had the opportunity cast your votes for the top providers from the entire spectrum of travel – those who have brought you exceptional products and services that have made your lives on the road easier, more valuable and more profitable. The Best in Business Travel Awards are the product of an independent survey, the voice of the business traveler. Each nominee is chosen by reader votes, and no one from our staff has any part in pre-selecting companies or picking the recipients. All data from the voters is analyzed by an outside research firm to determine the winners. This year, the awards honor travel providers in 46 different categories. In recognition of the continually rising tide of innovation and excellence in the industry – in technology, service levels, and in the sheer volume of travelers – this year’s recipients include the top three vote-getters in each category, both winners and finalists. In addition, in response to the increasing demand among business travelers for truly extraordinary leisure experiences, two new categories have been included: Best Luxury Cruise Line and Best Golf Resort.This more inclusive list pays tribute to the growing number of travel providers who taking the lead in the industry – those who have successfully adapted to the constantly changing demands of their most exacting customers: The readers of Business Traveler.
AIRLINES
Best in Global Travel
Best Overall Airline in the World
Winner
Singapore Airlines
Finalists
Delta Air Lines
Emirates
Best Airline in the World for International Travel
Winner
Etihad Airways
Finalists
Singapore Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Best Airline Alliance
Winner
Oneworld
Finalists
SkyTeam
Star Alliance
Airline with Best First Class Service in the World
Winner
Emirates
Finalists
Singapore Airlines
Cathay Pacific 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
Lufthansa
Finalists
Singapore Airlines
Cathay Pacific Airways
Airline with Best Economy Class Service in the World
Winner
Delta Air Lines
Finalists
Singapore Airlines
Emirates
Best Airline Cuisine in Business Class
Winner
Singapore Airlines
Finalists
Delta Air Lines
United Airlines
Best Overall Inflight Experience in the World
Winner
Singapore Airlines
Finalists
Emirates
Delta Air Lines
Airlines with Best Overall Customer Service
Winner
Delta Air Lines
Finalists
Singapore Airlines
United Airlines
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
American Airlines
Best Airline in Africa
Winner
South African Airways
Finalists
Ethiopian Airlines
Emirates
Best Airline in Asia
Winner
Cathay Pacific Airways
Finalists
Singapore Airlines
JAL Japan Airlines
Best Airline in the Middle East
Winner
Emirates
Finalists
Qatar Airways
Etihad Airways
Best Airline in South/Latin America
Winner
Avianca
Finalists
LATAM
Aerolineas Argentinas
Best Airline in Western Europe
Winner
British Airways
Finalists
Lufthansa
Swiss International Airlines
Best Airline in Central & Eastern Europe
Winner
Lufthansa
Finalists
LOT Polish Airlines
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
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
American Airlines
United Airlines
Best Business Class to Africa
Winner
South African Airways
Finalists
Emirates
Qatar Airways
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
LOT Polish Airlines
Finalists
Lufthansa
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
American Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Best Business Class to Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific
Winner
Qantas
Finalists
Air New Zealand
Cathay Pacific Airways
Best North American Airline for Inflight Experience
Winner
JetBlue
Finalists
Delta Air Lines
American Airlines
Best Airline for Transpacific Service
Winner
Cathay Pacific Airways
Finalists
Singapore Airlines
ANA (All Nippon Airways)
Best Airlines for Transatlantic Service
Winner
Virgin Atlantic
Finalists
British Airways
Lufthansa
HOTELS
Best Hotel Experience
Best Luxury Hotel Brand
Winner
Ritz-Carlton
Finalists
Four Seasons
Mandarin Oriental
Best Boutique Hotel Brand
Winner
Kimpton
Finalists
Autograph Collection
Leading Hotels of the World
Best Business Hotel Brand in the World
Winner
Marriott Hotels & Resorts
Finalists
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Hyatt Hotels
Best Hotels By Region
Best Business Hotel Brand in Asia
Winner
Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts
Finalists
Mandarin Oriental
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Best Business Hotel Brand in Europe
Winner
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Finalists
Marriott Hotels & Resorts
Four Seasons
Best Business Hotel Brand in the Middle East
Winner
Jumeirah Hotels
Finalists
Marriott Hotels & Resorts
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Best Business Hotel Brand in North America
Winner
Marriott Hotels & Resorts
Finalists
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Hyatt Hotels
Best Business Hotel Brand in South/Latin America
Winner
Marriott Hotels & Resorts
Finalists
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Four Seasons
LOYALTY
Best Frequent Flyer Program
Winner
Delta Air Lines – SkyMiles
Finalists
United Airlines – MileagePlus
American Airlines – AAdvantage
Best Hotel Loyalty Program
Winner
Marriott Bonvoy
Finalists
Hilton Honors
World of Hyatt
AIRPORTS
Best Connections on the Ground
Best Airport in the World
Winner
Singapore Changi (SIN)
Finalists
Hong Kong, Chek Lap Kok (HKG)
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS)
Airport with Best Duty-Free Shopping
Winner
Seoul Incheon International (ICN)
Finalists
Dubai International (DXB)
Singapore Changi (SIN)
GROUND
Best Car Rental Company in North America
Winner
National
Finalists
Hertz
Avis
Best Car Rental Company in the World
Winner
Hertz
Finalists
Sixt
Enterprise
LEISURE
Best Leisure Experiences
Best Luxury Cruise Line
Winner
Silversea Cruises
Finalists
Celebrity Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Best Golf Resort
Winner
Pebble Beach Golf Links (US)
Finalists
Bandon Dunes / Trails Resort (US)
Trump National Doral Miami (US)