TRAVEL WEEKLY HONORS BEST OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY

NEW YORK – Travel Weekly, the most influential source of news, research, opinion and analysis to the travel industry, honored the winners of its 22nd annual Readers’ Choice Awards at a black-tie gala dinner and ceremony on December 11 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. 

The award winners, one for each of the 91 categories, represent the best of the best of the travel industry. The nominees and award recipients were chosen in two rounds of voting by Travel Weekly’s audience of travel professionals.

These widely recognized, coveted awards are presented annually to the industry suppliers who led the way in product and service during the past year. The open ballot phase of the voting was conducted during the summer. Travel Weekly readers were invited to write in the names of any company they believe best exemplifies a particular category. The leading vote recipients were identified as finalists, and a second round of voting to determine the winners took place September through November 2024.

“To be recognized as the best by your peers is the highest honor you can receive,” said Arnie Weissmann, editor in chief of Travel Weekly. “Among our readers are travel advisors, industry marketing executives and the CEOs of the world’s largest travel companies – a group uniquely qualified to evaluate a very crowded field of potential nominees. Those who have reached the top and received recognition as winners of Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards indicates that they have truly excelled and have met travelers’ needs with the highest of standards, consistently.”

Travel Weekly also recognized Michele Saegesser, Vice President, Sales and National Accounts, Viking; Greg O’Hara, Founder and Senior Managing Director, Certares Management LLC; and Frank J. Del Rio, CEO, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings with Lifetime Achievement Awards. The award pays tribute to individuals whose efforts have led to extraordinary results within an organization and who have also made significant contributions to the industry as a whole. The legacy of the recipients of the Travel Weekly Lifetime Achievement Awards collectively defines the environment that the travel industry operates in today.

The Travel Weekly Sustainability Leadership Award was given to Hurtigruten in recognition of its long-standing commitment to sustainable practices. "Hurtigruten leads the way on sustainability in the cruise industry,” said Arnie Weissmannn, editor in chief of Travel Weekly. “From the first hybrid battery-option ships to its handling of waste, the company holds itself to high standards as regards sustainability, and its actions demonstrate that cruising and responsible environmental stewardship can be compatible.” 

Travel Weekly’s 2024 Readers’ Choice winners are:

Airline: Domestic – Delta Air Lines

Airline: International – United Airlines

Airline: Business/First Class – Emirates

Airline: Premium Economy Class – Delta Air Lines

Top Airline Global Network – United Airlines

Airline: Sales & Service – Delta Air Lines

Top Airline Overall ­– Delta Air Lines

Car Rental: Domestic – Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Car Rental: International – Hertz

Hotel Chain: Domestic – Marriott International  

Hotel Chain: Asia – IHG Hotels & Resorts                                             

Hotel Chain: Caribbean – Sandals Resorts

Hotel Chain: Europe – Hilton Worldwide

Hotel Chain: Mexico – Inclusive Collection, part of World of Hyatt

Hotel Chain: Hawaii/South Pacific – Marriott International

Hotel Chain: All-Inclusive – Sandals Resorts

Hotel Chain: Luxury – Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts

Hotel Chain: Boutique – Zoetry Wellness & Spa Resorts

Best Resort Worldwide – St. Regis Bora Bora

Hotel Chain: Sales & Service – Marriott International

Top Overall Hotel Group – Marriott International

Best DMC Overall – Amstar

Tour Operator: Domestic Packaged – Delta Vacations                     

Tour Operator: Domestic Escorted – Collette

Tour Operator: International – Globus                    

Tour Operator: Adventure – Adventures by Disney

Tour Operator: Africa – Abercrombie & Kent

Tour Operator: Asia/Pacific – Trafalgar

Tour Operator: Canada – Collette

Tour Operator: Caribbean – Funjet Vacations

Tour Operator: Europe – Globus

Tour Operator: Hawaii – Pleasant Holidays           

Tour Operator: Mexico – Apple Vacations             

Tour Operator: Luxury – Abercrombie & Kent

Tour Operator: Group, Packaged – Delta Vacations                          

Tour Operator: Escorted Sales & Service – Globus                             

Tour Operator: Packaged Sales & Service – Funjet Vacations

Tour Operator: Escorted Overall – Globus             

Tour Operator: Packaged Overall – Funjet Vacations

Cruise Line: Domestic – Carnival Cruise Line

Cruise Line: Alaska – Princess

Cruise Line: Antarctica – Silversea

Cruise Line: Caribbean – Royal Caribbean International

Cruise Line: Europe – Celebrity Cruises                   

Cruise Line: Hawaii/Pacific – Norwegian Cruise Line

Cruise Line: Under 500 Berths – Windstar Cruises

Cruise Line: Under 1,000 Berths – Seabourn

Cruise Line: Cabins – Silversea

Cruise Line: Premium – Celebrity Cruises

Cruise Line: Luxury – Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Cruise Line: Expedition – Viking

Best World Cruise Itinerary – Holland America Line

Cruise Line: Family – Disney Cruise Line

Cruise Line: Best Cuisine – Oceania Cruises

Cruise Line: Best Entertainment – Royal Caribbean International

Cruise Line: Best Private Island/Destination – CocoCay, Royal Caribbean International

Cruise Line: Best Group Program – Princess

Cruise Line: Best Shipboard Tech – Princess

Cruise Line: Best Short Itinerary – Carnival Cruise Line

Cruise Line: Transatlantic Crossing – Cunard

Cruise Line: Most Unique Itineraries – Azamara

Cruise Line: Sales & Service – Royal Caribbean International

Cruise Line: Overall – Royal Caribbean International

River Cruise Line: Best Cuisine – AmaWaterways

River Cruise Line: Cabins – Viking

River Cruise Line: Group Programs – AmaWaterways

River Cruise Line: Sales & Service – Viking

River Cruise Line: Overall – AmaWaterways

Cruise Ship: River Cruising – AmaMagna, AmaWaterways

Cruise Ship: New River Cruise Ship – Viking Aton, Viking

Cruise Ship: New – Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International

Cruise Ship: Premium – Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity Cruises

Cruise Ship: Luxury – Seven Seas Explorer, Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Cruise Ship: Overall – Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International

Destination: Africa – South Africa                             

Destination: Asia/Pacific – Japan

Destination: Canada – Banff                                        

Destination: Caribbean – Saint Lucia

Destination: Central/South America – Costa Rica

Destination: Europe – Ireland

Destination: Hawaii – Maui

Destination: Mexico – Los Cabos

Destination: U.S. State – Hawaii

Destination: U.S. City – Orlando

Best Travel Advisor Educational Program – Princess Academy – Princess

Best Advisor Loyalty Program – Carnival Cruise Line

Best Rail Vacation – Amtrak Vacations/Railbookers

Best Travel Technology Provider – VAX VacationAccess

Best Insurance Sales & Service – Allianz Partners

Best Insurance Provider – Allianz Partners

Theme Park – Walt Disney World

ABOUT TRAVEL WEEKLY:

Travel Weekly is the most influential provider of news, research, opinion and analysis to the North American travel trade marketplace. It reaches a broad industry audience in print, online and face-to-face events throughout the year. Travel Weekly is a division of Rutherford, New Jersey-based Northstar Travel Group, the largest travel business-to-business travel publisher in the world.