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.