Global Traveler Celebrates Fifth Anniversary of Reader Survey Awards

Global Traveler releases results of fifth annual GT Tested Reader Survey Awards.

Yardley, PA (PRWEB) December 3, 2008 -- For the fifth year, Global Traveler readers have spoken and the results are in! More than 31,000 people responded to the magazine's annual survey. This year, Global Traveler's distinguished readers recognized airlines, hotels, loyalty programs and travel-related products in 55 categories. GT readers are frequent premium travelers who average 33 round-trip flights a year, with 96 percent traveling in first- or business-class regularly. Global Traveler announced the results of the survey in the December 2008 issue.

This year's roster of highly regarded winners includes Singapore Airlines (Best Airline in the World), Emirates (Best Airline for First Class) and Asiana Airlines (Best Trans-Pacific Airline). Other top winners are EVA Air (Best Airline for Premium Economy), Korean Air (Best Airline in North Asia), Air Pacific Limited (Best Airline in the South Pacific), Conrad Hotels and Resorts (Best European Hotel Chain), Delta Air Lines Crown Rooms (Best Airport Lounges), Verizon Wireless (Best Wireless Service in the World) and Dubai Duty Free (Best Duty Free Shops).

Global Traveler is excited to celebrate the fifth anniversary of our GT Tested Reader Survey Awards. Over the past five years, the consistent, unbiased reporting of the awards has placed them among the most highly regarded in the industry. The anniversary is shared with the following award winners, who have claimed top honors in their respective categories for the past five years: Singapore Airlines (Best Airline in the World), Asiana Airlines (Best Airline for Onboard Service and Flight Attendants), Air Canada (Best Airline in Canada), Qantas (Best Airline in Australia and New Zealand), South African Airways (Best Airline in Africa), Chicago O'Hare International Airport (Best Airport in North America), United Mileage Plus (Best Frequent Flyer Program), Park Hyatt (Best International Hotel Chain), Sheraton Hotels & Resorts (Best Hotel Chain in Latin America) and American Express Membership Rewards (Best Credit Card Rewards Program).

This year marks the first year for the following GT Tested categories: Best Airline in the South Pacific (Air Pacific), Best Hotel in the Eastern United States (The Jumeirah Essex House), Best Hotel in the Southern United States (The Greenbrier), Best Hotel in the Midwestern United States (The Conrad Chicago), Best Hotel in the Western United States (Hotel Bel-Air), Best Domestic Restaurant (Per Se, NYC) and Best Spa (Chi, The Spa at the Shangri-La Bangkok). GT also reintroduced the category Best Airline in Mexico (AeroMexico).

"The 2008 Reader Survey Awards are very meaningful to Global Traveler," said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO of Global Traveler. "They represent five successful years for our magazine, the travel industry, our clients and our readers. Each year, we receive more and more responses, a sign of our growth and our readers' desire to share their knowledge and experience. The winners truly are the best in the business -- our readers know the best when they see it as they are on planes, in hotels and booking travel all the time. It is an honor to congratulate all the winners, particularly those who have dominated their categories for the last five years."

This year's winners will be feted at an evening cocktail reception on Thurs., Jan. 15, 2009 at the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles. For more information, check out the December 2008 issue of Global Traveler or visit our Web site at www.globaltravelerusa.com.

A complete list of winners is as follows:

Best Airline in the World

Singapore Airlines

Best Airline for First Class

Emirates

Best Airline for Business Class

British Airways

Best Airline for Domestic First Class

American Airlines

Best Airline in North America

Air Canada

Best Airline for Premium Economy

EVA Air Elite Class

Best Airline for Onboard Service and Flight Attendants

Asiana Airlines

Best Airline in Central/South America

LAN

Best Airline in Canada

Air Canada

Best Trans-Atlantic Airline

Air France

Best Airline in Mexico

AeroMexico

Best Trans-Pacific Airline

Asiana Airlines

Best Airline in Australia and New Zealand

Qantas

Best Airline in the South Pacific

Air Pacific

Best Airline in Eastern Europe

LOT Polish Airlines

Best Airline in Africa

South African Airways

Best Airline in the Middle East

Emirates

Best Airline in North Asia

Korean Air

Best Airline in Southeast Asia

Thai Airways International PCL

Best Airline in China

Hainan Airlines

Best Airline in Central/South Asia & India

Jet Airways

Best Airline for Security

EL AL Israel Airlines

Best Airport Lounges

Delta Air Lines Crown Room

Best Airport in the World

Incheon International Airport

Best Airport in North America

Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Best Aircraft Type

Boeing 747

Best Frequent Flyer Program

United Mileage Plus

Best Airline Alliance

SkyTeam

Best International Hotel Chain

Park Hyatt

Best Domestic Hotel Chain

Westin Hotels & Resorts

Best Hotel in the United States

Hotel Bel-Air

Best Hotel in the Eastern United States

The Jumeirah Essex House

Best Hotel in the Western United States

Hotel Bel-Air

Best Hotel in the Southern United States

The Greenbrier

Best Hotel in the Midwestern United States

The Conrad Chicago

Best Individual Hotel in Asia

Lotte Hotel

Best Hotel Chain in Canada

Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

Best European Hotel Chain

Conrad Hotels & Resorts

Best Hotel Chain in Asia         

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

Best Hotel Chain in Latin America

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts

Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East

Jumeirah International

Best Domestic Tourism Destination

Colorado

Best International Tourism Destination

Malaysia

Best Domestic Business City

New Orleans

Best International Business City

Bangkok

Best Domestic Restaurant

Per Se, New York City

Best Spa

Chi, The Spa, Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok

Best Domestic Golf Resort

Kiawah Island Golf Resort

Best Hotel Rewards Program

IHG Priority Club Rewards

Best Wireless Service in the World

Verizon Wireless

Best Car Rental Program

Avis Preferred Service

Best Luggage Brand

Briggs & Riley

Best Credit Card Rewards Program

American Express Membership Rewards

Best Cruise Line

Crystal Cruises

Best Duty Free Shops

Dubai Duty Free

Global Traveler will also recognize the following Wines on the Wing award winners at the January reception: Iberia Airlines (Best Wines on the Wing), Finnair (Best Sparkling Wine and Best White Wine) and TAM (Best Red Wine). The results of the Wines on the Wing airline wine survey were announced in the August 2008 issue.

About The Survey

Global Traveler magazine conducted a survey of its readers from Jan. 1, 2008 to Aug. 31, 2008 with open-ended questions for the best in many categories of business and luxury travel and demographic data. This survey was conducted in the magazine, as an insert to subscriber copies, as a direct-mail questionnaire, online at www.globaltravelerusa.com/survey and emailed during the survey period. Only those questionnaires where more than 50 percent of the questions were completed were counted. Those under 50 percent were discarded. Employees of the magazine or individuals associated with the travel industry were not included. The 2008 survey is generated from 31, 457 completed questionnaires meeting this criteria.

About Global Traveler

Global Traveler is a business travel publication that takes into account the sophisticated lifestyle interests of today's executive travelers. Global Traveler is the publication of choice among seasoned business travelers. Global Traveler is the only ABC-audited American magazine for the international business traveler, with ABC paid circulation of 100,000 . The magazine is also the only ABC-audited magazine independently measured by MediaMark Research (MRI). No other monthly magazine in its category boasts a higher audited circulation or page count. Ninety percent of its readership has average household income in excess of $100,000; 96 percent attended or graduated from college; and 98 percent of its readers are either top management or professionals.

About FXExpress Publications

FXExpress Publications, Inc., based in Yardley, Pa., is a privately held company that publishes Global Traveler magazine; eFlyer, a weekly electronic travel newsletter sent to subscribers and accessible online at www.globaltravelerusa.com/eflyer; and eFlyer-Asia, www.globaltravellerasia.com/eflyer. The company also operates the Web sites www.globaltravelerusa.com, www.globaltravellerasia.com and blog.globaltravelerusa.com. The company also produces several annuals including the Class Act Book, Global City Guidebook, Luxury Book, Globility book series and custom publishing for various entities.

###