Global Traveler Announces 10th Annual GT Tested Reader Survey Awards

USA - English

• USA - English

Yardley, PA (PRWEB) December 02, 2013 -- The results are in! For the 10th consecutive year, Global Traveler conducted its GT Tested Reader Survey, asking frequent business and luxury travelers to name the best in a variety of travel-related categories. More than 22,000 people responded. Global Traveler’s inaugural awards were celebrated in 2004.

Over the past 10 years, the survey has grown to honor more travel-related categories, including airlines, hotels, loyalty programs and travel-related products in 71 categories. GT’s distinguished readers vote for their favorites in the world of travel in an open-ended survey running in the magazine and online from January to August each year. The results of the survey are announced in the December 2013 issue, available now.

GT readers are frequent premium travelers averaging 16 international and 16 domestic round-trip flights a year, with an average household income of $368,900 per year. Global Traveler’s elite readers spend an average 100 nights per year in hotels. A whopping 76 percent regularly travel in business class.

This year's roster of highly regarded winners includes Singapore Airlines (Best Airline in the World), oneworld (Best Airline Alliance), Etihad Airways (Best Airline for International First Class and Best Airport Lounges) and Turkish Airlines (Best Airline for New Service Launch and Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents). Other top winners are Aeromexico (Best Airline in Mexico), China Airlines (Best Airline in North Asia), The Ritz-Carlton (Best International Hotel Chain, Best Domestic Hotel Chain, Best Hotel Club Floor and Best European Hotel Chain), Sheraton Hotels & Resorts (Best Hotel Chain in Latin America), Ireland (Best Tourism Destination) and United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase (Best Credit Card and Best Credit Card Rewards Program).

Global Traveler’s consistent, unbiased reporting for the past 10 years ranks the GT Tested Reader Survey awards among the most highly regarded in the industry.

“This is an exciting time, as we celebrate our 10th awards survey and prepare to celebrate our 10th year of publishing Global Traveler, the industry leader in our niche,” said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO of Global Traveler. “Our readers are truly experienced, intrepid travelers who know the best of the best in the business. Our GT Tested Reader Survey awards celebrate those illustrious chosen providers. Many of these companies appear year after year on our survey, proving that consistency matters. Congratulations to the stars of the travel industry; we look forward to celebrating another decade of excellence.”

This year's winners will be feted at a cocktail reception Dec. 10 at award-winning The Peninsula Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, Calif. For more information, check out the December 2013 issue of Global Traveler or visit our website at http://www.globaltravelerusa.com. A complete recap of the night’s festivities will be featured in the March 2014 issue.

A complete list of winners is as follows:

Best Airline in the World
Singapore Airlines

Best Airline Alliance
oneworld

Best Aircraft Type
Boeing 777

Best Airline for International First Class
Etihad Airways

Best Airline for Business Class
Qatar Airways

Best Airline for Domestic First Class
Delta Air Lines

Best Airline for Onboard Service
Asiana Airlines

Best Airline for Flight Attendants
Asiana Airlines

Best Flight Attendant Uniforms
Korean Air

Best Airline Cuisine
Alitalia
Best Airline for Security
EL AL Israel Airlines

Best Business-Class Seat Design
Qatar Airways

Best First-Class Seat Design
Emirates

Best Airline for New Service Launch
Turkish Airlines (IAH)

Best Frequent-Flyer Program
United MileagePlus

Best Frequent-Flyer Elite-Level Program
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles Pualani Platinum Membership

Best Frequent-Flyer Bonus Program
United MileagePlus

Best Frequent-Flyer Award Redemption
LifeMiles

Best Frequent-Flyer Customer Service, Americas
Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Best Airline in North America
Air Canada

Best Airline in Central/South America
Avianca

Best Airline in Mexico
Aeromexico

Best Airline to Australia and New
Zealand
Air New Zealand

Best Airline in the South Pacific
Fiji Airways

Best Airline in Europe
TAP Portugal

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
China Airlines

Best Airline in Southeast Asia
Singapore Airlines

Best Airline in China
Hainan Airlines

Best Airline in Central/South Asia and
India
Jet Airways

Best Airline to Japan
Japan Airlines

Best Trans-Atlantic Airline
Brussels Airlines

Best Trans-Pacific Airline
Korean Air

Best Airport in the World
Incheon Airport

Best Airport in North America
Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Best Airport Lounges
Etihad Airways

Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents
Turkish Airlines

Best Airport Dining
Singapore Changi Airport

Best Duty-Free Shops
Dubai Duty Free

Best Hotel in the World
The Address Downtown Dubai

Best International Hotel Chain
The Ritz-Carlton

Best Domestic Hotel Chain
The Ritz-Carlton

Best Lifestyle Hotel
Andaz

Best Airport Hotel
Hyatt Regency Incheon

Best Golf Resort
The Resort at Pelican Hill

Best M.I.C.E. Hotel
China World Hotel, Beijing

Best Hotel Club Floor
The Ritz-Carlton Club Level

Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World
IHG Rewards Club

Best Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program
Marriott Rewards Platinum Elite

Best Frequent-Stay Award Redemption
Choice Privileges

Best Frequent-Stay Customer Service, Americas
Hilton HHonors

Best Frequent-Stay Bonus Program
IHG Rewards Club

Best WiFi Service
Boingo Wireless
Best Hotel in the United States
The Peninsula Beverly Hills

Best European Hotel Chain
The Ritz-Carlton

Best Hotel Chain in Asia
Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces

Best Hotel in Korea
Lotte Hotel

Best Hotel Chain in Latin America
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts

Best Hotel Chain in Mexico
Fiesta Americana

Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East
Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts
Address Hotels + Resorts

Best Overseas Delivery Program
Volvo

Best Car Rental Company
National Car Rental

Best Tourism Destination
Ireland

Best M.I.C.E. City
Seoul

Best Wireless Service in the World
Verizon Wireless

Best Noise-Canceling Headset
Sennheiser

Best Luggage Brand
Briggs & Riley Travelware

Best Credit Card
United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase

Best Credit Card Rewards Program
United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase

Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card
Marriott Rewards Visa Signature Card from Chase

Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Promotions
Starwood Preferred Guest American Express

Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Benefits
IHG Rewards Club Select Visa

Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card Redemptions
Choice Privileges Visa Signature

Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America

Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Promotions
Delta SkyMiles by American Express

Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Benefits
Citi Platinum Select / AAdvantage Visa Signature Card

Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card Promotions
United MileagePlus Explorer Card from Chase

Global Traveler will also recognize the following Wines on the Wing award winners at the reception: Brussels Airlines (Best Business-Class Wines on the Wing, Best Champagne International Business Class), British Airways (Best First-Class Wines on the Wing), Hainan Airlines (Best Champagne International First Class, Best Red Wine International First and International Business Classes), All Nippon Airways (Best White Wine International Business Class), Jet Airways (Best White Wine International First Class), SkyTeam (Best Alliance Wines on the Wing), Delta Air Lines (Best North American Wines on the Wing, Best North American White Wine), American Airlines (Best North American Sparkling Wine) and Virgin America (Best North American Red Wine). The results of the Wines on the Wing airline wine survey were announced in the August 2013 issue.

About the Survey
Global Traveler conducted an open-ended survey of its readers to determine the best in more than 70 travel-related categories. The survey was conducted from Jan. 1, 2013 to Aug. 31, 2013. Questionnaires were available in subscriber copies of the magazine, online and through direct mail and email. Only questionnaires with more than 50 percent of the questions answered were considered. An outside accounting firm, Citrin Cooperman LLP, tabulated the results. Employees of the magazine and members of the travel industry were barred from participation.

About Global Traveler/FXExpress Publications, Inc.
Global Traveler, the only ABC-audited U.S.-based magazine for the international business traveler, is a business travel and lifestyle publication with an ABC-paid circulation of 109,000+. FXExpress Publications, Inc., based in Yardley, Pa., is a privately held company publishing Global Traveler, eFlyer USA; eFlyer Asia and several annuals; and also operating http://www.globaltravelerusa.com, http://www.globaltravellerasia.com and globaltravelerusa.com/blog.

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Kimberly Krol, GLOBAL TRAVELER, +1 (267) 364-5811 Ext: 202, [email protected]