NEW YORK (PRWEB) November 14, 2017 -- Last night, HotelPlanner.com, the leading provider of online group hotel bookings worldwide, proudly announced the winners and runner-ups of the 2017 American Group Travel Awards (AGTA).
The fourth annual awards gala, hosted by TV journalist and documentary film producer Dylan Ratigan, was held on Monday, November 13th at TAO Downtown in New York City. Twenty-two award categories were presented throughout the evening, showcasing those organizations offering the highest quality of group travel experiences and outstanding services across hotels, cruise lines, ground transportation, convention centers, airlines, car rentals and more.
“On behalf of the entire team at HotelPlanner.com, I’d like to extend a big congratulation to all the evening’s winners and runner ups,” said Tim Hentschel, Co-Founder and CEO of HotelPlanner.com and Meetings.com. “This year’s nominees continued to raise the bar for the group travel industry and it’s a real honor to celebrate this terrific achievement and commitment to service.”
Over 300 of the industry’s top executives, travel organizers and journalists attended AGTA and enjoyed music throughout the evening by New York’s DJ Dalton and special performances by award-winning Broadway musicals Chicago and Waitress.Guests were surprised and delighted as they mingled with stars of Blue Man Group, who set the tone for the evening as the sponsor of AGTA’s cocktail reception. The evening also featured a raffle for a one-carat diamond and magnum of champagne, with proceeds going to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the official charity of the 2017 AGTA.
The evening was generously sponsored by Best Western, Choice Hotels, Highgate Hotels, Wyndham Hotel Group, Expedia, Hotels.com, SuperShuttle, and PNC Bank.
The winners and runner-ups of the 2017 American Group Travel Awards include:
Best Airline
Winner: Delta
Runner-Up: United
Best Ground Transportation
Winner: SuperShuttle
Runner-Up: US Coachways
Best Car Rental Company
Winner: Enterprise
Runner-Up: Hertz
Best Beach Destination
Winner: Cancun, MX
Runner-Up: Miami Beach, FL
Best City CVB
Winner: Washington, D.C.
Runner-Up: New York City, NY
Best Convention Center
Winner: Las Vegas Convention Center
Runner-Up: Jacob K. Javits Convention Center- NYC
Best Live Stage/Theatrical/Musical Performance
Winner: Hamilton
Runner-Up: Wicked
Best Travel Media Outlet
Winner: Business Travel News
Runner-Up: Leisure Group Travel
Best Ocean Cruise line
Winner: Celebrity Cruises
Runner-Up: Carnival
Best Extended Stay Brand
Winner: Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham
Runner-Up: WoodSpring Suites
Best Destination Resort Brand
Winner: Iberostar Hotels & Resorts
Runner-Up: Grand Hyatt Hotels
Best Independent Hotel Brand
Winner: Westgate Resorts
Runner-Up: Omni Hotels & Resorts
Best Wedding Hotel
Winner: The Drake Hotel- Chicago
Runner-Up: The Breakers- Palm Beach
Best Sports Team Travel Hotel Brand
Winner: Comfort Inn by Choice Hotels
Runner-Up: Red Roof
Best Golf and Spa Resort
Winner: The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples
Runner-Up: Streamsong Resort • Golf • Spa
Best Casino Hotel
Winner: Caesars Palace Las Vegas
Runner-Up: The Venetian/Palazzo
Best New/Emerging Hotel Brand
Winner: Cambria hotels & suites
Runner-Up: GLō Hotels by Best Western
Best Hotel Brand - Boutique
Winner: Joie de Vivre
Runner-Up: Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
Best Hotel Brand- Limited Service
Winner: Best Western Hotels & Resorts
Runner-Up: Holiday Inn Express
Best Hotel Brand- luxury
Winner: The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company
Runner-Up: InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Best Hotel Brand- Full Service
Winner: Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Runner-Up: InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Best Online Travel Agency
Winner: Hotels.com
Runner-Up: Priceline.com
About American Group Travel Awards:
The American Group Travel Awards (AGTA) was created by Tim Hentschel, CEO of HotelPlanner.com, and Peter Stonham, Editorial Director at Landor Travel Publications. Mr. Hentschel and Mr. Stonham organized the AGTA to recognize all the effort and dedication that organizations in the United States put into providing group travelers with exceptional travel experiences.
The concept was introduced into the marketplace by Peter Stonham who, with Group Travel Organiser, have been providing group travelers with information and ideas for group travel trips since 1988. The event in London, called the UK Group Travel Awards, is attended by nearly 500 attendees and awards are provided in 23 categories.
HotelPlanner and Landor Travel Publications also launched the European Group Travel Awards which took place in Berlin, Germany on March 9th, 2017 at the Intercontinental Hotel Berlin. The European Group Travel Awards recognizes the finest suppliers on the continent that specialize in group travel.
HotelPlanner and Group Travel Organiser believe that the group market will continue to grow. Shared travel experiences with family and friends and by corporations and businesses help build more productive relationships and memories that last a lifetime.
Claudia Flores, HotelPlanner.com, http://www.HotelPlanner.com, +1 (800) 898-1347 Ext: 220, [email protected]
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