Monday, October 7 saw the 2019 Business Traveller Awards, held at London’s Royal Garden hotel.
Organized by the publishers of Business Traveller magazine, Panacea Media, and presented by special guest John Pienaar.
The Business Traveller Awards are voted for by readers of the magazine in a survey conducted by an independent market research company.
A fixture of the business travel and hospitality calendar for more than 30 years, this year’s awards were attended by more than 250 industry leaders; plus a few familiar faces from the world of sport, entertainment and politics.
Qatar Airways was the bride of the ball taking an impressive four awards, bagging Best Airline, as well as winning in the Best Long-Haul Airline, Best Business Class and Best Middle Eastern Airline categories.
British Airways again took the awards for Best Short-Haul Carrier, Best Frequent Flyer Programme and Best Airport Lounge, for its Concorde Room at London Heathrow T5, while Oneworld was named Best Airline Alliance.
Meanwhile Singapore Airlines won three awards for Best Economy Class, Best Asian Airline and Best Cabin Staff, Emirates was named Best First Class, Virgin Atlantic won Best Premium Economy Class, and Easyjet was voted Best Low-Cost Airline.
Delta was named Best North American Airline, South African Airways won Best African Airline, and Aeroflot was voted Best Eastern European Airline.
Singapore’s Changi airport won the Best Airport in the World award for a phenomenal 32nd year in a row, while Amsterdam Schiphol took the Europe prize, and London Heathrow was named Best Airport for Tax-Free Shopping.
Avis was named the Best Car Rental Company Worldwide and in Europe, while Virgin Trains retained the Best UK Domestic Train Service award.
In the hotel categories Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts won Best Business Hotel Brand Worldwide and Best Business Hotel in the UK for the Intercontinental London Park Lane, while Hilton took three awards for Best Business Hotel Brand in the UK and Europe, as well as Best Hotel Loyalty Scheme for Hilton Honors.
The Peninsula Hotels bagged the award for Best Luxury Hotel Brand, while the Peninsula Hong Kong won Best Business Hotel Worldwide, with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts winning Best Business Hotel Brand in Asia-Pacific.