TRAVEL WEEKLY HONORS BEST OF THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY

2023-12-15

NEW YORK – Travel Weekly, the most influential source of news, research, opinion and analysis to the travel industry, honored the winners of its 21^st annual Readers’ Choice Awards at a black-tie gala dinner and ceremony on December 13 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

The award winners, one for each of the 84 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 2023.

“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, during recent challenging times.”

Travel Weekly also recognized Ignacio Maza, Executive Vice-President, Signature Travel Network; Alison Taylor, SVP & Chief Customer Officer, American Airlines; and Mark Conroy, Senior Cruise Line Executive, Silversea; and posthumously recognized Vicky Garcia, Cruise Planners 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 Intrepid Travel in recognition of its long-standing commitment to sustainable practices. “Even beyond the meaningful work of the Intrepid Foundation, Intrepid Travel has led by example through its offerings. It has been on the leading edge of sustainable tour practices and principals, and through leadership and example, has changed touring for the better,” said Arnie Weissmann, editor in chief of Travel Weekly. “The company has demonstrated how travel can be a force for good when leadership aligns with purpose and puts resources behind its intentions.” 

Travel Weekly’s 2023 Readers’ Choice winners are:

1. Airline: Domestic – Delta Air Lines

2. Airline: International – United Airlines

3. Airline: Business/First Class – Emirates

4. Airline: Premium Economy Class – Delta Air Lines

5. Top Airline Global Network – United Airlines

6. Airline: Sales & Service – Delta Air Lines

7. Top Airline Overall ­– Delta Air Lines

8. Car Rental: Domestic – Enterprise Mobility

9. Car Rental: International – Hertz

10. Hotel Chain: Domestic – Marriott International

11. Hotel Chain: Asia – InterContinental Hotels Group

12. Hotel Chain: Caribbean – Sandals Resorts

13. Hotel Chain: Europe – InterContinental Hotels Group

14. Hotel Chain: Mexico – Inclusive Collection, Part of World of Hyatt

15. Hotel Chain: Hawaii/South Pacific – Marriott International

16. Hotel Chain: All-Inclusive – Sandals Resorts

17. Hotel Chain: Luxury – Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts

18. Hotel Chain: Boutique – Karisma Hotels & Resorts

19. Best Resort Worldwide – St. Regis Bora Bora

20. Hotel Chain: Sales & Service – Marriott International

21. Top Overall Hotel Group – Marriott International

22. Tour Operator: Domestic Packaged – Delta Vacations

23. Tour Operator: Domestic Escorted – Collette

24. Tour Operator: International – Globus

25. Tour Operator: Adventure – Adventures by Disney

26. Tour Operator: Africa – Abercrombie & Kent

27. Tour Operator: Asia/Pacific – Pleasant Holidays

28. Tour Operator: Canada – Collette

29. Tour Operator: Caribbean – Apple Vacations

30. Tour Operator: Europe – Globus

31. Tour Operator: Hawaii – Pleasant Holidays

32. Tour Operator: Mexico – Funjet Vacations

33. Tour Operator: Luxury – Abercrombie & Kent

34. Tour Operator: Group, Packaged – Funjet Vacations

35. Tour Operator: Escorted Sales & Service – Globus

36. Tour Operator: Packaged Sales & Service – Delta Vacations

37. Tour Operator: Escorted Overall – Globus

38. Tour Operator: Packaged Overall – Funjet Vacations

39. Cruise Line: Domestic – Carnival Cruise Line

40. Cruise Line: Alaska – Princess

41. Cruise Line: Antarctica – Seabourn

42. Cruise Line: Caribbean – Royal Caribbean International

43. Cruise Line: Europe – Celebrity Cruises

44. Cruise Line: Hawaii/Pacific – Norwegian Cruise Line

45. Cruise Line: Under 500 Berths – Windstar Cruises

46. Cruise Line: Under 1,000 Berths – Seabourn

47. Cruise Line: Premium – Celebrity Cruises

48. Cruise Line: Luxury – Regent Seven Seas Cruises

49. Cruise Line: Expedition – Viking

50. Best World Cruise Itinerary – Holland America Line

51. Cruise Line: Family – Carnival Cruise Line

52. Cruise Line: Best Cuisine – Oceania Cruises

53. Cruise Line: Best Entertainment – Royal Caribbean International

54. Cruise Line: Best Private Island/Destination – CocoCay, Royal Caribbean International

55. Cruise Line: Best Group Program – Carnival Cruise Line

56. Cruise Line: Best Shipboard Tech – Princess

57. Cruise Line: Best Short Itinerary – Carnival Cruise Line

58. Cruise Line: Sales & Service – Royal Caribbean International

59. Cruise Line: Overall – Royal Caribbean International

60. River Cruise Line: Best Cuisine – AmaWaterways

61. River Cruise Line: Sales & Service – Viking

62. River Cruise Line: Overall – AmaWaterways

63. Cruise Ship: River Cruising – AmaMagna, AmaWaterways

64. Cruise Ship: New River Cruise Ship – Viking Gersemi, Viking

65. Cruise Ship: New – Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Cruise Line

66. Cruise Ship: Premium – Celebrity Beyond, Celebrity Cruises

67. Cruise Ship: Luxury – Silver Moon, Silversea

68. Cruise Ship: Overall – Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International

69. Destination: Africa – South Africa

70. Destination: Asia/Pacific – Australia

71. Destination: Canada – Vancouver

72. Destination: Caribbean – Saint Lucia

73. Destination: Central/South America – Costa Rica

74. Destination: Europe – Ireland

75. Destination: Hawaii – Maui

76. Destination: Mexico – Los Cabos

77. Destination: U.S. State – Hawaii

78. Destination: U.S. City – Las Vegas

79. Best Travel Advisor Educational Program – Princess Academy – Princess

80. Best Advisor Loyalty Program – Princess

81. Best Rail Vacation – Rocky Mountaineer

82. Best Travel Technology Provider – VAX VacationAccess

83. Best Insurance Provider – Allianz Global Assistance

84. 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.