Global Traveler Announces 9th Annual Reader Survey Award Winners

The GT Tested Reader Survey names the top in the travel industry

Yardley, Pa. (PRWEB) December 03, 2012 

 The results are in! For the ninth 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 28,000 people responded.

This year, Global Traveler's distinguished readers recognized airlines, hotels, loyalty programs and travel-related products in 71 categories. The results of the survey are announced in the December 2012 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 British Airways (Best Airline for Business Class),
Asiana Airlines (Best Airline for Onboard Service, Best Airline for Flight Attendants, Best Trans-Pacific Airline),
Qantas (Best Airline to Australia and New Zealand), and
TAP Portugal (Best Airline in Europe).

Other top winners are China Southern Airlines (Best Airline in China),
United MileagePlus (Best Frequent-Flyer Program),
Andaz (Best Lifestyle Hotel),
Fiesta Americana (Best Hotel Chain in Mexico),
Verizon (Best Wireless Service in the World), and
Briggs & Riley (Best Luggage Brand).

Over the past nine years, Global Traveler’s consistent, unbiased reporting has placed the GT Tested Reader Survey among the most highly regarded in the industry.

This year marks the first year for the following GT Tested categories:
Best Airline for New Service Launch (Brussels Airlines),
Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity Credit Card (Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card),
Best Frequent-Flyer Elite-Level Program (Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP Gold),
Best Hotel in Korea (Lotte Hotel),
Best Airport Hotel (Hyatt Regency Incheon),
Best Frequent-Stay Affinity Credit Card (Marriott Rewards Visa Signature Card from Chase),
Best Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program (Hilton HHonors Diamond), and
Best Credit Card (United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase).

The Best Airline for Cargo awards returned to the survey in 2012, with Lufthansa named the winner.

“This is our ninth consecutive years honoring the winners of the GT Tested Reader Survey awards,”

said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO of Global Traveler. “Each year, the awards adapt based on what matters to our readers. After all, our readers are the cream of the crop when it comes to frequent business travelers. The best knows the best, so a big congratulations to all the winners topping our list this year.”

This year's winners will be feted at a cocktail reception Dec. 12 at award-winning The Peninsula Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills, Calif. For more information, check out the December 2012 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 2013 issue.

A complete list of winners is as follows:

Best Airline in the World
Singapore Airlines

Best Airline for International First Class
Emirates

Best Airline for Business Class
British Airways

Best Business-Class Seat Design
Swiss International Air Lines

Best First-Class Seat Design
Emirates

Best Airline in North America
Air Canada

Best Airline for Domestic First Class
American Airlines

Best Airline for Onboard Service
Asiana Airlines

Best Airline for Flight Attendants
Asiana Airlines

Best Airline for Flight Attendant Uniforms
Etihad Airways

Best Airline in Central/South America
LAN

Best Airline in Mexico
Aeromexico

Best Trans-Atlantic Airline
Lufthansa

Best Trans-Pacific Airline
Asiana Airlines

Best Airline to Australia and New Zealand
Qantas

Best Airline in the South Pacific
Air Tahiti Nui

Best Airline in Europe
TAP Portugal

Best Airline in Africa
South African Airways

Best Airline in the Middle East
Emirates

Best Airline in North Asia
EVA Air

Best Airline in Southeast Asia
Singapore Airlines

Best Airline in China
China Southern Airlines

Best Airline in Central/South Asia and India
Jet Airways

Best Airline to Japan
All Nippon Airways

Best Airline for Security
EL AL Israel Airlines

Best Airline Cuisine
Alitalia

Best Airline for New Service Launch
Brussels Airlines (JFK)

Best Airline for Cargo
Lufthansa

Best Airport Lounges
Emirates

Best Airport in the World
Incheon Airport

Best Airport in North America
Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Best Aircraft Type
Boeing 747

Best Frequent-Flyer Program
United MileagePlus

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

Best Frequent-Flyer Elite-Level Program
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP Gold

Best Airport Dining
Singapore Changi Airport

Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents
Qatar Airways

Best Airline Alliance
oneworld

Best Private Jet Company in Asia
Executive Jets Asia

Best Private Jet Company in the Americas
CitationAir

Best Private Jet Company in Europe
NetJets Europe

Best Private Jet Company in the Middle East
Royal Jet Group

Best Hotel in the World
The Address Downtown Dubai

Best International Hotel Chain
The Ritz-Carlton

Best Domestic Hotel Chain
Conrad Hotels & Resorts

Best Lifestyle Hotel
Andaz

Best Hotel in the United States
The Peninsula Beverly Hills

Best European Hotel Chain
Conrad Hotels & Resorts

Best Hotel Chain in Asia
Taj Hotels, Resorts & Palaces

Best Hotel Chain in Mexico
Fiesta Americana

Best Hotel Chain in Latin America
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts

Best Hotel in Korea
Lotte Hotel

Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East
Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts

Best Hotel Club Floor
The Ritz-Carlton Club Level

Best Airport Hotel
Hyatt Regency Incheon

Best Tourism Destination
Ireland

Best Business City
Abu Dhabi

Best Golf Resort
Bandon Dunes, Bandon, Ore.

Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World
IHG Priority Club Rewards

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

Best Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program
Hilton HHonors Diamond

Best Wireless Service in the World
Verizon

Best WiFi Service
Boingo Wireless

Best Luggage Brand
Briggs & Riley

Best Overseas Delivery Program
Audi

Best Credit Card Rewards Program
American Express Membership Rewards program
United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase (TIE)

Best Credit Card
United MileagePlus Club Card from Chas

Best Duty-Free Shops
Dubai Duty Free

Best Noise-Canceling Headset
Sony Noise-Canceling Headset

Global Traveler will also recognize the following Wines on the Wing award winners at the 12.12.12. reception: Brussels Airlines (Best Business-Class Wines on the Wing), British Airways (Best First-Class Wines on the Wing, Best Red Wine International Business Class, Best Red Wine International First Class), Hainan Airlines (Best Champagne International Business Class), Asiana Airlines (Best Champagne International First Class, Best White Wine International First Class), South African Airways (Best White Wine International Business Class), oneworld (Best Alliance Wines on the Wing), American Airlines (Best North American Wines on the Wing, Best North American Sparkling Wine, Best North American Red Wine) and United (Best North American White Wine). The results of the Wines on the Wing airline wine survey were announced in the August 2012 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, 2012 to Aug. 31, 2012.

Questionnaires were available in subscriber copies of the magazine, online at http://www.globaltravelerusa.com/survey 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 107,140+. FXExpress Publications, Inc., based in Yardley, Pa., is a privately held company publishing Global Traveler, eFlyer; eFlyerAsia and several annuals; and also operating http://www.globaltravelerusa.com, http://www.globaltravellerasia.com and blog.globaltravelerusa.com.

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