The 2019 Business Traveller Awards were announced at a lunch at London’s Royal Garden hotel on Monday, October 7, by the publishers of Business Traveller magazine, Panacea Media, and presented by special guest John Pienaar.
Sponsored by Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), Puente Romano Marbella and Panasonic, the Business Traveller Awards are voted for by readers of the magazine, with the results authenticated by an independent auditing company, and are widely recognised as the market’s benchmark for excellence.
A fixture of the business travel and hospitality calendar for more than 30 years, this year’s hotly contested awards were attended by more than 250 industry leaders.
Qatar Airways took an impressive four awards, being named 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 again 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.
Other winners included Rotana Hotels and Resorts, Frasers Hospitality, Langham Hotels and Resorts, Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, Premier Inn and Regal Airport Hotel Hong Kong.
Business Traveller UK Awards 2019 – Results
AIRLINES
Best Airline
- Qatar Airways
- Singapore Airlines
- Emirates
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
Best Short-Haul Carrier
- British Airways
- Swiss
- Jet 2
- Easyjet
Best Long-Haul Airline
- Qatar Airways
- Singapore Airlines
- Emirates
- Virgin Atlantic
Best First Class
- Emirates
- Singapore Airlines
- British Airways
- Etihad Airways
Best Business Class
- Qatar Airways
- Singapore Airlines
- Emirates
- EVA Air
- Oman Air
Best Premium Economy Class
- Virgin Atlantic
- Singapore Airlines
- Qantas
- British Airways
Best Economy Class
- Singapore Airlines
- Emirates
- Qatar Airways
- Virgin Atlantic
Best African Airline
- South African Airways
- Ethiopian Airlines
- Kenya Airways
- Comair (British Airways)
Best Asian Airline
- Singapore Airlines
- Cathay Pacific
- Japan Airlines
- ANA
Best Eastern European Airline
- Aeroflot
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Air Baltic
- Wizz Air
Best Middle Eastern Airline
- Qatar Airways
- Emirates
- Etihad Airways
- El Al
Best North American Airline
- Delta Air Lines
- American Airlines
- Air Canada
- United
Best Low-Cost Airline
- Easyjet
- Southwest Airlines
- Jet 2
- Air Asia
Best Cabin Staff
- Singapore Airlines
- Qatar Airways
- Virgin Atlantic
- British Airways
Best Frequent Flyer Programme
- British Airways Executive Club
- Lufthansa Miles and More
- Emirates Skywards
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
Best Airline Alliance
- Oneworld
- Star Alliance
- Skyteam
Best Product or Service Innovation
- British Airways/London Heathrow biometric gates
- Qatar Airways Q Suite business class
- Easyjet app
HOTELS
Best Business Hotel Brand Worldwide
- Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts
- Hilton Hotels and Resorts
- Marriott Hotels
- Mandarin Oriental
- Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Best Business Hotel Brand in the UK
- Hilton Hotels and Resorts
- Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts
- Marriott Hotels
- Premier Inn
Best Business Hotel Brand in Europe
- Hilton Hotels and Resorts
- Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts
- Marriott Hotels
- Kempinski Hotels
Best Business Hotel Brand in the Middle East
- Rotana Hotels and Resorts
- Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts
- Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts
- Hilton Hotels and Resorts
Best Business Hotel Brand in North America
- Marriott Hotels
- Hilton Hotels and Resorts
- InterContinental Hotels and Resorts
- Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Best Business Hotel Brand in Asia-Pacific
- Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
- Mandarin Oriental
- The Peninsula Hotels
- Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts
Best Business Hotel Brand in India
- Oberoi Hotels and Resorts
- Taj Hotels
- ITC Hotels
- Hyatt
Best Luxury Hotel Brand
- The Peninsula Hotels
- Oberoi Hotels and Resorts
- Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
- Waldorf Astoria
Best Budget Hotel Brand
- Premier Inn
- Ibis
- Holiday Inn Express
- Ibis Styles
Best Smaller Hotel Company
- Langham Hotels and Resorts
- Citizen M
- Aman
- Firmdale Hotels
Best Business Hotel Worldwide
- The Peninsula Hong Kong
- Shangri-La Singapore
- Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong
- Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong
Best Business Hotel in the UK
- Intercontinental London Park Lane
- The Dorchester, London
- Sofitel London Heathrow
- Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London
Best Airport Hotel
- Regal Airport Hotel Hong Kong
- Sofitel London Heathrow
- Crowne Plaza Changi Airport
- Hilton London Heathrow Airport
Best Hotel Loyalty Scheme
- Hilton Honors
- Marriott Bonvoy
- IHG Rewards Club
- Le Club Accorhotels
Best Serviced Apartment Company
- Frasers Hospitality
- Ascott The Residence
- Citadines Aparthotel
- Oakwood
AIRPORTS
Best Airport Worldwide
- Singapore Changi Airport
- Hong Kong International Airport
- London Heathrow Airport
- Hamad International Airport, Doha
- Dubai International Airport
Best Airport in Europe
- Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
- London Heathrow Airport
- Munich Airport
- Zurich Airport
Best Airport for Tax-Free Shopping
- London Heathrow Airport
- Singapore Changi Airport
- Dubai International Airport
- Hong Kong International Airport
Best Airport Lounge
- British Airways Concorde Room, London Heathrow T5
- Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, London Heathrow
- Cathay Pacific The Pier, First Class, Hong Kong
- Cathay Pacific, London Heathrow
SURFACE TRAVEL
Best UK Domestic Train Service
- Virgin Trains
- LNER
- GWR
- Heathrow Express
Best Car Rental Company Worldwide
- Avis
- Hertz
- Sixt
- Europcar
Best Car Rental Company in Europe
- Avis
- Hertz
- Sixt
- Europcar
For information on the Business Traveller Awards, and details of past winners, visit businesstravellerawards.co.uk.