Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Awards 2014

The results are in! The winners of this year’s Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Travel Awards were revealed earlier today at a special presentation luncheon held at the Conrad Hong Kong hotel.

Celebrating its 23^rd anniversary, the venerable awards cover 57 categories within the hospitality industry – including the newly added “Best In-flight Catering”.

The winners were chosen directly by the highly discerning readership of Business Traveller Asia-Pacific, with 10 per cent of them taking more than 60 flights a year. The hospitality arena is fiercely competitive. Getting to the top is hard; staying at the top is even harder. Despite this, the majority of our defending champions are celebrating repeat victories.

Singapore Airlines has swept the board once again, winning Best Airline in Asia-Pacific and Best Airline in the World for the 14^th year in a row, as well as Best First, Business and Economy Class. It also managed to become the first winner of Best In-flight Catering.

Air China, Lufthansa, United Airlines and Qatar Airways successfully defended their titles as the Best China Airline, Best European Airline, Best North American Airline and Best Middle Eastern/African Airline respectively while Air Asia has again been voted the Best Low-Cost Airline. Singapore Changi continues to impress travellers, winning Best Airport in the World again, while Incheon Airport has been recognised as offering the Best Duty Free in the World once more.

Cathay Pacific had a good haul, snagging a number of trophies including Best Premium Economy for the second time in a row, as well as retaining the honour of having the Best Airline Lounge in Asia-Pacific and Best Frequent-Flyer Programme.

On the hotel front, Grand Hyatt secured its position as the Best Business Hotel Brand in the World, an accolade it also won in 2002, 2009 and 2013. The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore made a comeback with the Best Boutique Hotel award, having won Best New Business Hotel in Asia-Pacific last year – an honour that goes to Parkroyal on Pickering, Singapore this year. Holiday Inn and Regal Airport Hotel continue their winning streaks as the Best Mid-Market Hotel Brand and Best Airport Hotel, respectively. Bali was again the setting for the Best Resort Hotel in Asia-Pacific, but this time it was W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak that took home the award, returning after a year’s break from the winners’ circle.

In the serviced residence sector, Ascott has a lot to celebrate, winning Best Serviced Residence Brand in Asia-Pacific as well as Best Serviced Residence in Asia-Pacific with the Ascott Raffles Place Singapore.

As for the best places for work and play, Business Traveller Asia-Pacific readers have again chosen Hong Kong as the Best Business City in Northeast Asia and the World, and Singapore as the winner in Southeast Asia. Bangkok retains its title as the Best Leisure Destination in Asia-Pacific.

Presenting the awards this year was well-known National Geographic presenter and conservationist Hayden Turner. Over the past 12 years, the former zookeeper from Sydney’s Taronga Zoo has travelled extensively to more than 35 countries. He reports from some of the wildest and most scenic places on earth, transmitting passion and expertise with each broadcast.

In addition to handing out the trophies to our worthy winners, the Australian household name gave an inspirational keynote address, outlining some of the ways the hospitality industry can work towards sustainable travel and practices.

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