The coveted Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Travel Awards were announced today at the annual presentation luncheon at Conrad Hotel Hong Kong, which was graced by the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year, Efren Peñaflorida.
In its 20th year, the awards, given out in 55 categories, reflect the highest accolade discerning Business Traveller readers bestow on travel and hospitality providers. They are based on the results from the yearly Readers’ Poll conducted and interpreted by Synovate.
In this increasingly competitive world, businesses need to stay on top of their games and many of our winners have done just that. A majority of last year’s winners kept their top rankings, including InterContinental, which was once again awarded Best Business Hotel Brand in the World, and retained the Best Business Hotel Brand in Europe honour for the third year running. Another of InterContinental Hotels Group’s brands, Holiday Inn, maintained its positions as Best Mid-Market Hotel Brand in the World and in Asia-Pacific. Also a standout was Shangri-La, winner of eight awards including Best Business Hotel Brand in Asia-Pacific. Its Singapore property remained the Best Business Hotel in the Lion City and in the World. The group’s hotels in Hong Kong (Island Shangri-La), Manila and Shanghai also kept their titles as the Best Business Hotel in their respective cities. Island Shangri-La has taken its Singaporean sister’s place as the Best Business Hotel in Asia-Pacific and the Bangkok property has moved up two slots as number one in the Thai capital.
After being in a tie last year, Banyan Tree Phuket rose up as the sole winner of Best Resort Hotel in Asia-Pacific, while Ascott proved to be a leader in its sector with another of its property, Ascott Sathorn Bangkok, taking out the Best Serviced Residence in Asia-Pacific award, after its Singapore facility did so in the previous year.
On the airline front, Singapore Airlines had another home run with five awards: Best Airline, Best Asia-Pacific Airline, and Best Airline in First, Business and Economy classes. Cathay Pacific held on to the title of Best Frequent Flyer Programme with Asia Miles while bagging Best Airport Lounge in Asia-Pacific. Qantas beat fierce competition this year and took home Best Airline Premium Economy.
Changi Airport defended its places as the Best Airport in the World and in Asia-Pacific, but Incheon swept Best Airport Duty-Free in the World.
Which city is best for business? Business Traveller Asia-Pacific readers maintained that it was Hong Kong, again choosing it as the Best Business City in the World and in Northeast Asia, while Singapore remained the Best Business City in Southeast Asia. But when it comes to time-out, they voted Bangkok as the Best Leisure Destination in Asia-Pacific.
AIRLINES
Best Airline
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Thai Airways
3. Cathay Pacifi
Best Asia-Pacific Airline
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Thai Airways
3. Cathay Pacific
Best China Airline
1. Air China
2. China Eastern
3. China Southern
Best European Airline
1. British Airways
2. Lufthansa
3. Virgin Atlantic
Best North American Airline
1. United Airlines
2. American Airlines
3. Air Canada
Best Middle-East/African Airline
1. Qatar Airways
2. Emirates
3. South African Airways
Best First Class
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Malaysia Airlines
Best Business Class
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Thai Airways
Best Premium Ecomony Class
1. Qantas
2. British Airways
3. EVA Air
Best Economy Class
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Thai Airways
Best Frequent-Flyer Programme
1. Cathay Pacific – Asia Miles
2. Thai Airways – Royal Orchid Plus
3. Singapore Airlines – Krisflyer
Best Airline Lounge in Asia-Pacific
1. Cathay Pacific – Hong Kong International Airport
2. Singapore Airlines – Changi Airport
3. Thai Airways – Suvarnabhumi Airport
AIRPORTS
Best Airport in the World
1. Singapore Changi
2. Hong Kong International
3. Incheon International
Best Airport in Asia-Pacific
1. Singapore Changi
2. Hong Kong International
3. Incheon International
Best Duty-Free in the World
1. Incheon International
2. Hong Kong International
3. Singapore Changi
Best Business City in Northeast Asia
1. Hong Kong
2. Tokyo
3. Seoul
Best Business City in Southeast Asia
1. Singapore
2. Kuala Lumpur
3. Bangkok
Best Business City in the World
1. Hong Kong
2. Singapore
3. London
Best Leisure Destination in Asia-Pacific
1. Bangkok
2. Hong Kong
3. Singapore
HOTELS
Best Business Hotel Brand in the World
1. InterContinental
2. Four Seasons
3. Hilton
Best Business Hotel Brand in Asia-Pacific
1. Shangri-La
2. Mandarin Oriental
3. Hyatt
Best Business Hotel Brand in Europe
1. InterContinental
2. Hilton
3. Mandarin Oriental
Best Business Hotel Brand in North America
1. Marriott
2. Hilton
3. Hyatt
Best Business Hotel Brand in Middle East/Africa
1. Jumeirah
2. InterContinental
3. Hilton
Best Mid-Market Hotel Brand in the World
1. Holiday Inn
2. Novotel
3. Courtyard by Marriott
Best Mid-Market Hotel Brand in Asia-Pacific
1. Holiday Inn
2. Novotel
3. Courtyard by Marriott
Best Business Hotel in the World
1. Shangri-La, Singapore
2. The Peninsula, Hong Kong
3. InterContinental, Hong Kong
Best Business Hotel in Asia-Pacific
1. Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong
2. Shangri-La, Singapore
3. The Peninsula, Bangkok
Best Airport Hotel in Asia-Pacific
1. Regal Airport, Hong Kong
2. Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, Singapore
3. Pan Pacific KLIA, Kuala Lumpur
Best New Business Hotel in Asia-Pacific
1. The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore
2. The Peninsula, Shanghai
3. W Taipei
Best Resort Hotel in Asia-Pacific
1. Banyan Tree Phuket
2. Shangri-La’s Boracay
3. Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort
Best Boutique Hotel in Asia-Pacific
1. Hotel Quote, Taipei
2. The Quincy Hotel, Singapore
3. Naumi Hotel, Singapore
Best Serviced Residence in Asia-Pacific
1. Ascott Sathorn Bangkok
2. Ascott Raffles Place Singapore
3. Somerset Lake Point
Best Serviced Residence Brand in Asia-Pacific
1. Ascott
2. Somerset
3. Oakwood
BEST BUSINESS HOTELS
Best Business Hotel in Bangkok
1. Shangri-La
2. Conrad
3. Grand Hyatt Erawan
Best Business Hotel in Beijing
1. Park Hyatt
2. Grand Hyatt
3. China World
Best Business Hotel in Guangzhou
1. Garden Hotel
2. The Westin
3. Shangri-La
Best Business Hotel in Hanoi
1. Sofitel Legend Metropole
2. Sheraton
3. InterContinental
Best Business Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
1. Park Hyatt
2. InterContinental
3. Sheraton
Best Business Hotel in Hong Kong
1. Island Shangri-La
2. The Peninsula
3. Conrad
Best Business Hotel in Jakarta
1. Grand Hyatt
2. Shangri-La
3. Kempinski
Best Business Hotel in Kuala Lumpur
1. Hilton
2. Shangri-La
3. Traders
Best Business Hotel in Macau
1. Grand Hyatt
2. The Venetian
3. Mandarin Oriental
Best Business Hotel in Manila
1. Makati Shangri-La
2. The Peninsula
3. InterContinental
Best Business Hotel in Melbourne
1. Grand Hyatt
2. Sofitel
3. Crowne Plaza
Best Business Hotel in Mumbai
1. The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower
2. InterContinental Marine Drive
3. The Oberoi
Best Business Hotel in New Delhi
1. The Taj Palace
2. Imperial
3. Crowne Plaza
Best Business Hotel in Osaka
1. The Ritz-Carlton
2. Hilton
3. Sheraton Miyako
Best Business Hotel in Seoul
1. Lotte
2. Grand Hyatt
3. Shilla
Best Business Hotel in Shanghai
1. Pudong Shangri-La
2. The Peninsula
3. The Westin Bund Centre
Best Business Hotel in Shenzhen
1. Grand Hyatt
2. Futian Shangri-La
3. Sheraton Shenzhen Futian
Best Business Hotel in Singapore
1. Shangri-La
2. Grand Hyatt
3. The St. Regis
Best Business Hotel in Sydney
1. Four Seasons
2. InterContinental
3. The Westin
Best Business Hotel in Taipei
1. W Taipei
2. Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza
3. Grand Hyatt
Best Business Hotel in Tokyo
1. Park Hyatt
2. ANA InterContinental
3. Conrad
