The results of this year’s Business Traveller Asia-Pacific Travel Awards were announced on September 27 at the annual presentation luncheon at the Conrad Hong Kong hotel.
The coveted awards, given out in 56 categories, are celebrating their 22nd anniversary. As in previous years, they reflect the highest accolade discerning Business Traveller readers bestow on travel and hospitality service providers. They are based on the ballots returned from the yearly Reader Poll conducted and interpreted by global market research company Ipsos.
This year’s guest of honour and award presenter was prominent Hong Kongpolitician Regina Ip Lau Suk Yee, who worked for the Hong Kong Government from 1975 to 2003. During her 28-year tenure, Ip held senior positions including Director of Immigration and Secretary for Security, and was the first woman to hold both posts.
After leaving the civil service, Ip went to the US to study and upon returning in 2006, she established think tank Savantas Policy Institute. She ran for a seat at the Legislative Council (Legco) in 2008 and won, and in 2010, she founded the New People’s Party. She was reelected to Legco in 2012 and in the same year, appointed a non-official member of the Executive Council.
The hospitality industry is highly competitive, and travellers’ expectations are constantly rising. Service providers also have to keep up with fast-changing technologies and update their offerings constantly. It is not easy to stay on top of the game but a majority of last year’s winners have done just that.
Once again Singapore Airlines retained its place as the Best Airline in Asia-Pacific and the World, while Air China, Lufthansa, United Airlines and Qatar Airways have successfully defended their titles as the best airlines of their respective regions. Air Asia has once again won Best Low Cost Airline, a new category introduced last year. Singapore Changi remains the Best Airport in the World while Incheon International Airport has again been recognised by our readers as offering the Best Duty Free experience in the world.
Cathay Pacific snagged the Best Premium Economy honour, having only just launched the new product early last year. The Hong Kong-based airline has reclaimed its award for the Best Airline Lounge in Asia-Pacific, proving that its renovation of VIP facilities atHong KongInternationalAirport in recent years have not gone unnoticed.
On the hotel front, Grand Hyatt made a comeback as the Best Business Hotel Brand in the World, an award it also claimed in 2002 to 2009. Hotel Quote Taipei and Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore scooped Best Boutique Hotel and Best New Business Hotel in Asia-Pacific respectively after a brief interlude last year. Holiday Inn and Regal Airport Hotel continue their winning streaks as the Best Mid-Market Hotel Brand and Best Airport Hotel. Having been under the radar for some time, the institution that is Intercontinental Bali Resort garnered the title of Best Resort Hotel in Asia-Pacific.
In the serviced residence sector, Ascott has a lot to celebrate, with its properties taking all top three spots in the Best Service Residence in Asia-Pacific category in addition to winning Best Serviced Residence Brand in Asia-Pacific.
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 in the World, and Singapore as the winner in Southeast Asia. Bangkok retains its title as Best Leisure Destination in Asia-Pacific.
AIRLINES
Best Airline
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Thai Airways
Best Asia-Pacific Airline
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Thai Airways
Best China Airline
1. Air China
2. China Southern
3. China Eastern
Best European Airline
1. Lufthansa
2. British Airways
3. Swiss
Best North American Airline
1. United Airlines
2. Air Canada
3. American Airlines
Best Middle-East/African Airline
1. Qatar Airways
2. Emirates
3. Etihad Airways
Best Low Cost Airline
1. AirAsia
2. Jetstar
3. Cebu Pacific
Best First Class
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Emirates
Best Business Class
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Emirates
Best Premium Economy Class
1. Cathay Pacific
2. Qantas Airways
3. Virgin Atlantic
Best Economy Class
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Thai Airways
Best Frequent-Flyer Programme
1. Cathay Pacific – Asia Miles
2. Singapore Airlines – Krisflyer
3. Thai Airways – Royal Orchid
Best Airline Lounge in Asia-Pacific
1. Cathay Pacific – Hong Kong International Airport
2. Singapore Airlines – Changi Airport
3. Qantas Airways – Sydney Airport
AIRPORTS
Best Airport in the World
1. Changi Airport
2. Hong Kong International
3. Incheon Airport
Best Airport in Asia-Pacific
1. Changi Airport
2. Hong Kong International
3. Incheon Airport
Best Duty-Free in the World
1. Incheon Airport
2. Hong Kong International
3. Changi Airport
BEST CITIES
Best Business City in Northeast Asia
1. Hong Kong
2. Tokyo
3. Shanghai
Best Business City in Southeast Asia
1. Singapore
2. Bangkok
3. Kuala Lumpur
Best Business City in the World
1. Hong Kong
2. London
3. Singapore
Best Leisure Destination in Asia-Pacific
1. Bangkok
2. Bali
3. Tokyo
HOTELS
Best Business Hotel Brand in the World
1. Grand Hyatt
2. InterContinental
3. Four Seasons
Best Business Hotel Brand in Asia-Pacific
1. Shangri-La
2. Mandarin Oriental
3. Sheraton
Best Business Hotel Brand in Europe
1. InterContinental
2. The Ritz-Carlton
3. Sofitel = Hilton Hotels & Reosrts
Best Business Hotel Brand in North America
1. Hilton Hotels & Resorts
2. The Ritz-Carlton
3. Four Seasons
Best Business Hotel Brand in Middle East/Africa
1. Jumeirah
2. InterContinental
3. Sheraton
Best Mid-Market Hotel Brand in the World
1. Holiday Inn
2. Courtyard by Marriott
3. Novotel
Best Mid-Market Hotel Brand in Asia-Pacific
1. Holiday Inn
2. Novotel
3. Crowne Plaza
Best Business Hotel in the World
1. Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong
2. Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
3. Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
= The Peninsula Hong Kong
Best Business Hotel in Asia-Pacific
1. Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong
= Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
3. Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
Best Airport Hotel in Asia-Pacific
1. Regal Airport, Hong Kong
2. Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, Singapore
3. Hong Kong SkyCity Marriott
Best New Business Hotel in Asia-Pacific
1. The Fullerton Bay Hotel, Singapore
2. Conrad Macao, Cotai Central
3. W Bangkok
Best Resort Hotel in Asia-Pacific
1. InterContinental Bali
2. W Singapore – Sentosa Cove
3. Banyan Tree Koh Samui
Best Boutique Hotel in Asia-Pacific
1. Hotel Quote Taipei
2. The Upper House, Hong Kong
3. The Balé, Nusa Dua Bali
BEST BUSINESS HOTELS
Best Business Hotel in Bangkok
1. Shangri-La Hotel
2. Grand Hyatt Erawan
3. Mandarin Oriental
Best Business Hotel in Beijing
1. Park Hyatt
2. The Westin Beijing Chaoyang
3. The St. Regis
Best Business Hotel in Guangzhou
1. Garden Hotel
2. The Ritz-Carlton
3. Grand Hyatt
Best Business Hotel in Hanoi
1. Sofitel Legend Metropole
2. Sheraton
3. Hilton Hanoi Opera
Best Business Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City
1. Park Hyatt
2. InterContinental Asiana Saigon
3. Mövenpick Hotel
Best Business Hotel in Hong Kong
1. Four Seasons
2. Island Shangri-La
3. Mandarin Oriental
Best Business Hotel in Jakarta
1. Grand Hyatt
2. The Ritz-Carlton
3. Shangri-La Hotel
Best Business Hotel in Kuala Lumpur
1. Shangri-La Hotel
2. The Westin
3. Hilton
Best Business Hotel in Macau
1. Grand Hyatt
2. The Venetian
3. Conrad Macao, Cotai Central
Best Business Hotel in Manila
1. Makati Shangri-La
2. The Peninsula
3. InterContinental
Best Business Hotel in Melbourne
1. Grand Hyatt
2. The Westin
3. Hilton Melbourne South Wharf
= Crowne Plaza
Best Business Hotel in Mumbai
1. The Taj Mahal Palace
2. Grand Hyatt
3. Shangri-La Hotel
Best Business Hotel in New Delhi
1. Taj Palace Hotel
2. Hyatt Regency
3. Shangri-La – Eros Hotel
Best Business Hotel in Osaka
1. The Ritz-Carlton
2. The St. Regis
3. Swissotel
Best Business Hotel in Seoul
1. Lotte Hotel
2. Grand Hyatt
3. The Shilla
Best Business Hotel in Shanghai
1. Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai
2. The Westin Bund Centre
3. Park Hyatt
Best Business Hotel in Shenzhen
1. Futian Shangri-La
2. JW Marriott
3. InterContinental
Best Business Hotel in Singapore
1. Shangri-La Hotel
2. The St. Regis
3. Grand Hyatt
= Mandarin Oriental
Best Business Hotel in Sydney
1. Park Hyatt
2. Shangri-La Hotel
3. InterContinental
Best Business Hotel in Taipei
1. W Taipei
2. Grand Hyatt
3. Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel
Best Business Hotel in Tokyo
1. Conrad
2. The Peninsula
3. Shangri-La Hotel
Best Serviced Residence in Asia-Pacific
1. Ascott Raffles Place Singapore
2. Ascott Sathorn Bangkok
3. Ascott Makati
Best Serviced Residence Brand in Asia-Pacific
1. Ascott
2. Fraser
3. Oakwood