Business Traveller Awards 2020

The winners of the 2020 Business Traveller Awards have been unveiled by the publishers of Business Traveller magazine, Panacea Media.

The awards are voted for by readers of the magazine, with the results produced by an independent research 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 awards were based on the survey which took place from April to July 2020 concerning readers’ experiences of the previous 12 months, and before the widespread restrictions on business travel that were imposed by most countries in mid-March.

Qatar Airways took an impressive five awards, being named Best Airline, as well as winning in the Best Long-Haul Carrier, Best Business Class and Best Middle Eastern Airline categories, The airline also triumphed in the Best Inflight Food and Beverage category.

British Airways took the awards for Best Short-Haul Carrier, Best Frequent Flyer Programme, Best Airport Lounge, for its Concorde Room at London Heathrow T5, Best New Seat (for the Club Suite, pictured below) and also won Best Travel App, while Oneworld was named Best Airline Alliance.

Meanwhile Singapore Airlines won awards for Best Economy Class, Best First Class, Best Asian Airline and Best Cabin Staff, Emirates was named Best Inflight Entertainment, Virgin Atlantic Best Premium Economy Class, and Easyjet Best Low-Cost Airline.

Delta Air Lines was named Best North American Airline, Ethiopian Airlines Best African Airline and Aeroflot Best Eastern European Airline.

Singapore’s Changi Airport won the Best Airport Worldwide award, 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 LNER took the Best UK Domestic Train Service award.

In the hotel categories Hilton Hotels and Resorts won Best Business Hotel Brand Worldwide, in the UK and also in Europe, as well as Best Hotel Loyalty Scheme for Hilton Honors.

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts was named the Best Business Hotel Brand in Asia-Pacific, Rotana Hotels and Resorts Best Business Hotel Brand in the Middle East, Marriott Hotels Best Business Hotel Brand in North America, and Taj Hotels Best Business Hotel Brand in India.

Best Business Hotel in the UK was the Intercontinental London Park Lane, while The Peninsula Hong Kong won Best Business Hotel Worldwide. Best Luxury Hotel Brand was Mandarin Oriental, with other winners included Frasers Hospitality, Langham Hotels and Resorts, Premier Inn and Sofitel London Heathrow.

Commenting on the results Tom Otley, Editorial Director of Business Traveller said:

“At a time when most frequent travellers are working from home, it’s a wonderful break to have something to celebrate, particularly when so many of these winners and finalists are currently going through such a tough time. On behalf of our readers, I’d like to thank all of those involved in the awards, and thank our readers for their voting. Let’s hope the next 12 months brings good news for all of us.”

For information on the Business Traveller Awards, and details of past winners, visit businesstravellerawards.co.uk.

AIRLINES

Best Airline

1. Qatar Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Emirates
4. British Airways
5. Virgin Atlantic

Best Short-Haul Carrier

1. British Airways
2. Swiss
3. Aegean
4. Jet2

Best Long-Haul Carrier

1. Qatar Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Emirates
4. Cathay Pacific

Best First Class

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Emirates
3. Etihad
4. British Airways

Best Business Class

1. Qatar Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Emirates
4. Virgin Atlantic
5. Oman Air

Best Premium Economy Class

1. Virgin Atlantic
2. British Airways
3. Air New Zealand
4. Singapore Airlines

Best Economy Class

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Emirates
3. Qatar Airways
4. Virgin Atlantic

Best African Airline

1. Ethiopian Airlines
2. South African Airways
3. Kenya Airways
4. Royal Air Maroc

Best Asian Airline

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Japan Airlines
4. EVA

Best Eastern European Airline

1. Aeroflot
2. LOT
3. Air Baltic
4. Wizz

Best Middle Eastern Airline

1. Qatar Airways
2. Emirates
3. Etihad Airways
4. El Al

Best North American Airline

1. Delta
2. American Airlines
3. United Airlines
4. Air Canada

Best Low-Cost Airline

1. Easyjet
2. Air Asia
3. Jet2
4. Southwest Airlines

Best Cabin Staff

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Qatar Airways
3. Virgin Atlantic
4. British Airways

Best Frequent Flyer Programme

1. British Airways Executive Club
2. Lufthansa Miles and More
3. Emirates Skywards
4. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Best Inflight Food and Beverage

1. Qatar Airways
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Oman Air
4. Virgin Atlantic

Best IFE

1. Emirates
2. Qatar Airways
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Virgin Atlantic

Best New Seat

1. British Airways Business Club Suite
2. Singapore Airlines Business Class
3. Singapore Airlines First Class

Best Airline Alliance

1. Oneworld
2. Star Alliance
3. SkyTeam

HOTELS

Best Business Hotel Brand Worldwide

1. Hilton Hotels and Resorts
2. Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts
3. Marriott Hotels
4. Mandarin Oriental
5. Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

Best Business Hotel Brand in the UK

1. Hilton Hotels and Resorts
2. Premier Inn
3. Intercontinental Hotels and Resort
4. Marriott Hotels

Best Business Hotel Brand in Europe

1. Hilton Hotels and Resorts
2. Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts
3. Marriott Hotels
4. Sofitel

Best Business Hotel Brand in the Middle East

1. Rotana Hotels and Resorts
2. Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts
3. Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts
4. Waldorf Astoria

Best Business Hotel Brand in North America

1. Marriott Hotels
2. Hilton Hotels and Resorts
3. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
4. Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts

Best Business Hotel Brand in Asia Pacific

1. Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
2. Mandarin Oriental
3. Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts
4. The Peninsula Hotels

Best Business Hotel Brand in India

1. Taj Hotels
2. Oberoi Hotels and Resorts
3. ITC Hotels
4. The Leela

Best Luxury Hotel Brand

1. Mandarin Oriental
2. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
3. The Peninsula Hotels
4. Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

Best Budget Hotel Brand

1. Premier Inn
2. Holiday Inn Express
3. Ibis
4. Hampton by Hilton

Best Smaller Hotel Brand

1. Langham Hotels and Resorts
2. Belmond
3. Aman
4. Red Carnation Hotels

Best Business Hotel Worldwide

1. The Peninsula Hong Kong
2. Shangri-La Singapore
3. Raffles Singapore; Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Best Business Hotel in the UK

1. Intercontinental London Park Lane
2. The Dorchester, London
3. Sofitel London St James
4. Sofitel London Heathrow

Best Airport Hotel

1. Sofitel London Heathrow
2. Regal Airport Hotel Hong Kong
3. Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, Singapore
4. Hilton London Heathrow Airport

Best Hotel Loyalty Scheme

1. Hilton Honors
2. Marriott Bonvoy
3. IHG Rewards Club
4. ALL – Accor Live Limitless

Best Serviced Apartment Company

1. Frasers Hospitality
2. Citadines Aparthotel
3. Staybridge Suites
4. Ascott The Residence

AIRPORTS

Best Airport Worldwide

1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Hong Kong International Airport
3. London Heathrow Airport
4. Dubai International Airport
5. Hamad International Airport, Doha

Best Airport in Europe

1. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
2. London Heathrow Airport
3. Munich Airport
4. Zurich Airport

Best Airport for Tax Free Shopping

1. London Heathrow Airport
2. Singapore Changi Airport
3. Dubai International Airport
4. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport

Best Airport Lounge

1. British Airways Concorde Room, London Heathrow T5
2. Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, London Heathrow
3. Cathay Pacific, The Pier, First Class, Hong Kong
4. Cathay Pacific, London Heathrow

SURFACE TRAVEL

Best UK Domestic Train Service

1. LNER
2. GWR
3. Avanti West Coast
4. Heathrow Express

Best Car Rental Company Worldwide

1. Avis
2. Hertz
3. Sixt
4. Europcar

Best Car Rental Company in Europe

1. Avis
2. Hertz
3. Europcar
4. Sixt

OTHER

Best Credit or Payment Card for Travel

1. British Airways American Express Premium Plus
2. Halifax Clarity
3. Revolut
4. Curve

Best Travel App

1. British Airways
2. Tripadvisor
3. Tripit
4. Booking.com