The Middle East region’s leading multi-platform content producer, Motivate Media Group, has revealed the winners of the 2024 Business Traveller Middle East Awards at a high-profile gala ceremony staged at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre last night (May 6).
With more than 350 guests in attendance – including a high-profile crowd of industry heavyweights, thought leaders, key decision-makers, High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs), and C-Suite executives spanning the hotel, aviation, tourism, travel, and related industries – the renowned BTME Awards, organised by Motivate publication Business Traveller Middle East, honoured leaders in business travel and tourism, with the winners of 42 award categories spanning three main divisions including airlines, airports and hotels announced.
Among the event’s many distinguished guests was Raha Moharrak, a keynote speaker and renowned alpinist who is the youngest-ever Arab and the first Saudi woman to have climbed Mount Everest. The Guest of Honour for the evening, Moharrak inspired attendees with her boundary-breaking journey, and presented five of the coveted awards to their winners.
The coveted awards ceremony celebrated the companies at the forefront of business travel and services, as well as the hard work of top-level industry executives.
Emirates was recognised with five high-profile awards, as it was crowned ‘Best Airline Worldwide’, ‘Airline with the Best Premium Economy Class’, and ‘Airline with the Best First Class’, while also scooping the awards for ‘Best Airport Lounge in the Middle East’, and ‘Airline with the Best Frequent Flyer Programme’. Meanwhile, its hub, Dubai International Airport (DXB), took home the title of ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’, while Dubai Duty Free took home the title of ‘Best Duty Free Shopping in the Middle East’. Fellow Dubai-based carrier flydubai – which celebrates its 15th anniversary this year – took home the award for ‘Airline with the Best Connectivity in the Middle East’.
From the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways was recognised with two accolades – ‘Airline with the Best Cabin Crew’ and ‘Airline with the Best Economy Class’ – while from neighbouring Qatar, Qatar Airways took home three awards: ‘Airline with the Best Business Class’, ‘Best Regional Airline serving the Middle East’, and ‘Best Travel App’. From the wider global network, Singapore was celebrated as Singapore Airlines took home the title of ‘Best Asian Airline Serving the Middle East’, and Singapore Changi Airport was named ‘Best Airport in the World’. Turkish Airlines also took home an award, for ‘Best European Airline Serving the Middle East’.
Hotels and hospitality brands from across 28 categories were also recognised. Marriott Hotels had one of the most sparkling accolades of the evening with the title of ‘Best Hotel Brand Worldwide’, while Rotana Hotels & Resorts was named ‘Best Hotel Brand in the Middle East’. Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts was named ‘Best Luxury Hotel Brand in the Middle East’, while Rove Hotels was named ‘Best Budget Hotel Brand in the Middle East’ – and Marriott Bonvoy won ‘Best Hotel Loyalty Programme in the Middle East’. Meanwhile, Ascott received the award for ‘Best Serviced Apartments Brand in the Middle East’.
Bleisure was introduced as a new category for 2024, with Rixos Premium Dubai JBR being named ‘Best Bleisure Hotel in the the UAE’. Under leisure and lifestyle, Jumeirah Al Naseem was crowned ‘Best Leisure Hotel in the the UAE’, and Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah the ‘Best Leisure Hotel in the the Middle East’. Radisson took home the award for ‘Best Lifestyle Hotel Brand in the Middle East’.
A full list of winners, including all of those for the remaining categories, is featured below.
“This year’s Business Traveller Middle East Awards was, once again, a celebration of excellence for the region’s travel, tourism, and hospitality industries. As the Middle East readies itself for a new chapter of innovation and growth, we are honoured to be able to acknowledge the commitment, vision, expertise, and hard work of these regional and global brands. Congratulations, again, to all of the nominees and winners,” said Ian Fairservice, Managing Partner and Group Editor-in-Chief at Motivate Media Group.
The Business Traveller Middle East Awards is based on nominations and votes cast online by the valued readers of Business Traveller Middle East (BTME), before the shortlist, highly-commended names, and winners are determined through a rigorous and impartial process.
Full awards coverage, including photos of all the winners, will feature in the June issue of BTME.
The full list of winners is below:
Airlines
Airline with the Best Cabin Crew: Etihad Airways
Airline with the Best Economy Class: Etihad Airways
Airline with the Best Premium Economy Class: Emirates
Airline with the Best Business Class: Qatar Airways
Airline with the Best First Class: Emirates
Airline with the Best Frequent Flyer Programme: Emirates Skywards
Best Regional Airline Serving the Middle East: Qatar Airways
Best Asian Airline Serving the Middle East: Singapore Airlines
Best European Airline Serving the Middle East: Turkish Airlines
Airline with the Best Connectivity in the Middle East: flydubai
Best Airline Worldwide: Emirates
Airports
Best Travel App: Qatar Airways
Best Airport in the Middle East: Dubai International Airport
Best Duty Free Shopping in the Middle East: Dubai Duty Free
Best Airport Lounge in the Middle East: Emirates First Class lounge, Dubai International Airport
Best Airport in the World: Singapore Changi Airport
Hotels
Best New Business Hotel in the Middle East: The St. Regis Riyadh | Highly commended: Raffles Doha
Best Refurbished Hotel in the UAE: Pullman Dubai Downtown | Highly commended: Jumeirah Mina A’Salam
Best Airport Hotel in the UAE: Radisson Hotel Riyadh Airport | Highly commended: Dubai International Airport Hotel
Best Business Hotel in Dubai: Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre | Highly commended: JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
Best Business Hotel in Abu Dhabi: Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island | Highly commended: Rosewood Abu Dhabi
Best Business Hotel in the Northern Emirates: Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah | Highly commended: InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort & Spa
Best Business Hotel in Amman: The Boulevard Arjaan by Rotana, Amman | Highly commended: The Ritz-Carlton, Amman
Best Business Hotel in Beirut: Radisson Blu Hotel, Beirut Verdun | Highly commended: Gefinor Rotana Beirut
Best Business Hotel in Cairo: InterContinental Citystars Cairo | Highly commended: Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis
Best Business Hotel in Doha: Fairmont Doha | Highly commended: Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha
Best Business Hotel in Kuwait: Waldorf Astoria Kuwait | Highly commended: Grand Hyatt Kuwait
Best Business Hotel in Bahrain: Mövenpick Hotel Bahrain | Highly commended: The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence & Spa, Manama
Best Business Hotel in Muscat: JW Marriott Hotel Muscat | Highly commended: Jumeirah Muscat Bay
Best Business Hotel in Riyadh: voco Riyadh – an IHG Hotel | Highly commended: Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre
Best Business Hotel in Jeddah: Shangri-La Jeddah | Highly commended: InterContinental Jeddah
Best Bleisure Hotel in Dubai: Rixos Premium Dubai JBR | Highly commended: InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Best Leisure Hotel in the UAE: Jumeirah Al Naseem | Highly commended: The WB Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection by Hilton
Best Leisure Hotel in the Middle East: Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai | Highly commended: The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort – A GHM Hotel
Overall Best Business Hotel in the Middle East: Fairmont Doha
Hotel Brands
Best Serviced Apartments Brand in the Middle East: Ascott
Best Hotel Loyalty Programme in the Middle East: Marriott Bonvoy
Best Budget Hotel Brand in the Middle East: Rove Hotels
Best Lifestyle Hotel Brand in the Middle East: Radisson
Best Luxury Hotel Brand in the Middle East: Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts
Best Hotel Brand in the Middle East: Rotana Hotels & Resorts
Best Hotel Brand in the World: Marriott Hotels
To learn more about the Business Traveller Middle East Awards, please visit our dedicated website here.
