Business Traveller China shines spotlight on the best industry players

Word of mouth is often the most unbiased indicator of the quality of a product and Business Traveller China Awards sum up which players in the hospitality industry some of the country’s most affluent travellers consider the stellar performers.

Results of the annual voting exercise, now on its seventh year, were revealed at 2011 Business Traveller China Awards dinner ceremony last night, November 2, 2011, at the Park Hyatt Beijing. The event, themed around the colour black and red, was graced by the presence of honourable guest Zhang Yun, one of China's most acclaimed pianists. A graduate of Shanghai Conservatory and recipient of Diploma of Pianist from L’Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, as well as the highest-ranking Artist Diploma, Ms Zhang has collaborated regularly with French pianist Marc Andre in performances and is noted in Europe for her contribution to Sino-French culture and art exchange activities. She travels frequently between France and China.

The ceremony saw many previous winners successfully defending their titles and accepting their rightful accolades.

Not surprisingly, Hong Kong remained China travellers’ Favourite Business City in the World and its airport has been voted as the best in China. But it was, again, Changi Airport in Singapore that bagged the Best Airport in the World honour. The island nation also has other things to be happy about as its national carrier Singapore Airlines continued its winning streak as the winner of Best Airline in the World and even topped it off with two additional awards: Best Economy Class and Business Class. Hong Kong’s home-grown carrier Cathay Pacific was not to be outdone, keeping its grip on the Best Asian Airline Serving China title and adding Best First Class to its list of achievements. Air China and United Airlines remain Best Chinese and American Airlines, respectively, Serving China, British Airways and Emirates took Best European and Middle Eastern Airlines Serving China respectively.

On the hotel front, familiar names also emerged, as Grand Hyatt took the spotlight again as Best Hotel Brand in the World, in addition to another two “best in the city” titles with Grand Hyatt Shenzhen and Grand Hyatt Macau. Shangri-La followed closely as Best Hotel Brand in China, and with Island Shangri-La being Best Business Hotel in Hong Kong. Mission Hills Resort & Spa remained Best Golf Resort in China. The Ascott kept the title of Best Serviced Residence Brand in China.

A newcomer was InterContinental Suzhou, as Best New Business Hotel in China. IHG also took Best Resort in China with InterContinental Sanya Resort.

First handed out in 2005, the awards are now classified in 35 categories, including 9 for airlines, and 22 for hotels, resorts and serviced residences and the rest for cities which were awarded. Three new categories were added this year: Favourite Leisure City in the World (Bangkok), Best Middle-Eastern Airlines serving China (Emirates) and Best Serviced Residence in China (Fraser Suites Nanjing). The response rate this year was 11.5 % per cent.

The Chi Heng Foundation, which has helped thousands of AIDS-impacted Chinese children in achieving academic and career success, is again the beneficiary of a Silent Auction organised by Business Traveller China. Since 2006, Panacea Publishing Asia, the magazine's parent company, has been cooperating with the Hong Kong-based charity in its meaningful endeavours.


2011 Business Traveller China Awards

CITY

Favourite Businesss City in the World

1. Hongkong
2. Singapore
3. Shanghai







Favourite Leisure City in the World

1. Bangkok
2. Hongkong
3. Phuket







AIRPORTS

Best Airport in the World

1. Changi Airport Singapore
2. Hongkong International Airport
3. Pudong International Airport






Best Airport in China

1. Hongkong International Airport
2. Pudong International Airport
3. Beijing Capital International Airport







AIRLINES

Best Airline in the World

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. Lufthansa







Best Chinese Airline serving China

1. Air China
2. China Eastern
3. China Southern







Best Asian Airline serving China

1. Cathay Pacific
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Dragonair







Best American Airline serving China

1. United Airlines
2. Delta Air Lines
3. American Airlines







Best European Airline serving China

1. British Airways
2. Lufthansa
3. Swiss







Best Middle-Eastern Airline serving China

1. Emirates
2. Qatar Airways
3. Eithad Airways







Best Airline First Class

1. Cathay Pacific
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Lufthansa







Best Airline Business Class

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. British Airways







Best Airline Economy Class

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Cathay Pacific
3. EVA Air







HOTELS

Best Hotel Brand in the World

1. Grand Hyatt
2. InterContinental
3. Sheraton







Best Hotel Brand in China

1. Shangri-La
2. Sheraton
3. InterContinental







Best New Business Hotel in China

1. InterContinental Suzhou
2. The Langham Xintiandi Shanghai
3. Sofitel Guangzhou Sunrich







Best Resort Hotel in China

1. InterContinental Sanya Resort
2. Mandarin Oriental Sanya
3. Chime Long Hotel







Best Golf Resort in China

1. Mission Hills Resort & Spa
2. Sofitel Zhongshan Golf  Resort Nanjing
3. Spring City Golf & Lake Resort Kunming







Best Serviced Residence Brand in China

1. Ascott
2. Fraser
3. Marriott Executive Apartments







Best Serviced Residence in China

1. Fraser Suites Nanjing
2. Millennium Residences @ Beijing Fortune Plaza
3. Lanson Place Jinlin Tiandi Residences, Shanghai







BEST BUSINESS HOTEL IN

Shanghai

1. Pudong Shangri-La
2. The Peninsula
3. Park Hyatt







Guangzhou

1. The Garden Hotel
2. The Ritz-Carlton
3. Shangri-La







Dalian

1. New World
2. InterContinental
3. Kempinski







Tianjin

1. The Westin
2. Sheraton Tianjin Binhai
3. Renaissance Tianjin Lakeview







Beijing

1. Park Hyatt
2. The Westin Beijing Financial Street
3. Sofitel Wanda







Changchun

1. Shangri-La
2. New Century Grand
3. Days







Chengdu

1. Sheraton Lido
2. Shangri-La
3. Sofitel Wanda







Shenyang

1. Sheraton Lido
2. InterContinental
3. Traders







Hangzhou

1. JW Marriott
2. Hyatt Regency
3. Sofitel Hangzhou Westlake







Nanjing

1. Jinling Hotel
2. Sofitel Galaxy
3. Sheraton Kingsley







Chongqing

1. JW Marriott
2. InterContinental
3. Sofitel Forebase







Hongkong

1. Island Shangri-La
2. The Peninsula
3. Conrad







Shenzhen

1. Grand Hyatt
2. Sheraton Shenzhen Futian
3. Futian Shangri-La







Xiamen

1. Marco Polo
2. Sheraton
3. Crowne Plaza Paragon







Macau

1. Grand Hyatt
2. MGM Grand
3. The Venetian