Travel Weekly is proud to present the winners of our 17th annual Readers Choice Awards. The awards are presented to the industry's suppliers who led the way in product and service during the past year.
The winners, one for each of 79 categories, represent the best of the best of the travel industry in the airline, car
rental, hospitality, rail, GDS, agent education, tour, cruise, destination and theme park sectors. The 2019 awards were presented Dec. 12 during a black-tie gala dinner and ceremony at the Conrad New York.
Airline
Delta Air Lines repeated its four wins from last year: Domestic (its ninth consecutive victory), International, Sales & Service (for the fourth consecutive year) and Overall (its fifth win in that category).
Paola Saraceni and Kristen Molloy of Delta Vacations; Laurie Miles, Jim Magrath and Kristen Shovlin of Delta Air Lines; Jennie Ho of Delta Vacations; and Scott Jordan of Delta Air Lines. Delta repeated its four wins from last year, and Delta Vacations repeated its 2018 win for Packaged Overall. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
United got its third consecutive nod for Global Network, and Dubai-based Emirates won for Business/First Class for the eighth time.
Vic Kerckhoff of United Airlines, which won for the third consecutive time for Global Network, with Arnie Weissmann, editor in chief of Travel Weekly. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Car Rental
Hertz once again swept this category, scoring its 17th consecutive Readers Choice Award for International and its 15th win for Domestic.
Maurice Honor of Hertz Corp., which won for Domestic and International to sweep the Car Rental category. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Cruise
Carnival Cruise Line once again won in the Domestic and Family Experience categories.
Justin French, Ken Tate, Janet Wygert, Kirk Neal, Wendy Whitener and Marc Campagnone, far right, of Carnival Cruise Line with Northstar Travel Group’s Alicia Evanko, second from right. Carnival once again won in the Domestic and Family Experience categories. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Royal Caribbean International, meanwhile, scored five awards: Overall wins in the Individual Cruise Ship (for Symphony of the Seas) and Cruise Line categories as well as wins for its Caribbean itineraries, Sales & Service and Entertainment.
Joanne Schimelman and Vicki Freed of Royal Caribbean International, which scored wins in five categories, including Individual Cruise Ship (for Symphony of the Seas). Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Sister line Celebrity Cruises repeated wins in the categories of Europe, Premium, Cruise Ship: Premium (for the Celebrity Edge) and Expedition. The Celebrity Edge also got the nod in the category of New Ship.
Keith Lane and Dondra Ritzenthaler of Celebrity Cruises, which repeated wins for Europe, Premium, Cruise Ship: Premium (for Celebrity Edge) and Expedition. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Princess Cruises extended its Alaska winning streak with a 16th victory in that category, while Norwegian Cruise Line once again won for Hawaii/Pacific and added a victory in the Private Island/Destination category for Great Stirrup Cay.
Northstar Travel Group’s Alicia Evanko, left, with Kate Carideo, Elena Rodriguez and Anthony Viciana of Princess Cruises, which again won for Alaska. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Travel Weekly’s Arnie Weissmann, center, is flanked by, from left, Harry Sommer, Katina Athanasiou, Camille Olivere and Andy Stuart of Norwegian Cruise Line, which won for Hawaii/Pacific, Private Island/Destination and agent loyalty program. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
The Readers Choice Award in the category of Under 500 Berths went to Windstar Cruises, and Seabourn took the honors in the category of 500 to 1,000 Berths.
John Delaney of Windstar Cruises, winner in the Under 500 Berths category. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Chris Austin, Beth Widhson and Doug Seagle of Seabourn, winner in the 500 to 1,000 Berths category. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
In the category of Cruise Ship: Luxury, Regent Seven Seas Cruises once again took the honors for its Seven Seas Explorer, and Crystal Cruises repeated its win for Cruise Line: Luxury.
Northstar Travel Group’s Alicia Evanko, center, is flanked by Randall Soy and Kate Otto of Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which won the Cruise Ship: Luxury category for its Seven Seas Explorer. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Melissa Araya, Carmen Roig and Bertha Espinosa of Crystal Cruises, which repeated its win for Cruise Line: Luxury. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Holland America Line repeated its win for World Cruise Itinerary, while Oceania Cruises scored its fourth Readers Choice Award for Cuisine.
Orlando Ashford and Michelle Sutter of Holland America Line. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Steve Odell, Nikki Upshaw and James Rodriguez of Oceania Cruises, winner for Cuisine. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Viking repeated its wins in the River Cruising and River Cruise Sales & Service categories, while readers once again picked an AmaWaterways vessel as the top river cruise ship, with this year's honors bestowed upon the AmaMagna.
Erik De La Cruz, Ana Parodi and Michele Saegesser of Viking Cruises, which notched two wins, with Travel Weekly’s Arnie Weissmann. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Colin Farmer of Certares with Rudi Schreiner, Kristin Karst, Jake Schreiner and Gary Murphy of AmaWaterways, whose AmaMagna won as the top river cruise ship. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Destinations
Hawaii scored its 16th consecutive Readers Choice Award in the category of U.S. State. And among Hawaii's islands, Maui also scored its 16th win in a row. On the mainland, Las Vegas nabbed its 15th Readers Choice Award for U.S. City.
Robyn Basso of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau with Weissmann. Hawaii won the U.S. state category. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
John Meyer of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
In the Mexico category, the Riviera Maya won its 15th consecutive Readers Choice Award, while in Canada, Vancouver once again took the prize.
This year, Jamaica was the readers' pick in the Caribbean, while Costa Rica won its 15th consecutive award in Central/South America.
Ireland won for Europe for the sixth year in a row, while South Africa and Australia repeated their wins in the Africa and Asia/Pacific categories.
Alison Metcalfe of Tourism Ireland, winner for Europe for the sixth year in a row, with Travel Weekly’s Bruce Shulman. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Chris Allison and Glen Davis of Tourism Australia, which repeated its win in the Asia/Pacific category. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Hotel Chain
Marriott International won in the Domestic category for the 16th year in a row and repeated its 2018 wins for Overall Hotel Group, Sales & Service and Hawaii/South Pacific. For the ninth consecutive year, Marriott subsidiary Ritz-Carlton was the readers' pick in the Luxury category.
Cynthia Perry and Alexis Romer of Marriott International, which won in the Domestic category for the 16th year in a row, flank Travel Weekly’s Bruce Shulman. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Hilton Worldwide took the honors for Asia and Europe, while Hilton's Hampton Inn brand continued its reign in the Midpriced category with its 12th win in a row.
Sandals extended its winning streak in the Caribbean and All-Inclusive categories, with its 17th and 14th victories, respectively, and Karisma Hotels & Resorts repeated its 2018 win in the Boutique category.
Karlene Angus-Smith and Susan Granger of Sandals, repeat winner in the Caribbean and All-Inclusive categories. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Marilyn Cairo of Karisma Hotels & Resorts, a repeat winner in the Boutique category, with Weissmann. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Hyatt/Playa Resorts emerged victorious for Mexico, while Westin Hotels & Resorts got the nod in the Upscale category.
Howard Tanenbaum and Andrea Wright of Playa Hotels and Resorts, which won for Mexico, with Shulman. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Insurance Provider
Allianz Global Assistance racked up its fourth consecutive victory in this category. Allianz Global Assistance provides travel insurance to nearly 45 million customers annually.
Ashley MacLaughlin and Richard Aquino of Allianz Global Assistance, which racked up its fourth consecutive victory in the Insurance Provider category. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Rail Vacation
Rocky Mountaineer emerged victorious for the 11th consecutive time in this category. The company offers vacation packages on rail routes throughout British Columbia, Alberta and the Canadian Rockies.
Travel Weekly’s Arnie Weissmann, center, is flanked by Jonathan Hope, Doug Johnson, Inna Germanotta and Josh Mahon of Rocky Mountaineer, which notched its 11th consecutive win in the Rail Vacation category. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Resort Worldwide
The St. Regis Bora Bora scored its 11th win in this category. The 44-acre private-island resort features the largest overwater and beach bungalow villas in the South Pacific.
Theme Park
Walt Disney World continued its reign in this category, scoring its 17th consecutive victory.
James Boniface, Maryellen Kline and Will Farnsworth of Disney Destinations. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Tour Operator
Trafalgar Tours continued its winning streak in the International category and added a victory for Asia/Pacific. The Domestic Escorted category this year was awarded to Tauck. Gogo Vacations once again claimed the Group Packaged category and added a win in the Adventure category, while Travel Impressions got the nod for Domestic Packaged.
Whitney Ramirez and Melissa da Silva of Trafalgar, which won in the International and Asia/Pacific categories. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Kim Klein of Tauck, winner in the Domestic Escorted category. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Jackie Friedman of Nexion with John Van Den Heuvel and Brennan Quesnele of Gogo Vacations, which once again claimed the Group Packaged category and added a win in the Adventure category. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
In the Packaged Sales & Service category, it was Funjet Vacations' year, and Funjet also racked up a win in the Caribbean category. For Packaged Overall, Delta Vacations repeated its 2018 win.
Roberta Diaz of Apple Vacations, Donna Mulligan of Funjet Vacations, Jim Tedesco of Apple Leisure Group Vacations and Heather Hendrix of Travel Impressions. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Globus took home three Readers Choice Awards, with repeat wins in the Escorted Sales & Service, Europe and Escorted Overall categories.
Paula Hayes and Jennifer Halboth of Globus, which enjoyed repeat wins for Escorted Sales & Service, Europe and Escorted Overall. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Collette, meanwhile, got the nod for Canada, Apple Vacations won in the Mexico category and Pleasant Holidays scored its 15th victory in the Hawaii category.
Travel Weekly’s Arnie Weissmann, holding award, is flanked by Christian Leibl-Cote, Jaclyn Leibl-Cote, Courtney Iannuccilli, Dan Sullivan Jr. and Jeff Roy of Collette, which won in the Canada category. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Chanda Vudmaska and Jack Richards of Pleasant Holidays, winner in the Hawaii category for the 15th time. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Abercrombie & Kent scored its 15th win in the Luxury category and also took the prize for Africa.
Javier Echecopar, Marett Taylor and Shawn Johnson of Abercrombie & Kent, which scored its 15th win in the Luxury category and also took the Africa prize, with Weissmann. Photo Credit: Andrei Jackamets
Travel Advisor Educational Program
Carnival Cruise Line's newly launched Loyalty Rocks: Learn and Earn program was readers' pick this year. Advisors can reach Gold, Platinum and Diamond levels within the program and no longer have to meet a booking requirement for graduation.
Travel Advisor Loyalty Program
Readers Choice voters continued to demonstrate their loyalty to Norwegian Cruise Line's loyalty program. Agents who become Norwegian Specialists automatically qualify for a free cruise for two.
Travel Technology Provider
This year's Readers Choice Awards dropped GDS in favor of this category, which was won by VAX/Trisept.
Correction: Allianz Global Assistance provides travel insurance to
nearly 45 million customers annually. An incorrect number appeared in an earlier version of this article.