Presented by Panacea Media, the publishers of Business Traveller magazine, this year’s ceremony featured over 200 industry leaders and was hosted by the multi-talented Hugh Dennis, a comedian, presenter, actor, impressionist, writer, and patron of the Coram Shakespeare Schools Foundation, which was the beneficiary of this year’s awards.

For more than three decades, the Business Traveller Awards have been a fixture on the calendars of those in the business travel and hospitality sectors. Year after year, these awards recognize and honour those who consistently set the bar higher, ensuring that the travel industry reaches new heights of comfort, convenience, and luxury. This year’s ceremony was no exception, as the winners truly exemplified excellence in their respective categories.

Airline Winners

The competition among airlines was intense, with some of the world’s most renowned carriers vying for recognition. Singapore Airlines emerged as the shining star, walking away with an impressive five awards. Their commitment to excellence was evident as they secured the titles of Best Airline, Best First Class, Best Economy Class, Best Cabin Staff, and Best Asian Airline. Singapore Airlines is clearly dedicated to providing a world-class travel experience across all classes of service, and it’s wonderful to see that recognized.

Qatar Airways, known for its luxurious offerings, claimed an impressive four awards. They were celebrated as the Best Long-Haul Airline, Best Business Class provider, Best Middle Eastern Airline, and Best Inflight Food & Beverage provider.

British Airways also shone, claiming victory in the categories of Best Short-Haul Carrier, Best Frequent Flyer Programme, Best Travel App, and Best Airport Lounge for their Concorde Room at Heathrow T5.

A notable addition to this year’s awards was the introduction of a new category, recognizing the Best Independent Lounge. The American Express Centurion Lounge at London Heathrow T3 emerged victorious in this category, surpassing strong competitors like the No1 Lounge at London Heathrow T3, the Plaza Premium Lounge at London Heathrow T5, and the 1903 Lounge at Manchester Airport T2.

Hotel Winners

In the realm of hospitality, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts earned the prestigious title of Best Business Hotel Brand Worldwide, while Hilton, synonymous with exceptional hospitality, secured victories in both the UK and Europe categories. Hilton also received recognition for having the Best Hotel Loyalty Scheme, underlining their dedication to guest satisfaction and loyalty.

The 2023 Business Traveller Awards were a true celebration of excellence in the travel and hospitality industries. As Tamsin Cocks, editor of Business Traveller, remarked, “It’s always exciting to find out who our readers have chosen as their favoured travel providers – they are the true experts and road warriors after all.”

The awards are voted for by the magazine’s readers and authenticated by an independent auditing company.

For a comprehensive list of the 2023 Business Traveller Awards winners, see below:

Airlines

Best Airline

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

Best Short-Haul Carrier

1. British Airways
2. Aegean
3. Turkish Airlines
4. SWISS

Best Long-Haul Airline

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

Best Frequent Flyer Programme

1. British Airways Executive Club
2. Aegean Miles + Bonus
3. Singapore Airlines, KrisFlyer
4. United Airlines, MileagePlus

Best First Class

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

Best Business Class

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

Best Premium Economy Class

1. Virgin Atlantic
2. Emirates
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Cathay Pacific

Best Economy Class

1. Singapore Airlines
2. Emirates
3. Virgin Atlantic
4. Cathay Pacific

Best North American Airline

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

Best Cabin Staff

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

Best Airline Alliance

1. oneworld
2. Star Alliance
3. SkyTeam

Best Low-Cost Airline

1. easyJet
2. Air Asia
3. Indigo
4. Jet2

Best Asian Airline

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

Best Middle Eastern Airline

1. Qatar Airways
2. Emirates
3. Etihad Airways
4. Oman Air

Best African Airline

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

Best Independent Lounge

1. American Express Centurion Lounge, London Heathrow T3
2. No1 Lounge, London Heathrow T3
3. Plaza Premium Lounge, London Heathrow T5
4. 1903 Lounge , Manchester Airport T2

Best Airport Lounge

1. British Airways Concorde Room, London Heathrow T5
2. Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, London Heathrow T3
3. Qatar Airways, Al Mourjan Business Class Lounge, Doha
4. Qantas, International First Lounge, Sydney Airport T1

Best Inflight Food & Beverage

1. Qatar Airways
2. Emirates
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Turkish Airlines

Best IFE

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

Accommodation/Hotels

Best Business Hotel Brand Worldwide

1. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
2. Shangri-La
3. Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
4. Hilton Hotels & Resorts
5. Mandarin Oriental

Best Business Hotel Brand in the UK

1. Hilton Hotels & Resorts
2. Hotel du Vin
3. Premier Inn
4. Crowne Plaza

Best Business Hotel Brand in Europe

1. Hilton Hotels & Resorts
2. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
3. Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
4. Radisson Blu

Best Business Hotel Brand in North America

1. Marriott Hotels
2. Hilton Hotels & Resorts
3. Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
4. JW Marriott

Best Business Hotel Brand in Middle East

1. Rotana Hotels & Resorts
2. Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts
3. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
4. Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Best Business Hotel Brand in Asia Pacific

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

Best Budget Hotel Brand

1. Premier Inn
2. Holiday Inn Express
3. ibis
4. Travelodge

Best Luxury Hotel Brand

1. The Peninsula Hotels
2. Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts
3. Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
4. Mandarin Oriental

Best Hotel Loyalty Scheme

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

Best Serviced Apartment Company

1. Ascott
2. Staybridge Suites
3. Fraser Suites
4. Adagio

Best Independent Hotel Brand

1. citizenM
2. Red Carnation Hotels
3. Maybourne Hotel Group
4. Belmond

Best Airport Hotel

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

Airports

Best Airport in the World

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

Best Airport for Shopping

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

Best Airport in Europe

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

Best Airport in North America

1. JFK International Airport, New York
2. Los Angeles International Airport
3. San Francisco International Airport
4. Chicago O’Hare International Airport

Best Airport in Asia-Pacific

1. Singapore Changi Airport
2. Hong Kong International Airport
3. Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok
4. Tokyo Haneda

Best Airport in the Middle East

1. Hamad International Airport, Doha
2. Dubai International Airport
3. Abu Dhabi International Airport
4. Muscat International Airport