The 2021 Business Traveller Awards were announced on Thursday, November 25, 2021 by the publishers of Business Traveller magazine, Panacea Media.

The awards celebrate the achievements of airlines, airports, hotels, rail operators and car rental companies and are voted for by readers of the magazine between June and September, with the results produced by an independent research company.

Criteria

For this year’s awards, voters were asked to reflect on the last 24 months the travel industry has passed through, which have been some of the most challenging in the industry’s history. Voters were encouraged to consider a wide range of factors, including communications, level of (perceived) safety, loyalty programs, rebooking, refund, and cancellation policies, etc.

The awards honour travel providers in 53 different categories, including the top three vote-getters in each, representing both winners and finalists. The categories include the best in class in global travel, the best airlines and business hotel chains by regions, as well as the best airports, meetings destinations, car rental, ridesharing, leisure experiences, services and products.

Airline Winners

British Airways collected six 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, which will soon feature a door on some aircrafts), Best Travel App, and Best Credit Card Or Payment Card For Travel (for the British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card).

Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways both won four awards each. Singapore Airlines was named Best Airline, as well as winning in the Best First Class, Best Cabin Staff and Best Asian Airline categories. Qatar Airways took Best Long-Haul Carrier, Best Business Class, Best Middle Eastern Airline and Best Inflight Food and Beverage. We reviewed Qatar Airways’ new Q Suites innovation on a long haul flight from London, England to Durban, South Africa in January 2021 and found the service and amenities to be exceptional.

Oneworld, which now includes 14 member airlines, was named Best Airline Alliance. Emirates was named Best Economy Class and Best In-Flight Entertainment, Virgin Atlantic won Best Premium Economy Class, and Easyjet picked up 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.

Hotel Winners

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 was the Best Business Hotel Brand in the Middle East, Marriott Hotels nabbed the Best Business Hotel Brand in North America, and Taj Hotels was awarded the Best Business Hotel Brand in India.

The Best Business Hotel in the UK was the Intercontinental London Park Lane, while other winners included Ascott The Residence, Langham Hotels and Resorts, Premier Inn, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and Sofitel London Heathrow, one of my favourite places to stay in London.

For more information on the Business Traveller Awards, a complete list of this year’s winners, and details of past winners, visit businesstravellerawards.co.uk.