Global Traveler magazine, which caters to frequent international business travelers, published the results of its 2023 annual readers’ poll last December and its 2024 Leisure Lifestyle Awards this past May. While any poll like this is subject to lots of ballot stuffing by whatever company gets the most organized, it’s still generally a good window into which companies are getting respect. If you want to vote for the next round of winners, go here and fill out a ballot.
Top Airlines for Latin America
On the airline front, even business class travelers have no love for the Big 3 in the USA. Their branded credit cards rate highly and sometimes the lounges rate okay, but the airlines themselves always pale in comparison to their international competitors.
Winning “Best Airline to South and Central America” three years running was LATAM Airlines Group, formed by the merger of LAN and TAM in 2015, followed by Aerolineas Argentinos, Copa, and Avianca.
Winning “Best Airline in Mexico” for the 14th consecutive year was Aeromexico. In all fairness though, they’re the only full-service airline in that country. More impressive was their showing in the Leisure Lifestyle awards, where they pulled off a surprise #2 showing behind South Pacific carrier Air Tahiti Nui.
“Best Airline in North America” went once again to Air Canada and they won for “Best Premium Economy Class,” for what that’s worth. Out of the five airlines cited in the leisure awards for “Best Airline Onboard Menu,” only one airline in the Americas broke the top-5: United Polaris Class.
“Best Airport in South America” went to El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá, for the sixth year in a row, and Chicago O’Hare won that title for North America.
Top Hotels for Latin America
The IHG Hotel Group either has a lot of fans or some folks working very hard to get to them. They scored a double on hotels, winning “Best Domestic Hotel Chain” and “Best International Hotel Chain.” They also scored with “Best Hotel Website.” Marriott was next up in a few categories.
Hyatt’s Andaz brand was #2 for “Best Lifestyle Hotel.” Their one in Costa Rica now has a sister one in the Mayakoba development in the Riviera Maya of Mexico. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants under IHG was named #3 for Lifestyle Hotels and followed the announcement by opening a new Kimpton in Mexico City that we’ll be reviewing soon and one on Roatan Island in Honduras that we hope to check out at some point.
Apparently this magazine’s readers have divided loyalties, however, or travel to different regions where different chains are stronger.
“Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World” and “Best Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program” went to the IHG Rewards Club from Intercontinental Hotels for their Diamond Elite. (In my personal opinion, they’re the one that gives you the most for your points and makes it easiest to redeem.)
Hilton Honors won “Best Frequent-Stay Bonus Program” and Bonvoy Marriott was awarded “Best Frequent-Stay Award Redemption” and “Best Frequent-Stay Customer Service.”
Hilton and Kimpton were tops in the eco-friendly chain category in the Leisure Lifestyle awards and based on what I’ve seen, I’d agree. I’ve been in four different Hilton brands now that have had filtered water refilling stations in convenient areas instead of handing out throwaway plastic bottles like a parent with a candy bowl on Halloween.
What Bag Are You Carrying?
There are plenty of luggage companies out there to choose from, but frequent international business travelers often end up gravitating to the same brand. Briggs & Riley won again for “Best Luggage.” There are two factors that contribute to this: the bags are really hard to destroy and they are part of a very small and elite group offering money-back guarantees for life if the luggage fails.
Finally, in a show of just how popular of a destination that travel to Mexico has become, the country won number 4 Best Tourism Destination in the World.
Which are the Best Cruise Lines for Luxury Travelers?
Again, keep in mind that there’s plenty of ballot-stuffing going on in any “readers’ choice” awards and the bigger the company, the easier it is to win (as opposed to smaller operations like Scenic Cruises or Quasar), but here are the top cruise companies in GT’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards:
1. Seabourn Cruise Line
2. Silversea Cruises
3. Cunard Line
4. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
5. Crystal Cruises
Scenic did show up at #5 for the best small ship cruise lines though, with Windstar in the top spot. Azamara won for best dining, Ponant for best expedition cruises.
Destinations and Tour Companies
In the Leisure Lifestyle Awards, the Galapagos Islands came in at #4 for “Best Adventure Destination, International.” For the best leisure destinations in Latin America outside of Mexico, here’s who came out on top:
1. Panama City, Panama
2. Bogota, Colombia
3. Buenos Aires, Argentina
4. Montevideo, Uruguay
5. Mendoza, Argentina
In “Best Leisure Destinations for Groups,” Los Cabos and Costa Rica both made the top-5 internationally.
In the Leisure Lifestyle awards, Abercrombie & Kent got the nod for best worldwide tour operator, Hertz won for best rental car company, and two United-affiliated Chase credit cards snagged the top two spots for airline loyalty cards. Overall though, for Best Hotel Affinity Credit Card for Leisure, the winner was the IHG One Rewards Premier Card. Sign up here and get enough points for multiple nights after the minimum spend, plus Platinum status for upgrades.
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