GT Tested Reader Survey awards names the top in the travel industry for the 22nd year
The results are in! For the 22nd consecutive year,Global Traveler conducted its GT Tested Reader Survey, asking frequent luxury travelers to name the best in a variety of travel-related categories. More than 20,000 people responded. Global Traveler's inaugural awards were celebrated in 2004.
The survey honors airlines, hotels, loyalty programs and travel-related products in more than 80 categories. GT's distinguished readers vote for their favorites in the world of travel in an open-ended survey running in the magazine and online. The 2025 survey ran Dec. 12, 2024-Aug. 31, 2025. The results of the survey are announced in the December 2025 issue, available now.
“What an honor it is to present the 22nd GT Tested Reader Survey awards – we celebrate the winners' excellence and the recognition earned from discerning world travelers. Congratulations to the winning brands in the travel industry,” said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Global Traveler. “Our readers are the heart of this yearly survey; they know the best and they seek out the ultimate in luxury when they travel. The winners' list is a reflection of their knowledge and expertise.”
This year's winners will be feted at a reception Dec. 17, at Loews Coral Gables. The event will also honor the 2025 winners of the Wines on the Wing airline survey, previously announced in August 2025. For more information, check out the December 2025 issue of Global Traveler or visit globaltravelerusa.com.
A complete list of winners is as follows:
Best Overall Airline in the World Best Aircraft TypeEmirates Boeing 787Best Airline Alliance Best Airline Websiteoneworld delta.com16th Consecutive Year Second Consecutive YearBest Airline for International First Class Best Overall Frequent-Flyer ProgramEtihad Airways United MileagePlus® 22nd Consecutive YearBest Airline for Business Class Best Frequent-Flyer Elite-LevelTurkish Airlines ProgramNinth Consecutive Year United Airlines,MileagePlus® – Premier 1K Fourth Consecutive YearBest Airline for Domestic First Class Best Frequent-Flyer Bonus PromotionDelta Air Lines UnitedMileagePlus®Second Consecutive Year 13th Consecutive YearBest Airline Lounges Best Frequent-Flyer AwardDelta Sky Club® RedemptionThird Consecutive Year DeltaSkyMiles®Best Airline for Onboard Service Best Frequent-Flyer Customer ServiceAsiana Airlines Air CanadaAeroplan Second Consecutive YearBest Airline for Flight Attendants Best Airline in North AmericaAsiana Airlines Delta Air Lines22nd Consecutive YearBest Airline Cuisine Best Airline to South & CentralTurkish Airlines AmericaSecond Consecutive Year aviancaBest Flight Attendant Uniforms Best Airline in MexicoCondor Airlines Aeromexico 16th Consecutive YearBest Airline for Business-Class Seat Best Airline in the South PacificDesign Air Tahiti NuiSwiss International Air Lines Eighth Consecutive YearBest Airline for First-Class Seat Best Airline in EuropeDesign TAP Air PortugalCathay Pacific Airways 15th Consecutive YearBest Corporate Program for Business Best Airline in Eastern EuropeTravelers Air SerbiaDelta Business Traveler Second Consecutive YearBest Airline Cabin Cleanliness Best Airport in AsiaAir Canada Incheon International Airport Ninth Consecutive YearBest Airline in Africa Best Airport in EuropeRoyal AirMaroc iGA Istanbul AirportThird Consecutive Year Fourth Consecutive YearBest Airline in the Middle East Best Airport in the Middle EastEtihad Airways Hamad International Airport, DohaSecond Consecutive Year Ninth Consecutive YearBest Airline in North Asia (Excluding China) Best Airport in South AmericaCathay Pacific Airways El Dorado International Airport,Bogotá Eighth Consecutive YearBest Airline in Central/South Asia & India Best Airport in AfricaAir India O. R.Tambo International Airport,12th Consecutive Year Johannesburg, South Africa Fourth Consecutive YearBest Airline in China Best Airport Staff/Gate AgentsAir China Turkish AirlinesSecond Consecutive Year Ninth Consecutive YearBest Airline in Australia and New Zealand Best Airport DiningQantas ChicagoO'Hare International Airport Second Consecutive YearBest Airline to Japan Best Airport ShoppingAllNippon Airways iGA Istanbul Airport Fourth Consecutive YearBest Trans-Atlantic Airline Fastest-Growing U.S. AirportBritish Airways Sarasota-Bradenton International AirportSecond Consecutive YearBest Trans-Pacific Airline Best Duty-Free Shopping in the WorldCathay Pacific Airways Dubai Duty FreeThird Consecutive Year 19th Consecutive YearBest Overall Airport in the World Best Individual Hotel in the WorldHamad International Airport, Doha Address Downtown,DubaiSecond Consecutive YearBest Airport in North America Best Hotel in South KoreaChicagoO'Hare International Airport LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL22nd Consecutive YearBest International Hotel Chain Best Hotel in JapanInterContinental Hotels & Resorts Conrad TokyoThird Consecutive YearBest Domestic Hotel Chain Best Hotel in SingaporeThe Ritz-Carlton The Fullerton Hotel SingaporeBest Lifestyle Hotel Best Hotel Chain in AsiaAndaz TheLangham Hotels & ResortsSecond Consecutive YearBest MICE Hotel Best Hotel in EuropeLOTTE HOTEL SEOUL Hotel VierJahreszeiten Kempinski MunichBest Hotel Website Best Hotel Chain in Europehilton.com The Ritz-CarltonBest Hotel Rewards Program in the World Best Hotel Chain in Latin AmericaIHG One Rewards Fiesta AmericanaTravelty Collection21st Consecutive Year Third Consecutive YearBest Frequent-Stay Elite-Level Program Best Hotel Chain in MexicoIHG One Rewards – Diamond Elite Fiesta AmericanaTravelty CollectionThird Consecutive Year 15th Consecutive YearBest Frequent-Stay Bonus Promotion Best Hotel Chain in the Middle EastHilton Honors Jumeirah InternationalThird Consecutive YearBest Frequent-Stay Award Best Hotel in the Middle EastRedemption Jumeirah at Etihad Towers HotelMarriottBonvoySixth Consecutive YearBest Frequent-Stay Customer Service Best Rental Car CompanyIHG One Rewards HertzSecond Consecutive Year Fifth Consecutive YearBest Hotel in the United States Best Tourism DestinationThe Peninsula Beverly Hills Greece15th Consecutive Year Fifth Consecutive YearBest Hotel in Asia Best MICE CityMandarin Oriental, Hong Kong Seoul 11th Consecutive YearBest WiFi Service Best Frequent-Stay Affinity CreditStarlink Card IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card fromChase Third Consecutive YearBest Luggage Brand Best Frequent-Stay Affinity CreditBriggs & Riley Card PromotionsThird Consecutive Year IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase Third Consecutive YearBest Hotel App Best Frequent-Stay Affinity CreditMarriottBonvoy Card BenefitsThird Consecutive Year IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card from ChaseBest Airline App Best Frequent-Stay Affinity CreditDelta Air Lines Card RedemptionsThird Consecutive Year Capital One Venture Rewards Credit CardBest Small- to Mid-Sized Business Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity CreditProgram CardIHG® Business Edge Atmos™ Rewards Ascent VisaSeventh Consecutive Year Signature®, formerly known as Alaska Airlines® Visa Signature® Card from Bank of America 14th consecutive yearBest Offshore Business Location Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity CreditIreland Card Promotions DeltaSkyMiles® American Express CardsBest Travel Insurance Company Best Frequent-Flyer Affinity CreditUnitedHealthcare Global Card BenefitsSecond Consecutive Year Atmos™ Rewards Ascent Visa Signature®, formerly known as Alaska Airlines® Visa Signature® Card from Bank of America Seventh Consecutive YearBest Rail Service/Provider Best Cruise Line Affinity Credit CardAlaska Railroad Royal Caribbean® Visa Signature®Third Consecutive Year Credit Card from Bank of America Third Consecutive YearBest Overall Credit Card Special Publisher's Award: Fastest-UnitedClubSM Card from Chase Developing MICE CitySixth Consecutive Year Gyeonggi Province Second Consecutive YearBest Small-Business Credit CardInk Business Preferred® Card fromChaseSecond Consecutive YearBest Credit Card Rewards ProgramCapital One Venture RewardsBest Credit Card DesignCapital One Venture XBest Frequent-Flyer Affinity CreditCard RedemptionsAtmos™ Rewards Ascent VisaSignature®, formerly known as AlaskaAirlines® Visa Signature® Card from Bank of America
About the SurveyGlobal Traveler conducted an open-ended survey of its readers to determine the best in more than 80 travel-related categories. The survey was conducted from Dec. 12, 2024-Aug. 31, 2025. Questionnaires were available in subscriber copies of the magazine, online at globaltravelerusa.com/gt-tested-awards-ballot, and through direct mail and email. Only questionnaires with more than 50 percent of the questions answered were considered. An outside accounting firm, Citrin Cooperman LLP, tabulated the results. Employees of the magazine and members of the travel industry were barred from participation.
About Global TravelerWith nearly 1.2 million readers, Global Traveler connects brands with U.S.-based frequent, affluent travelers. According to MRI Simmons, GT readers have an average net worth of $3.1 million and 50 percent are CEOs and owners of companies. Our readers average 18 domestic flights per year and 93 percent travel internationally on a regular basis (18 round-trips in the last three years), mostly in first and business class. More than 85 percent stay in 4- and 5-star hotels, at an average of 180 nights per year. Each year, Global Traveler awards the GT Tested Reader Survey awards and the Leisure Lifestyle Awards.
About globaltravelerusa.comWith more than 5.1 million page views monthly, globaltravelerusa.com offers unique daily content catering to the lifestyle and travel interests of premium travelers who fly all over the world for business and pleasure. A host of positions, including banners, sponsored content and specialty takeovers, are available. Other digital editorial e-newsletters include eFlyer, Global Traveler slideshow, GT Week in Review and Issue Preview.Custom e-newsletters, such as Publisher's Picks, GT on the Go and Premium eDeal, are available for advertisers.
About FXExpress Publications, Inc.FXExpress Publications, Inc., based in Yardley, Pa., is a privately held company publishing Global Traveler, globaltravelerusa.com, FX Excursions, eFlyer and several annuals. WhereverFamily LLC publishes whereverfamily.com and its related brands, and Trazee Travel, LLC publishes trazeetravel.com. FXExpress Publications, Inc., awards the annual Industry Leader Awards.
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