This past year was one for the books. The COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the travel industry, resulting in canceled trips, rescheduled events and virtual everything. In a year with so much loss and uncertainty, we choose to celebrate the positives.
This year also marks the sixth annual celebration of The Trazees. Trazee Travel, Global Traveler’s sister web publication, is the resource for travelers aged 25–40 for tips, reviews and the latest travel trends. Readers selected their favorites in the world of travel during the December 2019–September 2020 voting period.
In the world of aviation, we saw new and repeat winners. Incheon International Airport was a triple winner this year, taking home Favorite Duty-Free Shopping, Favorite Airport in Asia and Favorite Overall Airport in the World. On the domestic side, Chicago O’Hare International Airport was also a triple winner. The airport won Favorite Airport in North America, Favorite Airport Dining and Favorite Airport Shopping. United Airlines took home both Favorite International Airline and Favorite Green Airline (second consecutive year), while its MileagePlus program won Favorite Frequent-Flyer Program for the third consecutive year. Favorite Airline Alliance went to oneworld for an impressive fourth consecutive year.
Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts won Favorite Hotel Chain in Mexico, the only brand to secure the same award for all six years of The Trazees. The brand also took home the award for Favorite Hotel Chain in Central/South America. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has three reasons to celebrate. The chain won Favorite Hotel Chain (second consecutive year), Favorite Hotel Website (second consecutive year) and Favorite Hotel Rewards Program in the World (second consecutive year) for IHG Rewards Club.
For those who want to plan their trip around superlatives, visit Greece (Favorite Country); Tahiti (Favorite Honeymoon Destination); Taiwan (Favorite Adventure Destination); Asheville, North Carolina (Favorite Foodie City); and Birmingham, Alabama (Friendliest City). Or plan a tour with Favorite Tour Operator for the second consecutive year, GOWAY.
PHOTO: © DEEBROWNING | DREAMSTIME.COM
New to The Trazees this year, we asked readers to share their favorite beach towns throughout the United States. Winning spots include Nantucket, Massachusetts (Favorite Beach Town, Northeastern United States); Virginia Beach, Virginia (Favorite Beach Town, Mid- Southern United States); Kiawah Island, South Carolina (Favorite Beach Town, Southeast United States); Amelia Island, Florida (Favorite Beach Town, Florida East); Orange Beach, Alabama (Favorite Beach Town, Gulf United States); South Padre Island, Texas (Favorite Beach Town, Texas); and Laguna Beach, California (Favorite Beach Town, Southern California).
Congratulations to these and all of the winners! Without further ado, we bring our intrepid readers the full list of winners of The Trazees.
WINNERS’ CIRCLE
Favorite International Airline
1. United Airlines
2. American Airlines
3. British Airways
Favorite Airline Alliance
1. oneworld, Fourth Consecutive Year
2. Star Alliance
3. SkyTeam
Favorite Aircraft Type
1. Boeing 777
2. Boeing 787
3. Airbus A350
Favorite Airline Website
1. aa.com, Third Consecutive Year
2. united.com
3. southwest.com
Favorite Frequent-Flyer Program
1. United MileagePlus, Third Consecutive Year
2. American Airlines AAdvantage
3. Delta SkyMiles
Favorite Airline in North America
1. Air Canada, Second Consecutive Year
2. United Airlines
3. American Airlines
Favorite Low-Cost Airline
1. Southwest
2. JetBlue
3. RyanAir
Favorite Airline in Central/South America
1. Aerolineas Argentinas
2. Copa Airlines
3. Avianca
Favorite Airline in Europe
1. TAP Air Portugal, Third Consecutive Year
2. Alitalia
3. Turkish Airlines
Favorite Airline in Africa
1. Ethiopian Airlines
2. Royal Air Maroc
3. Kenya Airwasy
Favorite Airlines in the Middle East
1. Etihad Airways, Second Consecutive Year
2. Emirates
3. Qatar Airways
Favorite Airline in Asia
1. Cathay Pacific Airways
2. Asiana Airlines
3. China Airlines
Favorite Airline in Mexico
1. Aeromexico
2. Interjet
3. Volaris
Favorite Green Airline
1. United Airlines, Second Consecutive Year
2. American Airlines
3. TAP Air Portugal
Favorite Airline App
1. American Airlines
2. Alaska Airlines
3. United Airlines
Favorite Overall Airport in the World
1. Incheon International Airport
2. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
3. Singapore Changi Airport
Favorite Airport in North America
1. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
3. Pittsburgh International Airport
Favorite Airport in Asia
1. Incheon International Airport
2. Tokyo Haneda International Airport
3. Kansai International Airport, Osaka
Favorite Airport in Europe
1. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
2. Munich International Airport
3. Vienna International Airport
Favorite Airport in the Middle East
1. Abu Dhabi International Airport
2. Hamad International Airport, Doha
3. Dubai International Airport
Favorite Airport in Central/South America
1. Bogotá El Dorado International Airport, Second Consecutive Year
2. Montevideo Carrasco International Airport
3. Medellin José María Córdova International Airport
Favorite Airport Dining
1. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
3. Hamad International Airport
Favorite Airport Shopping
1. Chicago O’Hare International Airport
2. Miami International Airport
3. Incheon International Airport
Favorite Duty-Free Shopping
1. Incheon International Airport
2. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
3. Hamad International Airport
Favorite Hotel Chain
1. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Second Consecutive Year
2. Aloft
3. Canopy by Hilton
Favorite Lifestyle Hotel Chain
1. Andaz
2. Ascend
3. Autograph
Favorite Hotel Website
1. ihg.com, Second Consecutive Year
2. andaz.com
3. marriott.com
Favorite Hotel Rewards Program in the World
1. IHG Rewards Club, Second Consecutive Year
2. Marriott Bonvoy
3. Hilton Honors
Favorite Hotel Chain in Central/ South America
1. Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts
2. Westin
3. Sol Meliá
Favorite Hotel Chain in Mexico
1. Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts, Sixth Consecutive Year
2. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
3. Sheraton
Favorite Hotel Chain in the Middle East
1. Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, Second Consecutive Year
2. Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts
3. Marriott International
Favorite Hotel App
1. Hilton Hotels
2. Hyatt
3. Hotel Tonight
Favorite Country
1. Greece
2. Ireland
3. Spain
Favorite Honeymoon Destination
1. Tahiti
2. Greece
3. Cook Islands
Favorite Adventure Destination
1. Taiwan, Third Consecutive Year
2. New Zealand
3. Thailand
Favorite Foodie City
1. Asheville, North Carolina, Third Consecutive Year
2. Paris, France
3. Austin, Texas
Friendliest City
1. Birmingham, Alabama
2. Nashville, Tennessee
3. Tampa Bay, Florida
Favorite Beach Town, Northeastern United States
1. Nantucket, Massachusetts
2. Kennebunkport, Maine
3. Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Favorite Beach Town, Mid-Atlantic United States
1. Ocean City, Maryland
2. Cape May, New Jersey
3. Montauk, New York
Favorite Beach Town, Mid-Southern United States
1. Virginia Beach, Virginia
2. Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
3. Assateague Island National Seashore, Virginia
Favorite Beach Town, Southeast United States
1. Kiawah Island, South Carolina
2. Tybee Island, Georgia
3. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Favorite Beach Town, Florida East
1. Amelia Island, Florida
2. Miami Beach, Florida
3. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Favorite Beach Town, Florida West
1. Sarasota, Florida
2. Siesta Key, Florida
3. Dunedin, Florida
Favorite Beach Town, Florida Panhandle
1. Cape San Blas, St. Joseph Peninsula, Florida
2. Rosemary Beach, Florida
3. Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Favorite Beach Town, Gulf United States
1. Orange Beach, Alabama
2. Gulf Shores, Alabama
3. Gulfport, Mississippi
Favorite Beach Town, Texas
1. South Padre Island, Texas
2. North Padre Island, Texas
3. Corpus Christi, Texas
Favorite Beach Town, Southern California
1. Laguna Beach, California
2. Santa Monica, California
3. Carpinteria, California
Favorite Beach Town, Northern California
1. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
2. Half Moon Bay, California
3. Monterey, California
Favorite Beach Town, Pacific Northwest
1. Port Angeles, Washington
2. Ocean Shores, Washington
3. Cannon Beach, Oregon
Favorite Car Rental Company
1. National Car Rental
2. Hertz
3. Enterprise
Favorite Tour Operator
1. GOWAY, Second Consecutive Year
2. Abercrombie & Kent
3. Contiki
Favorite Luggage Brand
1. Travelpro
2. Swiss Army
3. Samsonite
Favorite Credit Card
1. United Explorer Card from Chase, Third Consecutive Year
2. Escape by Discover
3. American Express Green
Favorite Cruise Line
1. Paul Gauguin Cruises
2. U By Uniworld
3. Norwegian Cruise Line
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