Luxury Travel Reader Awards

01-Jan-07

The 25 winners of our inaugural awards - as voted by our readers - were announced at a special luncheon presentation on 12 January at Haymarket Publishing's London HQ.

TRAVEL COMPANIES
Winner: Best ocean cruise company
Silversea Cruises
Percentage of votes in category: 35% (11 nominees)

Winner: Best river cruise company
Orient-Express Hotels Trains & Cruises
Percentage of votes in category: 51% (12 nominees)

Winner: Best rail journey
Rocky Mountaineer
Percentage of votes in category: 45% (9 nominees)

AIRLINES
Winner: Best scheduled airline
British Airways
Percentage of votes in category: 29% (12 nominees)

Winner: Best private charter
NetJets
Percentage of votes in category: 20% (12 nominees)

Winner: Best first class service
Emirates
Percentage of votes in category: 32% (10 nominees)

Winner: Best business class service
Virgin Atlantic Airways
Percentage of votes in category: 28% (10 nominees)

DESTINATIONS
Winner: Best city break destination
Barcelona
Percentage of votes in category: 12% (18 nominees)

Winner: Best beach break destination
Antigua
Percentage of votes in category: 22% (24 nominees)

Winner: Best exotic destination
The Seychelles
Percentage of votes in category: 11% (26 nominees)

Winner: Best island destination
Maldives
Percentage of votes in category: 17% (23 nominees)

Winner: Best cultural destination
Italy
Percentage of votes in category: 10% (32 nominees)

HOTELS & RESORTS
Winner: Best eco-friendly resort
Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, Maldives
Percentage of votes in category: 17% (21 nominees)

Winner: Best ski lodge/chalet
Four Seasons Resort Whistler, Canada
Percentage of votes in category: 26% (9 nominees)

Winner: Best villa
Pangkor Laut, Malaysia
Percentage of votes in category: 10% (9 nominees)

Winner: Best golf resort
Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland
Percentage of votes in category: 13% (24 nominees)

Winner: Best spa resort
Chiva-Som, Hua Hin Thailand
Percentage of votes in category: 14% (27 nominees)

Winner: Best activity resort
Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
Percentage of votes in category: 17% (22 nominees)

Winner: Best honeymoon resort
Fregate Island, Seychelles
Percentage of votes in category: 11% (27 nominees)

Winner: Best new hotel
St Regis Bora Bora
Percentage of votes in category: 17% (26 nominees)

Winner: Best independent hotel
Hotel Tresanton, UK
Percentage of votes in category: 13% (24 nominees)

Winner: Best hotel chain
Rocco Forte Hotels
Percentage of votes in category: 15% (19 nominees)

Winner: Best exclusive hire property
Ballinacurra House, Ireland
Percentage of votes in category: 46% (11 nominees)

Winner: Best room in the house
Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris, France: Presidential Suite
Percentage of votes in category: 15% (25 nominees)

Winner: Best table
Gordon Ramsay, Royal Hospital Road, London
Percentage of votes in category: 12% (26 nominees)

THE GOLD AWARD - Orient-Express Hotels Trains & Cruises

The first Gold Award was presented at the luncheon by Luxury Travel's publishing director Paul Twite to David Hester, director, sales and marketing, Orient-Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises.

The company beat more than 470 travel suppliers in 25 categories to clinch the title. It received more than 50% of the votes in the Best River Cruise Company category, 35% in the Best Rail Journey Category and 10% of all votes cast.

"We are delighted to have won this prestigious award. We value enormously the support of luxury trade partners," said Hester.

There were 1,709 original nominations for 479 suppliers across the award's 25 categories and more than 1,800 votes for the winners; 366 buyers took part in the voting.