TravelAgeWest 2011 Wave Awards

20-Jun-2011

2011 WAVE Awards

 More than 4,100 votes from travel agents were cast this year

More ArticlesBest of the Best Honored With 2010 WAVE Awards From TravelAge West
Western Agents Vote of Excellence
2010 WAVE Awards
A total of 126 companies, individuals and destinations were celebrated by the readers of TravelAge West as part of the TravelAge West WAVE (Western Agents’ Votes of Excellence) Awards held June 2 in Beverly Hills, Calif., at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. Honorees were recognized in 47 categories that spanned the cruise, tour operator, airline, hotel and resort, car rental and destination travel fields. The annual awards gave travel agents in the Western U.S. the opportunity to recognize the outstanding qualities and services of their travel supplier partners.

In addition, top travel agents were honored in four categories as part of the 2011 Trendsetters Awards, also presented at the gala. Categories included: Best Use of Social Media, Upward Bound, RockStar Agent under 40, Best Group Booking Sales Effort and Industry Activist: Notable Achievements in Support of Travel Agents.

More than 4,100 travel agent professionals throughout the 14 Western states and readers of TravelAge West voted on the best-of-the-best from a list of Editor’s Pick award recipients that were chosen after careful review by TravelAge West Editor-in-Chief Kenneth Shapiro and the editorial team of TravelAge West. Review methods included product analysis, on-site visits, a survey of a select group of travel agents and online research.

“The editorial staff undertook hours of research and looked at a wide range of factors in making our picks,” said Shapiro. “The companies acknowledged with our Editor’s Pick designation provide travelers with truly exceptional experiences.”

At the black-tie event, guests dined on a four-course meal while being treated to a multimedia presentation of the award recipients.

“The WAVE Awards are a celebration of excellence in travel products, services and destinations,” said Michelle Rosenberg, publisher of TravelAge West. “This year’s WAVE winners have consistently demonstrated excellence within the travel marketplace.”

A list of this year’s WAVE Award winners, as well as a list of Trendsetter Award Recipients, follows

Editors PicksThe 2011 TravelAge West WAVE Award winners are:

AIR

Best Airline, Domestic
American Airlines

Continental Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Hawaiian Airlines
JetBlue

Best Airline, International
Singapore Airlines

British Airways
Cathay Pacific Airways
Lufthansa
Virgin Atlantic

CAR

Car Rental Company Providing the Best Travel Agent Support
Hertz

Alamo Rent A Car
Avis Rent A Car
Budget Rent A Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car

TOUR OPERATORS

Best Tour Operator, Escorted
Globus Family of Brands

Collette Vacations
Insight Vacations
Tauck
Trafalgar Tours

Best Tour Operator, FIT

Travel Impressions




Apple Vacations
Classic Vacations
GOGO Vacations
Pleasant Holidays

Best Tour Operator, Africa

Abercrombie & Kent

African Travel, Inc.
Big Five Tours & Expeditions
Micato Safaris

Best Tour Operator, Asia

 Pacific Delight Tours

General Tours World Traveler
Ritz Tours
Sita World Tours

Best Tour Operator, Middle East

Abercrombie & Kent

General Tours World Traveler
IsramWorld
Ya’lla Tours

Best Tour Operator, Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific

Brendan Vacations

Pleasant Holidays
Qantas Vacations
Swain Tours

Best Tour Operator, Hawaii

Pleasant Holidays

All About Hawaii
Blue Sky Tours
Classic Vacations
GOGO Vacations

Best Tour Operator, Mexico

Apple Vacations



Classic Vacations
GOGO Vacations
Pleasant Holidays
Travel Impressions

Best Tour Operator, USA/Canada

Collette Vacations

Globus Family of Brands
Tauck
Travel Bound
Travel Impressions

Best Tour Operator, Europe

Trafalgar Tours

Brendan Vacations
Globus Family of Brands
Insight Vacations
Tauck

Best Tour Operator, Central/South America

Avanti Destinations

Globus Family of Brands
Brendan Vacations
Latour

Most Knowledgeable Tour Operator Reservations Staff

Classic Vacations

Globus Family of Brands
Insight Vacations
Tauck
Trafalgar Tours

Tour Operator Providing the Best Travel Agent Support

Globus Family of Brands

Classic Vacations
Pleasant Holidays
Tauck
Trafalgar Tours

CRUISE

Best New Ship (Ocean-Going)
Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International

Celebrity Eclipse, Celebrity Cruises
Nieuw Amersterdam, Holland America Line
Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Cruise Line
Queen Elizabeth, Cunard Line

Best New Ship (River Cruise)
Avalon Luminary, Avalon Waterways

Amabella, AMAWATERWAYS
River Tosca, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Best Cruise Line for Expedition Cruising
Lindblad Expeditions

American Safari Cruises
Orion Expedition Cruises
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Voyages to Antiquity

Best Cruise Line for Group Travel
Royal Caribbean International

Carnival Cruise Lines
Holland America Line
Princess Cruises

Best Health and Wellness Program on a Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises

Cunard Line
Holland America Line
Royal Caribbean International
Yachts of Seabourn

Best Onboard Dining Venue
Restaurant 2 (Seabourn Sojourn)

150 Central Park (Oasis of the Seas, RCI)
Murano (Celebrity Eclipse)
Silk Road (Crystal Serenity)

Cruise Line Providing the Highest Client Satisfaction (Big Ship)
Disney Cruise Line

Celebrity Cruises
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International

Cruise Line Providing the Highest Client Satisfaction (Small Ship)
Crystal Cruises

Oceania Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Silversea Cruises

Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Agent Support
Royal Caribbean International

Celebrity Cruises
Holland America Line
Princess Cruises

Best Overall Cruise Line for River Cruising
Viking River Cruises

AMAWATERWAYS
Avalon Waterways
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

River Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Agent Support
Viking River Cruises

AMAWATERWAYS
Avalon Waterways
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Best Cabin Features & Amenities on a River Cruise Line
AMAWATERWAYS

Avalon Waterways
Scenic Tours
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Viking River Cruises

HOTELS/RESORTS

Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Caribbean
Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma (Bahamas)

Viceroy Anguilla (British West Indies)
Zoetry Agua Punta Cana (Dominican Republic)

Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Hawaii
St. Regis Princeville Resort (Kauai)

Kauai Marriott Resort (Kauai)
King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel (Big Island)
Sheraton Waikiki (Oahu)
Trump International Hotel & Tower Waikiki Beach Walk (Oahu)

Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Mexico
Zoetry Casa del Mar Los Cabos (Los Cabos)





Banyan Tree Cabo Marques (Acapulco)
The Fairmont Acapulco Princess (Acapulco)

Best Resort for Families, Hawaii
Hilton Waikoloa Village (Big Island)

Aston Kaanapali Shores (Maui)
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa (Kauai)
Grand Wailea (Maui)
Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa (Oahu)

Best All-Inclusive Resort, Mexico
Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun (Riviera Cancun)



Azul Sensatori Hotel, by Karisma (Cancun)
Grand Velas Riviera Maya (Riviera Maya)
Royal Hideaway Playacar (Riviera Maya)
Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya (Riviera Maya)

Best All-Inclusive Resort, Caribbean
Sandals Grande St. Lucian (St. Lucia)

Beaches Turks & Caicos (Turks & Caicos)
Club Med Punta Cana (Dominican Republic)
Dreams Punta Cana (Dominican Republic)

Best Resort for a Hawaiian Cultural Experience
Kaanapali Beach Hotel (Maui)

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Kaupulehu (Big Island)
Kona Village Resort (Big Island)
Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows (Big Island)
Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach (Oahu)

Hotel/Resort Chain Providing the Best Travel Agent Support
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Hyatt Hotels and Resorts
Marriott International

DESTINATIONS

Best Destination for Beach Vacation
Hawaii

Jamaica
Mexico
Tahiti

Destination With the Highest Client Satisfaction, Asia
China

India
Japan
Singapore
Thailand

Destination With the Highest Client Satisfaction, Europe
Ireland

France
Great Britain
Italy
Spain

Best of the West: Favorite Destination for a Family Vacation
Hawaii

Alaska
Disneyland Resort
San Diego


Best Destination for a Honeymoon/Romance Vacation
Tahiti

Hawaii
Italy
Jamaica
Mexico

Favorite Three-Night Destination to Sell
Disneyland Resort

Las Vegas
Los Cabos
San Francisco