The galaxy of tourism suppliers is unquantifiable. The industry includes more than 15 interrelated businesses, from independent hotels to sprawling resorts to chains that link the continents; from tour operators and travel agents who serve every interest, lifestyle and demographic to airlines, cruise lines, car rental firms and theme parks. Marketing them are tourism promotion boards in cities, countries and regions throughout the world.
From this travel industry universe, Travel Weekly readers voted to select just 12 resorts and 103 suppliers as finalists in this year's Readers' Choice Awards competition.
For the fourth consecutive year, our readership of agents, industry marketing executives and CEOs of the world's largest travel companies visited TravelWeekly.com to write in their choices of nominees for the best in travel in 51 categories.
Unlike many other readers' surveys of its type, this survey is open-ended. It represents not the opinions of a select sample of readers whose choices are culled from a select list of candidates but, rather, the picks of the industry, illuminated by our readers and tabulated by Northstar Travel Media.
Now anticipation is building as the voting has ended and tabulation of the results of the final round of voting has begun.
The best of the best -- the 2006 Readers' Choice Awards winners -- will be announced at a Night of Celebration gala dinner at the Pierre Hotel in New York on Dec. 14. The winners will be featured in the Jan. 15 issue of Travel Weekly.
Proceeds from the event will support the efforts of three charitable organizations, the Make a Mark Foundation, Tourism Cares and the Terry Lee Scholarship Fund.
Top Resorts Worldwide
Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Casa de Campo, La Romana, Dominican Republic
Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Kaupulehu, Kona, Hawaii
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Kiawah Island, S.C.
Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Los Cabos, Mexico
Montage Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach, Calif.
Princeville Resort, Princeville, Hawaii
Sandy Lane, St. James, Barbados
St. Regis Resort, Bora Bora, French Polynesia
The Inn at Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach, Calif.
The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation, Lake Oconee, Ga.
Best In Hotel Chains
All-Inclusive
AMResorts
Palace Resorts
Riu Hotels & Resorts
Sandals Resorts
SuperClubs
Economy Scale
Best Western International Hotels
Choice Hotels
Fairfield Inn
Hampton Inn
Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts
Mid-Scale
Hilton Hotels
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Marriott International
Radisson Hotels & Resorts
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Upscale
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Ritz-Carlton
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Luxury
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Hilton Hotels
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Ritz-Carlton
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Sales & Service
Hilton Hotels
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Marriott International
Ritz-Carlton
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
" " "
Hotel Chains
(By location)
Asia
Hilton Hotels
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Peninsula Hotels
Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Caribbean
AMResorts
Marriott International
Riu Hotels & Resorts
Sandals Resorts
SuperClubs
Domestic
Hilton Hotels
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Marriott International
Ritz-Carlton
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Europe
Best Western International Hotels
Hilton Hotels
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Ritz-Carlton
Sofitel Hotels & Resorts
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Mexico
AMResorts
Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts
Palace Resorts
Riu Hotels & Resorts
Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts
South Pacific
Hilton Hotels
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Marriott International
Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Best In Destinations
Asia/Pacific
Australia, China, Japan, Singapore, Thailand
Canada
Banff, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver
Caribbean
Aruba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, St. Lucia, U.S. Virgin Islands
Central/South America
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru
Europe
England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy
Hawaii
Big Island, Kauai, Kona, Maui, Oahu
Mexico
Los Cabos, Cancun, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Maya
U.S.
California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, New York, Pennsylvania
" " "
Best In Cities
Asia/Pacific
Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo
Europe
Florence, London, Paris, Rome, Venice
U.S.
Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, San Francisco
Best In Theme Parks
Busch Gardens
Disney World
Disneyland
Six Flags
Universal Studios
Best In Cruise Lines
Alaska
Carnival Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises
Holland America Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Caribbean
Carnival Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Domestic
Carnival Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Europe
Celebrity Cruises
Costa Cruise Lines
Crystal Cruises
Holland America Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Luxury
Celebrity Cruises
Crystal Cruises
Regent Seven Seas
Seabourn Cruise Line
Silversea Cruises
Overall
Carnival Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Sales & Service
Carnival Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises
Holland America Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
" " "
Best In Cruise Ships
Overall
Constellation (Celebrity)
Freedom of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Mariner of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
Millennium (Celebrity)
Queen Mary 2 (Cunard)
Rookie
Crown Princess (Princess)
Freedom of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
MSC Musica (MSC)
Nautica (Oceania)
Pride of Hawaii (NCL)
Luxury
Constellation (Celebrity)
Crystal Serenity (Crystal)
Paul Gauguin (Regent)
Queen Mary 2 (Cunard)
Silver Cloud (Silverseas)
" " "
Best In River Cruises
Overall
Avalon Waterways
Delta Queen Steamboat Co.
Peter Deilmann Cruises
Uniworld River Cruises
Viking River Cruises
Best In Airlines
Domestic
American Airlines
Continental Airlines
Delta Air Lines
JetBlue Airways
Southwest Airlines
International
American Airlines
British Airways
Lufthansa
Singapore Airlines
Virgin Atlantic
Best In Car Rentals
Domestic
Alamo
Avis
Budget
Enterprise
Hertz
International
Alamo
Auto Europe
Avis
Budget
Hertz
Best In Tour Operators
Domestic
Apple Vacations
Funjet Vacations
Globus
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Tauck World Discovery
Travel Impressions
International
Apple Vacations
General Tours
Globus
Tauck World Discovery
Travel Bound
Travel Impressions
Luxury
Abercrombie & Kent
Big Five Tours & Expeditions
Brennan Vacations
Tauck World Discovery
Travel Impressions
Asia/Pacific
General Tours
Globus
Pacific Delight
Pleasant Holidays
Travel Impressions
Africa
Abercrombie & Kent
Big Five Tours & Expeditions
Globus
Micato Safaris
Tauck World Discovery
Canada
Brennan Vacations
Brewster Tours
Collette Vacations
Globus
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Tauck World Discovery
Caribbean
Apple Vacations
Classic Vacations
Funjet Vacations
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Travel Impressions
Europe
Globus
Tauck World Discovery
Trafalgar
Travel Bound
Travel Impressions
Hawaii
Apple Vacations
Blue Sky Tours
Classic Vacations
Pleasant Holidays
Travel Impressions
Mexico
Apple Vacations
Classic Vacations
Funjet Vacations
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Pleasant Holidays
Travel Impressions
Sales & Service
Apple Vacations
Globus
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Tauck World Discovery
Travel Impressions