Travel Weekly is proud to present your nominees for the 2009 Readers' Choice Awards.
The winners will be announced at the seventh annual Readers' Choice Awards Gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York on Dec. 17 and will be featured in the Jan. 18 issue as well as on TravelWeekly.com.
As the industry bids good riddance to the Great Recession of 2009 and anticipates what many predict will be, at best, a flat new year before recovery takes hold in 2011, we take a welcome break to toast the finalists in our seventh annual Readers' Choice Awards survey.
They offer proof that despite the economic climate, there was much to celebrate in travel in 2009.
From a mix of 15 interrelated businesses, our readers -- travel agents, industry marketing executives and CEOs of the world's largest travel companies -- chose this year's nominees for the best in 58 travel categories.
This year, we've added a few categories and tweaked some others. Among airlines, you're voting for the first time on the carriers with the best business- and first-class cabins, in addition to best domestic and international services.
New categories include Best GDS and Best in Rail Vacations. While the nominees in most categories comprise the usual suspects -- consistency in excellence never gets old and will always be acknowledged -- there are new contenders, such as the Riviera Nayarit, vying for best Mexican destination, and Fairfield Inn & Suites, competing for best midprice hotel chain.
Unlike many other readers' surveys, this one 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.
Subsequent voting to determine the winners ended Nov. 13, and the results are being tabulated by Travel Weekly's parent, Northstar Travel Media.
BEST IN AIRLINES
Domestic
American Airlines
Continental Airlines
Delta Air Lines
JetBlue Airways
Southwest Airlines
International
British Airways
Continental Airlines
Lufthansa
Singapore Airlines
Virgin Atlantic
Business/First Class
American Airlines
British Airways
Continental Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Virgin Atlantic
BEST IN CAR RENTAL
Domestic
Alamo Rent A Car
Avis Rent A Car
Budget Rent A Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Hertz
International
Auto Europe
Avis Rent A Car
Budget Rent A Car
Europcar
Hertz
BEST GDS
Amadeus
Apollo/Galileo
Sabre
Worldspan
BEST IN THEME PARKS
Busch Gardens
Disneyland
Six Flags
Universal Studios
Walt Disney World
BEST IN HOTEL CHAINS
Domestic
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Hilton Worldwide
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Marriott International
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
Asia
InterContinental Hotels Group
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Marriott International
The Peninsula Hotels
Raffles Hotels & Resorts
Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts
Caribbean
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts
Marriott International
Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts
Riu Hotels & Resorts
Sandals Resorts
Europe
Accor
Best Western
Hilton Worldwide
InterContinental Hotels Group
Marriott International
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
Mexico
Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts
Palace Resorts
Riu Hotels & Resorts
Secrets
Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts
Hawaii/South Pacific
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Hilton Worldwide
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Marriott International
Outrigger Hotels
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
All-Inclusive
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts
Karisma Hotels & Resorts
Palace Resorts
Riu Hotels & Resorts
Sandals Resorts
Secrets
Luxury
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
Upscale
Hilton
Hyatt
Marriott
Crowne Plaza
Westin Hotels & Resorts
Midpice
Best Western
Comfort Inn
Fairfield Inn
Hampton Inn
Holiday Inn
Boutique
Hotel Indigo
Karisma Hotels & Resorts
Kimpton Hotels
Relais & Chateaux
W Hotels Worldwide
Sales & Service
Hilton Worldwide
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
InterContinental Hotels Group
Marriott International
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
BEST LAS VEGAS HOTEL
Bellagio Las Vegas
Caesars Palace Las Vegas
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
The Mirage Las Vegas
The Venetian Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas
BEST RESORT WORLDWIDE
Atlantis
Cap Juluca
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa
One&Only Palmilla
St. Regis Bora Bora
BEST IN TOUR OPERATORS
Domestic
Collette Vacations
Funjet Vacations
Globus
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Tauck World Discovery
Travel Impressions
International
Collette Vacations
Globus
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Tauck World Discovery
Trafalgar Tours
Travel Impressions
Africa
Abercrombie & Kent
African Travel Inc.
Big Five Tours & Expeditions
Globus
Micato Safaris
Tauck World Discovery
Asia/Pacific
Abercrombie & Kent
Globus
Pacific Delight Tours
Pleasant Holidays
Tauck World Discovery
Canada
Collette Vacations
Globus
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Tauck World Discovery
Travel Impressions
Caribbean
Apple Vacations
Funjet Vacations
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Pleasant Holidays
Travel Impressions
Europe
Collette Vacations
Globus
Insight Vacations
Tauck World Discovery
Trafalgar Tours
Travel Bound
Hawaii
Apple Vacations
Blue Sky Tours
Classic Vacations
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Pleasant Holidays
Travel Impressions
Mexico
Apple Vacations
Funjet Vacations
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
MLT Vacations
Pleasant Holidays
Travel Impressions
Luxury
Abercrombie & Kent
Classic Vacations
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Tauck World Discovery
Travel Impressions
Sales & Service
Apple Vacations
Collette Vacations
Globus
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Tauck World Discovery
Travel Impressions
BEST IN RAIL VACATIONS
Amtrak
Orient-Express
Rail Europe
Rocky Mountaineer
VIA Rail Canada
BEST IN CRUISE LINES
Domestic
Carnival Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Alaska
Celebrity Cruises
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Caribbean
Carnival Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Europe
Celebrity Cruises
Costa Cruises
Holland America Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Luxury
Crystal Cruises
Cunard Line
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Silversea Cruises
The Yachts of Seabourn
Premium
Azamara Cruises
Celebrity Cruises
Holland America Line
Oceania Cruises
Princess Cruises
Sales & Service
Carnival Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Overall
Carnival Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
BEST IN CRUISE SHIPS
Rookie
Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Cruises
MSC Fantasia, MSC Cruises
Ruby Princess, Princess Cruises
Seabourn Odyssey, The Yachts of Seabourn
Premium
Azamara Journey, Azamara Cruises
Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Cruises
Eurodam, Holland America Line
Ruby Princess, Princess Cruises
Luxury
Crystal Serenity, Crystal Cruises
Crystal Symphony, Crystal Cruises
Queen Mary 2, Cunard Line
Seabourn Odyssey, The Yachts of Seabourn
Seven Seas Mariner, Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Seven Seas Voyager, Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Overall Individual
Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Cruises
Freedom of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International
Eurodam, Holland America Line
Seven Seas Mariner, Regent Seven Seas Cruises
BEST IN RIVER CRUISING
Ama Waterways
Avalon Waterways
Tauck World Discovery
Uniworld River Cruises
Viking River Cruises
BEST IN DESTINATIONS
Africa
Botswana
Egypt
Kenya
South Africa
Tanzania
Asia/Pacific Country
Australia
China
Japan
Tahiti
Thailand
Asia/Pacific City
Bangkok
Beijing
Hong Kong
Singapore
Sydney
Canada
Banff
Montreal
Quebec
Toronto
Vancouver
Caribbean
Aruba
Dominican Republic
Jamaica
St. Lucia
St. Martin
U.S. Virgin Islands
Central/South America
Argentina
Belize
Brazil
Costa Rica
Peru
European Country
England
France
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Spain
European City
Barcelona
London
Paris
Rome
Venice
Hawaii
Big Island
Kauai
Lanai
Maui
Oahu
Mexico
Cabo San Lucas
Cancun
Cozumel
Puerto Vallarta
Riviera Maya
Riviera Nayarit
U.S. State
Arizona
California
Florida
Hawaii
New York
U.S. City
Las Vegas
New Orleans
New York
Orlando
San Diego
San Francisco