Best of the Best Honored With 2020 WAVE Awards From TravelAge West

Top travel companies, individuals and destinations were celebrated by the readers of TravelAge West as part of TravelAge West’s first-ever virtual WAVE (Western Agents’ Votes of Excellence) Awards, held Dec. 3. In addition to adapting the awards to a virtual platform, the editors of TravelAge West changed the focus of this year’s awards — putting the perseverance of the travel advisor community front and center.

"WAVE Awards usually honor the great work of travel suppliers,” said Ken Shapiro, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West. “But this year — given how difficult a time it has been — we thought it was important to center the awards around travel advisors instead by highlighting their inspiring stories of resilience and dedication. And, to their credit, travel companies were in total agreement with that decision.”

In addition to hearing from top advisors, several agents were acknowledged with special WAVE Awards.

But this year — given how difficult a time it has been — we thought it was important to center the awards around travel advisors instead by highlighting their inspiring stories of resilience and dedication. And, to their credit, travel companies were in total agreement with that decision.

Suzy Schreiner, owner of Azure Blue Vacations in Bothell, Wash., won the Trendsetter Award for Best Use of Social Media, and Meghan Hayes, a travel advisor with MEI Travel in Issaquah, Wash., was the runner-up. Both finalists received a complimentary, seven-night European river cruise on Avalon Waterways for two in an award-winning Panorama Suite. The award was sponsored by the Globus Family of Brands.

Four advisors won the first-ever Globus Family of Brands Excellence in Leadership Award, which are designed to acknowledge the extraordinary dedication of travel advisors who worked tirelessly over the course of a difficult year. The winners were Sara Butruff of Travel Leaders/Galaxy Travel in Apple Valley, Minn.; Jennifer Doncsecz of VIP Vacations in Bethlehem, Penn.; Joy Gawf-Crutchfield of The Joy of Travel in Oklahoma City; and Ines Turus of Cruises International in Schaumburg, Ill.

“We were so excited to create these special awards that are specific to travel advisors,” Shapiro said. “And Globus was a great partner for these acknowledgments.”

Supplier sponsors of the WAVE Awards included cruise lines, tour operators, airlines, car rental companies and hotels and resorts. The annual awards give travel advisors in the Western U.S. the opportunity to recognize the outstanding qualities and services of their travel supplier partners.

More than 2,500 travel professionals throughout 15 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 the editorial team at TravelAge West. Review methods included product analysis, on-site visits, a survey of a select group of travel advisors and online research.

Normally, an in-person, black-tie dinner, the WAVE Awards is an annual highlight of the year’s travel industry events. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s live event was moved to a virtual platform, but still captured the tone and celebration of the live gala.

"The WAVE Awards are always an industry highlight,’” said Anthony Carnevale, Senior Vice President and Group Publisher for Northstar Travel Group, the parent company of TravelAge West. “This year, with the help of our industry partners, we were able to bring that excitement to a wider audience online."

TravelAge West will publish a digital edition dedicated to WAVE Awards coverage on Jan. 11, 2021.

A full list of this year’s WAVE Award winners, as well as a list of Trendsetter Award and Leadership Award recipients, follows.

AIR
Best Airline, Domestic
Delta Air Lines

Best Airline, International
Emirates

Best Airline Vacation Brand
Delta Vacations

CRUISE
Cruise Line with the Highest Client Satisfaction (less than 1,300 passengers)
Viking

Cruise Line with the Highest Client Satisfaction (more than 1,300 passengers)
Celebrity Cruises

Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support (ocean-going)
Royal Caribbean International

Best New Ship (ocean-going)
Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Cruise Line

Best Onboard Dining (ocean-going/less than 1,300 passengers)
Seabourn Cruise Line

Best Onboard Dining (ocean-going/more than 1,300 passengers)
Celebrity Cruises

Best Refurbished Ship (ocean-going)
Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Cruises

Best Cruise Line for Shows and Nightlife
Royal Caribbean International

Best Multigenerational Cruise Line
Carnival Cruise Line

Best Expedition Cruise Line (ocean-going)
Silversea Expeditions

Best New Expedition Ship
Celebrity Flora, Celebrity Cruises

Best Small-Ship Line (ocean-going, less than 250 passengers)
Windstar Cruises

Best All-Inclusive Luxury Cruise Line
Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best Cruise Line for Alaska Sailings
Princess Cruises

Best Cruise Line for Caribbean Sailings
Royal Caribbean International

Best Cruise Line for Hawaii Sailings
Norwegian Cruise Line

Best World Cruise
Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best Suites, Cruise
Seabourn Cruise Line

Best New Onboard Dining Venue
Bistro Sur La Mer, Princess Cruises

Cruise Line with the Best Consumer Marketing Campaign
Carnival Cruise Line

River Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support
AmaWaterways

River Cruise Line with the Highest Client Satisfaction
AmaWaterways

Best New Ship (River Cruise)
AmaMagna, AmaWaterways

Best Onboard Dining (River Cruise)
AmaWaterways

Best River Cruise Line for U.S. Sailings
American Queen Steamboat Company

Best Suites, River Cruise
Avalon Waterways

Best River Cruise Line for Families
AmaWaterways

Best Company for Shore Excursions
ShoreTrips

RAIL
Best North American Rail Vacation Provider
Rocky Mountaineer

TOUR OPERATOR
Escorted Tour Operator Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support
Globus Family of Brands

FIT Tour Operator Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support
Pleasant Holidays

Best FIT Tour Operator, Europe  
Avanti Destinations

Best Escorted Tour Operator, Europe
Collette

Best Tour Operator, Africa
African Travel, Inc.

Best Tour Operator, Asia
G Adventures

Best Tour Operator, Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific
Goway Travel

Best Tour Operator, Caribbean
Delta Vacations 

Best Tour Operator, Central/South America
Globus Family of Brands

Best Tour Operator, Hawaii
Pleasant Holidays 

Best Tour Operator, Mexico 
GOGO Vacations

Best Tour Operator for Adventure/Experiential Travel
G Adventures

Best Tour Operator for Multigenerational Travel
Adventures by Disney

Best Luxury Tour Operator
Tauck

CAR RENTAL
Car Rental Company Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support
Enterprise

Car Rental Company Providing the Highest Client Satisfaction
Enterprise

RESORT/HOTEL
Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Mexico 
Barcelo Maya Riviera

Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Los Cabos
Hard Rock Hotel Los Cabos

Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Caribbean
Hyatt Ziva/Zilara Cap Cana

Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Hawaii
Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger, Oahu

Best Hotel Chain, Europe
Marriott International

Best Hotel Chain, Hawaii
Outrigger Hotels and Resorts

Best All-Inclusive Hotel Group, Caribbean
AMResorts

Best All-Inclusive Hotel Group, Mexico
Playa Hotels & Resorts

Best Hotel Brand, U.S.
Marriott International

Hotel/Resort Chain Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support
Marriott International

Best Hotel Brand for Families, Mexico
Dreams Resorts & Spas

Best Hotel Brand for Families, Caribbean
Beaches

Best Hotel Brand for Families, Hawaii
Outrigger Hotels and Resorts

All-Inclusive Hotel Group Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support
Playa Hotels & Resorts

DESTINATIONS
Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Asia/South Pacific
Australia

Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Caribbean
Jamaica

Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Central/South America
Costa Rica

Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Mexico
Riviera Maya

Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, U.S.
Hawaii

Favorite Three-Night Destination to Sell
Las Vegas

TRAVEL INSURANCE
Best Travel Insurance Company
Allianz Global Assistance

TOURISM BOARD
International Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support
Jamaica Tourist Board

U.S. Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support
Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau