FEBRUARY 12, 2009 (Los Angeles) — TravelAge West, the leading travel industry trade publication in the western United States, has announced its Editor’s Picks as part of the magazine’s 2009 WAVE Awards.
Now in its fourth year, the goal of TravelAge West’s WAVE (Western Agents’ Voice of Excellence) Awards is to give travel agents in the western U.S. the opportunity to recognize the outstanding qualities and services of their travel-supplier partners.
The Editor’s Picks were chosen by Editor-in-Chief Ken Shapiro and the entire 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.
“Because we put our stamp of approval on these Editor’s Picks, my staff and I spend a lot of time researching and debating the choices,” said Shapiro. “As a result, I think all of the Editor’s Picks winners should be very proud of this acknowledgement.”
In addition to this distinction, Editor’s Pick honorees are also in the running for a WAVE Award, to be determined by a TravelAge West readers’ choice poll conducted during the month of April. The voting is open to readers of the publication, as well as to all visitors to the magazine’s Web site, TravelAgeWest.com.
Editor’s Pick recipients will be celebrated at the WAVE Awards gala dinner on June 4 at the Four Seasons Los Angeles in Beverly Hills, Calif., where the readers’ choice winners will be announced as well. TravelAge West will produce a special WAVE Awards Spotlight Issue due out in August 2009, highlighting each nominated company.
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TravelAge West is the leading trade magazine for travel agents and the travel industry in the 14 western states. Serving its 26,000 readers for 40 years, the biweekly magazine is a main source of news and product information for the region’s agents and travel executives. TravelAge West is a part of Northstar Travel Media LLC, a worldwide provider of information, news and data for the travel and hospitality industry. In addition to TravelAge West, Northstar’s portfolio of directories, periodicals and destination information services includes Travel Weekly, Family Getaways, Hotel and Travel Index Worldwide, BTP24, Official Meeting Facilities Guide, Intelliguide Corporate, STAR Service Online, Weissmann Reports, Meetings and Conventions, T&E and Travel Professional. Northstar Travel Media is based in Secaucus, N.J.
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2009 EDITOR’S PICKS
CRUISE
Best Overall Onboard Dining Experience on a Specific Ship
1. Crystal Serenity, Crystal Cruises
2. Insignia, Oceania Cruises
3. Seven Seas Voyager, Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Best Overall Spa Facility on a Specific Ship
1. Queen Victoria, Cunard Line
2. Costa Concordia, Costa Cruises
3. Freedom of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International
Best Onboard Children’s Program
1. Carnival Cruise Lines
2. Disney Cruise Line
3. Norwegian Cruise Line
4. Royal Caribbean International
Best Overall Cruise Line for River Cruising
1. Avalon Waterways
2. Peter Deilmann Cruises
3. Uniworld Grand River Cruises
4. Viking River Cruises
Best New Ship (Ocean-going) Oct. 2007-Oct. 2008
1. Carnival Splendor, Carnival Cruise Lines
2. Queen Victoria, Cunard Line
3. Eurodam, Holland America Line
4. Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Cruise Line
Best New Ship (River Cruise) Oct. 2007-Oct. 2008
1. Amadante, AMAWATERWAYS
2. Avalon Scenery, Avalon Waterways
3. Swiss Sapphire, Tauck World Discovery
Cruise Line With the Highest Client Satisfaction (More than 1,100 passengers)
1. Celebrity Cruises
2. Holland America Line
3. Princess Cruises
4. Royal Caribbean International
Cruise Line With the Highest Client Satisfaction (Less than 1,100 passengers)
1. Crystal Cruises
2. Oceania Cruises
3. Regent Seven Seas Cruises
4. Silversea Cruises
Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Agent Support
1. Carnival Cruise Lines
2. Holland America Line
3. Princess Cruises
4. Royal Caribbean International
River Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Agent Support
1. AMAWATERWAYS
2. Peter Deilmann Cruises
3. Uniworld Grand River Cruises
4. Viking River Cruises
Best Incentive Program by a Cruise Line
1. Carnival Cruise Lines
2. Holland America Line
3. Princess Cruises
4. Royal Caribbean International
HOTELS
Best Family-Friendly Resort — Mexico
1. Barcelo La Jolla de Mismaloya (Puerto Vallarta)
2. Club Med Ixtapa Pacific (Ixtapa)
3. Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa (Cancun)
4. Paradisus Riviera Cancun (Riviera Maya)
Best Family-Friendly Resort — Hawaii
1. Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa
2. Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa
3. Hilton Waikoloa Village
4. Sheraton Waikiki
Best Family-Friendly Resort — Caribbean
1. Atlantis (Bahamas)
2. Beaches Turks & Caicos (Turks & Caicos)
3. Club Med Punta Cana (Dominican Republic
4. Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort (formerly Sheraton Cable Beach) (Nassau)
Best Full-Service Resort Spa — Mexico
1. Royal Hideaway Spa at Royal Hideaway Playacar (Riviera Maya)
2. Tatewari Spa at Villa La Estancia (Nuevo Vallarta)
3. The Spa at Esperanza, An Auberge Resort (Cabo San Lucas)
4. The Spa at Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort (Los Cabos)
Best New Property or Major Renovation, Mexico (Oct. 2007-Oct. 2008)
1. Aqua Cancun (Cancun)
2. Hotel Riu Palace Pacifico (Puerto Vallarta)
3. Mandarin Oriental Rivera Maya (Riviera Maya)
4. Rosewood Mayakoba (Riviera Maya)
Best New Property or Major Renovation, Hawaii (Oct. 2007-Oct. 2008)
1. The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua (Maui)
2. Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa (Oahu)
3. Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa (Maui)
Best New Property or Major Renovation, Caribbean (Oct. 2007-Oct. 2008)
1. Iberostar Rose Hall Suites (Jamaica)
2. La Concha, a Renaissance Resort (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
3. Hotel Riu Montego Bay (Jamaica)
Hotel/Resort Chain Providing the Best Travel Agent Support
1. Hilton Hotels
2. Marriott International
3. Sandals
4. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
Best Agent Incentive Program by a Hotel Company
1. Aston Hotels & Resorts
2. Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
3. Marriott International
4. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
TOUR OPERATORS
Best Overall Tour Operator
1. Classic Vacations
2. GOGO Worldwide Vacations
3. Globus Family of Brands
4. Pleasant Holidays
5. Tauck World Discovery
Best Tour Operator, Africa
1. Abercrombie & Kent
2. African Travel Inc.
3. Micato Safaris
Best Tour Operator, Middle East
1. General Tours World Traveler
2. Isramworld
3. Ya’lla Tours
Best Tour Operator, Hawaii
1. All About Hawaii
2. Apple Vacations
3. Classic Vacations
4. Pleasant Holidays
Best Tour Operator, Mexico
1. Apple Vacations
2. Classic Vacations
3. Pleasant Holidays
4. Travel Impressions
Best Tour Operator, Asia
1. Pacific Delight Tours
2. Ritz Tours
3. SITA World Tours
Best Tour Operator, Europe
1. Brendan
2. Globus Family of Brands
3. Tauck World Discovery
4. Trafalgar Tours
Best Tour Operator, Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific
1. All About Tours
2. Australian Pacific Touring (APT)
3. Goway
4. Qantas Vacations
Most Knowledgeable Reservations Staff
1. Classic Vacations
2. GOGO Worldwide Vacations
3. Happy Vacations
4. Travel Impressions
Tour Operator Providing the Best Travel Agent Support
1. Classic Vacations
2. Globus Family of Brands
3. Pleasant Holidays
4. Trafalgar Tours
AIRLINES
Best Airline, Domestic
1. Alaska Airlines
2. Continental Airlines
3. Southwest Airlines
4. Virgin America
Best Airline, International
1. British Airways
2. Lufthansa
3. Singapore Airlines
4. Qantas
CAR RENTAL
Car Rental Company Providing the Best Travel Agency Support
1. Budget Rent A Car
2. Enterprise Rent-A-Car
3. Hertz
DESTINATIONS
Favorite Three-Night Weekend Destination to Sell
1. Disneyland Resort
2. Las Vegas
3. San Diego
4. San Francisco
Best Destination for a Beach Vacation, Mexico
1. Cancun
2. Los Cabos
3. Puerto Vallarta
4. Riviera Maya
Best Destination for a Beach Vacation, Caribbean
1. Aruba
2. Dominican Republic
3. Jamaica
4. United States Virgin Islands
Best Asian Country for a Cultural Travel Experience
1. China
2. India
3. Japan
4. Thailand
Best European Country for a Family Vacation
1. England
2. Germany
3. Ireland
4. Italy
Best European Country for Vacation Value
1. Croatia
2. Czech Republic
3. Spain
4. Turkey
BEST OF THE WEST
Best Luxury Resort in the West
1. Auberge du Soleil (Napa, CA)
2. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (Big Island, HI)
3. Montage (Laguna Beach, CA)
4. The Phoenician (Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ)
