Industry colleagues gathered at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London’s Park Lane last night to celebrate those recognised at the 2019 Business Travel Awards.
The exclusive ceremony began with a champagne reception followed by a three-course gala dinner and entertainment. This year’s event was hosted by comedian Al Murray and featured an opening dance routine by the Sophie Adams Ballet Company.
Sponsors for the event include Addison Lee Group, Air Astana, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Amadeus, Barclaycard, CMAC Group, Corporate Travel Management, Easyjet, FCM Travel Solutions, Flybe, Groundscope, Lufthansa Group, Melia Hotels International, Oakwood Worldwide, The Apartment Service, Travel Leaders Group UK, Travelodge and Travelport.
Easyjet took home two awards for Best Short-Haul Airline and Best Business Airline, while newcomer Airportr walked away with the Best New Travel Technology Product trophy. Meanwhile, Best Specialist Business Travel Service went to International SOS – Event Support and Blacklane won Best Ground Transportation Company.
This year’s Rising Star award went to Didzis Neimanis, head concierge at Amba Hotel Charing Cross, while Kerrie Henshaw-Cox, global commercial lead at AstraZeneca, took home the title of Travel Buyer of the Year. Willis Towers Watson and American Express Global Business Travel won Travel Team of the Year.
Other winners include Travelodge, BCD Travel, Avis, Virgin Trains and Barclaycard, among others.
The Business Travel Awards feature 22 categories, and this year saw a record number of entries. The annual ceremony is the must-attend event for the business travel calendar, with 1,200 guests at this year’s dinner.
Here is the full list of winners:
Best Budget Hotel Brand
Travelodge Hotels
Best Midscale Hotel Brand
Novotel
Highly Commended: Premier Inn
Best Upscale Hotel Brand
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Best Serviced Apartment Provider
BridgeStreet Worldwide
Best Corporate Social Responsibility Programme
BCD Travel
Best Ground Transportation Company
Blacklane
Best Car Rental Company
Avis
Best Corporate Payment Provider
Barclaycard Commercial Payments
Best Rail Operator
Virgin Trains
Highly Commended: Great Western Railway
Best Short-Haul Airline
Easyjet
Best Long-Haul Airline
Delta Air Lines
Business Airline of the Year
Easyjet
Best Specialist Business Travel Service
International SOS – Event Support
Best New Travel Technology Product
AirPortr
Highly Commended: TRIPBAM Hotel Intelligence
Best Sales Account Management Team
FCM Travel Solutions
Best Travel Management Company (Less than £50 million UK annual sales)
Access Bookings Limited
Best Travel Management Company (£50-£200 million UK annual sales)
Wings Travel Management
Best Travel Management Company (More than £200 million UK annual sales)
Corporate Travel Management Europe
Best Self-Booking Tool
Click Travel and travel.cloud
Rising Star of the Year
Didzis Neimanis, head concierge, Amba Hotel Charing Cross
Highly Commended: Rob Cope, finance services manager, Corporate Travel Management Europe
Travel Buyer of the Year
Kerrie Henshaw-Cox, global commercial lead, AstraZeneca
Travel Team of the Year
Willis Towers Watson Travel Team and American Express Global Business Travel Team