In the midst of uncertainty surrounding 2009, we take this time to celebrate the finalists in our sixth annual Travel Weekly Readers' Choice Awards survey.
From a mix of 15 interrelated businesses, Travel Weekly's readership of agents, industry marketing executives and CEOs of the world's largest travel companies chose this year's nominees for the best in travel in 56 categories.
The finalists are the hotel chains that unfurled their flags in cities around the world; travel agents, tour operators and cruise lines that created itineraries for new and remote places; airlines and car rental companies that continually strive to lead the world in innovation, efficiency and customer service; and the made-in-America theme parks, the CVBs and the tourism boards that consistently promote a people's culture far beyond their borders.
Unlike many other readers' surveys of its type, 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. 14, and the results are being tabulated by Northstar Travel Media.
The victors will be announced at the Sixth Annual Readers' Choice Awards gala at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York on Dec. 11 and featured in the Jan. 19 issue of Travel Weekly and on TravelWeekly.com.
TOP RESORTS WORLDWIDE
Atlantis, Paradise Island
Cap Juluca, Anguilla
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, the Big Island
Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa, Maui
Hayman Island Resort, Queensland, Australia
St. Regis Bora Bora
BEST IN HOTEL CHAINS
All-Inclusive
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts
Karisma Hotels & Resorts
Palace Resorts
Riu Hotels & Resorts
Sandals Resorts
Secrets
Luxury
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
Upscale
Hyatt Hotels and Resorts
Marriott International
Westin Hotels & Resorts
Hilton Worldwide
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Wyndham Hotels
Midprice
Best Western International
Comfort Inn
Hampton Inn
Holiday Inn
Ramada
Boutique
Hotel Indigo
Karisma Hotels & Resorts
Kimpton Hotels
Relais & Chateaux
W Hotels Worldwide
Limited ServiceBest Western
Comfort Inn & Suites
Courtyard by Marriott
Hampton Inn
Holiday Inn Express
Sales & Service
Hilton Worldwide
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
InterContinental Hotels Group
Marriott International
Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide
HOTEL CHAINS BY LOCATION
Asia
Hilton Worldwide
InterContinental Hotels Group
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Marriott International
The Peninsula Hotels
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Caribbean
Hilton Worldwide
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts
Riu Hotels & Resorts
Sandals Resorts
Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts
Domestic
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Hilton Worldwide
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
Marriott International
Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide
Europe
Accor
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Hilton Worldwide
InterContinental Hotels Group
Marriott International
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide
Mexico
Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts
Iberostar Hotels & Resorts
Palace Resorts
Riu Hotels & Resorts
Secrets
Sol Melia Hotels & Resorts
South Pacific
Accor
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Hilton Worldwide
InterContinental Hotels Group
Starwood Hotels and Resorts
BEST CASINO HOTEL
Bellagio Las Vegas
Caesars Palace Las Vegas
Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
The Venetian Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas
BEST SPA HOTEL OR RESORT
Canyon Ranch
Fairmont Scottsdale
The Greenbrier
La Costa Resort and Spa
Miraval
The Phoenician
BEST IN DESTINATIONS
Asia/Pacific Countries
Australia, China, Japan, Tahiti, Thailand
Asia/Pacific Cities
Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney
Canada
Banff, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver
CaribbeanAruba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Martin,
U.S. Virgin Islands
Central/South America
Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru
European Countries
England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain
European CitiesBarcelona, Florence, London, Paris, Rome, Venice
Hawaii
Big Island of Hawaii, Kauai, Lanai, Maui, Oahu
Mexico
Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta,
Riviera Maya
U.S. States
Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada, New York
U.S. Cities
Las Vegas, New York, Orlando, San Diego, San Francisco
BEST IN CRUISE LINES
Overall
Carnival Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises
Holland America Line
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
Domestic
Carnival Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Europe
Celebrity Cruises
Costa Cruises
Holland America Line
Norwegian Cruise Line
Princess Cruises
Royal Caribbean International
Luxury
Crystal Cruises
Cunard Line
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Silversea Cruises
Seabourn Cruise Line
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
BEST IN RIVER CRUISE LINES
Avalon Waterways
Peter Deilmann Cruises
Tauck World Discovery
Uniworld River Cruises
Viking River Cruises
BEST IN CRUISE SHIPS
Overall Individual
Constellation [Celebrity]
Freedom of the Seas [Royal Caribbean]
Liberty of the Seas [Royal Caribbean]
Norwegian Gem [NCL]
Queen Mary 2 [Cunard]
Seven Seas Voyager [Regent]
Rookie
Carnival Splendor [Carnival]
Eurodam [Holland America]
Independence of the Seas [Royal Caribbean]
Norwegian Gem [NCL]
Queen Victoria [Cunard]
Luxury
Crystal Serenity [Crystal Cruises]
Crystal Symphony [Crystal Cruises]
Queen Mary 2 [Cunard]
Seven Seas Voyager [Regent]
Silver Whisper [Silversea Cruises]
Premium
Azamara Journey [Azamara Cruises]
Azamara Quest [Azamara Cruises]
Caribbean Princess [Princess]
Constellation [Celebrity Cruises]
Eurodam [Holland America]
Oosterdam [Holland America]
BEST IN TOUR OPERATORS
Domestic
Collette Vacations
Funjet Vacations
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Globus
Travel Impressions
International
Collette Vacations
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Globus
Tauck World Discovery
Trafalgar Tours
Travel Impressions
Africa
Abercrombie & Kent
African Travel
Globus
Micato Safaris
Tauck World Discovery
Asia/Pacific
Abercrombie & Kent
Globus
Pacific Delight Tours
Pleasant Holidays
Tauck World Discovery
Canada
Collette Vacations
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Globus
Tauck World Discovery
Travel Impressions
Caribbean
Apple Vacations
Classic Vacations
Funjet Vacations
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Travel Impressions
Europe
Globus
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Insight Vacations
Tauck World Discovery
Trafalgar Tours
Travel Impressions
Hawaii
Apple Vacations
Blue Sky Tours
Classic Vacations
Gogo Worldwide Vacations
Pleasant Holidays
Travel Impressions
Mexico
Apple Vacations
Funjet Vacations
Gogo Worldwide 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 THEME PARKS
Busch Gardens
Disneyland
Six Flags
Universal Studios
Walt Disney World
BEST IN AIRLINES
Domestic
American Airlines
Continental Airlines
Delta Air Lines
JetBlue Airways
Southwest Airlines
International
American Airlines
British Airways
Continental Airlines
Lufthansa
Singapore Airlines
Virgin Atlantic
BEST IN CAR RENTALS
Domestic
Alamo Rent A Car
Avis Rent A Car
Budget Rent A Car
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Hertz
International
Alamo Rent A Car
Auto Europe
Avis Rent A Car
Europcar
Hertz
This article originally contained incorrect ship information for Holland America's Eurodam.