The Trazees Awards 2018

HOW DOES A TRAVEL PROVIDER make a splash among a generation so inundated with information they can have five more bucket list-worthy destinations literally at their fingertips with one refresh of their feed? That’s the question we posed to the readers of trazeetravel.com, the sister web publication to Global Traveler, globaltravelerusa.com and whereverfamily.com. Trazee Travel is a one-stop resource for millennial travelers with news, tips, reviews and more updated daily.

We know a few things about the travel habits of this group: They prioritize travel over buying a house or paying off debt. Travel forms an important part of how they see themselves. Hidden gems, active vacations and meeting new people are some hallmarks of their trips. They look for brands that are different, open-minded and socially engaged. So just what are those companies this generation deemed buzzworthy?

We asked; our readers answered. We now present to you the findings as we announce the fourth annual The Trazees, awards presented for and by millennials. Reader nominations were collected December 2017–March 2018.

Here’s a closer look at those savvy, sophisticated and social media-friendly companies deemed tops by 18- to 35-year-olds around the globe; congratulations!

Let’s start with the airlines. Taking home the highest honors is American Airlines, nabbing the title of Favorite International Airline. In a world of everincreasing digital mobility, AA also earns raves for an important aspect of the travel process, especially for this group, claiming top spot for Favorite Airline Website. American’s airline alliance, oneworld, also keeps this age demographic happy, earning Favorite Airline Alliance status for the second consecutive year.

We’re just warming up, as a plethora of other airlines would earn a like from these travelers. We have Alaska Airlines, Favorite Airline in North America for the third consecutive year and Favorite Green Airline; Norwegian Air, Favorite Budget Airline; Aerolineas Argentinas, Favorite Airline in South America, two years running; TAP Air Portugal, Favorite Airline in Europe; four-time winner South African Airways for Favorite Airline in Africa; Qatar Airways, for a third consecutive win as Favorite Airline in the Middle East; and EVA Air, Favorite Airline in Asia.

Rounding out the airline category, trazeetravel.com readers also favored United MileagePlus, Favorite Frequent- Flyer Program, and the Airbus A380, Favorite Aircraft Type.

Next on the list of #winners is the airport favorites. We think it’s safe to say those mentioned here have an equally long list of followers. Incheon Airport appears for the first time, with top billing as Favorite Overall Airport in the World and Favorite Airport in Asia. Breaking up the globe further, three airports garner votes as the favorites in their region: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Favorite Airport in North America for the fourth consecutive year and two-time Favorite Airport Dining; Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, as both Favorite Airport in Europe and Favorite Airport Shopping; and Hamad International Airport, Favorite Airport in the Middle East. U.A.E. hub Dubai International Airport places as Favorite Duty-Free Shops and Favorite Duty-Free Shopping in the Middle East.

When it comes to stays, these hotels and hotel companies can definitely be considered influencers. Located in one of the most dynamic and Instagrammable settings, it’s no wonder Element New York Times Square West earned top honors as Favorite Individual Hotel. Element Hotels also claims its fourth consecutive win as Favorite Green Hotel.

Favorite Hotel Chain goes to Aloft Hotels, while the Favorite Boutique Hotel Chain is a title claimed by Tribute Portfolio Hotels & Resorts. Favorite Lifestyle Hotel Chain is Moxy Hotels. ME Miami wins its second consecutive nod as Favorite Individual Boutique Hotel.

Around the world, these chains are Insta-ready: Riu Hotels & Resorts, Favorite Hotel Chain in Latin America; Fiesta Americana, four-time Favorite Hotel Chain in Mexico; and Address Hotels + Resorts, Favorite Hotel Chain in the Middle East.

For the final hotel categories, andaz.hyatt.com is Favorite Hotel Website, and Radisson Rewards is Favorite Hotel Rewards Program in the World.

Take note, these are destinations you are definitely going to want to share with your followers. Ireland is named Favorite Country, while Seoul nabs the honor of Favorite Worldwide City. For the newly betrothed, Aruba reigns supreme as Favorite Honeymoon Destination.

When seeking a little something extra, consider Taiwan, Favorite Adventure Destination, or hop over to Bangkok, Thailand, Favorite Nightlife Destination. Chow down in Asheville, N.C., Favorite Foodie City.

If it’s a warm welcome you seek, Atlanta lands at the No. 1 spot for Friendliest City, for the second consecutive year. Find yourself at the event of the year at Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Favorite Event Around the Globe.

To wrap up this year’s feed of winners, check out these trending topics: Sixt was voted Favorite Rental Car Company, while Samsonite rules as Favorite Luggage Brand and United MileagePlus Explorer Card from Chase is Favorite Credit Card. Make sure you follow Norwegian Cruise Line, Favorite Cruise Line, and Lyft, Favorite Ride Share.

With the secret out about this year’s The Trazees winners, the chart-topping brands may just go viral. As we favorite all these companies, we also raise a glass and cheer congratulations to our 2018 winners!

WINNERS’ CIRCLE

FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE

1. American Airlines

2. United Airlines

3. Asiana Airlines

4. Delta Air Lines

5. Qatar Airways

FAVORITE AIRLINE ALLIANCE

1. oneworld

2. Star Alliance

3. SkyTeam

FAVORITE AIRCRAFT TYPE

1. Airbus A380

2. Airbus A350

3. Boeing 777

4. Boeing 787

5. Airbus A330

FAVORITE AIRLINE WEBSITE

1. aa.com

2. united.com

3. delta.com

4. jetblue.com

5. southwest.com

FAVORITE FREQUENT-FLYER PROGRAM

1. United MileagePlus

2. American Airlines AAdvantage

3. Delta SkyMiles

4. Alaska Mileage Plan

5. JetBlue TrueBlue

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN NORTH AMERICA

1. Alaska Airlines

2. Delta Air Lines

3. United Airlines

4. American Airlines

5. JetBlue

FAVORITE BUDGET AIRLINE

1. Norwegian

2. WOW air

3. JetBlue

4. Southwest Airlines

5. Frontier

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN SOUTH AMERICA

1. Aerolineas Argentinas

2. LATAM Airlines

3. Avianca

4. Aeromexico

5. Copa Airlines

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN EUROPE

1. TAP Air Portugal

2. Brussels Airlines

3. Austrian Airlines

4. Turkish Airlines

5. British Airways

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN AFRICA

1. South African Airways

2. Ethiopian Airlines

3. Air Seychelles

4. Kenya Airways

5. Air Namibia

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

1. Qatar Airways

2. Emirates

3. Royal Air Maroc

4. Saudi Arabian Airlines

5. EL AL Israel Airlines

FAVORITE AIRLINE IN ASIA

1. EVA Air

2. Asiana Airlines

3. China Airlines

4. Korean Air

5. Hong Kong Airlines

FAVORITE GREEN AIRLINE

1. Alaska Airlines

2. Lufthansa

3. TAP Air Portugal

4. American Airlines

5. Delta Air Lines

FAVORITE OVERALL AIRPORT IN THE WORLD

1. Incheon Airport

2. Munich Airport

3. Singapore Changi Airport

4. Hamad International Airport, Doha

5. San Francisco International Airport

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

2. Chicago O’Hare International Airport

3. Denver International Airport

4. San Francisco International Airport

5. George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Houston FAVORITE AIRPORT IN ASIA

1. Incheon Airport

2. Singapore Changi Airport

3. Tokyo Haneda International Airport

4. Taipei Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan

5. Osaka Kansai International Airport

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN EUROPE

1. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

2. Munich Airport

3. Vienna International Airport

4. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport

5. Rome Fiumicino Airport

FAVORITE AIRPORT IN THE MIDDLE EAST

1. Hamad International Airport, Doha

2. Dubai International Airport

3. Abu Dhabi International Airport

4. Bahrain International Airport

5. Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Medina

FAVORITE AIRPORT DINING

1. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

2. Singapore Changi Airport

3. Hamad International Airport, Doha

4. Chicago O’Hare International Airport

5. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

FAVORITE AIRPORT SHOPPING

1. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

2. Denver International Airport

3. Dubai International Airport

4. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

5. Hamad International Airport, Doha

FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPS

1. Dubai Duty Free

2. Hamad International Airport, Doha

3. Incheon Airport

4. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

5. Hong Kong International Airport

FAVORITE DUTY-FREE SHOPPING IN THE MIDDLE EAST

1. Dubai Duty Free

2. Hamad International Airport, Doha

3. Abu Dhabi International Airport

4. Bahrain Duty Free

5. Amman Queen Alia International Airport, Jordan

FAVORITE INDIVIDUAL HOTEL

1. Element New York Times Square West

2. Hotel Zaza, Dallas

3. Moxy New Orleans

4. COQ, Paris

5. Aloft Brooklyn

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN

1. Aloft Hotels & Resorts

2. Kimpton Hotels

3. Canopy by Hilton

4. Hyatt Place

5. EVEN Hotels

FAVORITE INDIVIDUAL BOUTIQUE HOTEL

1. ME Miami

2. Moxy London Excel

3. INNSIDE New York NoMad

4. Kimpton Carlyle Hotel Dupont Circle

5. The Logan, Philadelphia

FAVORITE BOUTIQUE HOTEL CHAIN

1. Tribute Portfolio Hotels & Resorts

2. Canopy by Hilton

3. Curio by Hilton

4. Kimpton Hotels

5. EVEN Hotels

FAVORITE LIFESTYLE HOTEL CHAIN

1. Moxy

2. W Hotels

3. Indigo Hotels

4. Tribute Portfolio Hotels & Resorts

5. Canopy by Hilton

FAVORITE HOTEL WEBSITE

1. andaz.hyatt.com

2. intercontinental.com

3. marriott.com

4. westin.com

5. hilton.com

FAVORITE HOTEL REWARDS PROGRAM IN THE WORLD

1. Radisson Rewards

2. IHG Rewards Club

3. Hilton Honors

4. Starwood Preferred Guest

5. Marriott Rewards

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN LATIN AMERICA

1. Riu Hotels & Resorts

2. Westin Hotels & Resorts

3. Sheraton Latin America

4. Sol Meliá

5. Barcelo Hotels & Resorts

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN MEXICO

1. Fiesta Americana

2. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

3. Sheraton Hotels & Resorts

4. Westin Hotels & Resorts

5. W Hotels

FAVORITE HOTEL CHAIN IN THE MIDDLE EAST

1. Address Hotels + Resorts

2. The Ritz-Carlton

3. Marriott International

4. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

5. Jumeirah International

FAVORITE GREEN HOTEL

1. Element Hotels

2. Sofitel Hotels & Resorts

3. Hilton Hotels

4. Marriott International

5. Starwood Hotels & Resorts

FAVORITE COUNTRY

1. Ireland

2. Mexico

3. Spain

4. South Africa

5. United Kingdom

FAVORITE WORLDWIDE CITY

1. Seoul

2. Bangkok

3. Singapore

4. Dublin

5. Hong Kong

FAVORITE HONEYMOON DESTINATION

1. Aruba

2. Greece

3. Napa Valley, Calif.

4. Turks & Caicos

5. St. Lucia

FAVORITE ADVENTURE DESTINATION

1. Taiwan

2. India

3. Thailand

4. New Zealand

5. Austria

FAVORITE EVENT AROUND THE GLOBE

1. Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Albuquerque, N.M.

2. Rio de Janeiro Carnival

3. Oktoberfest

4. Full Moon Parties

5. South by Southwest

FAVORITE NIGHTLIFE DESTINATION

1. Bangkok

2. Nashville, Tenn.

3. Barcelona

4. London

5. Las Vegas

FAVORITE FOODIE CITY

1. Asheville, N.C.

2. Chicago

3. Rome

4. Paris

5. New York City

FRIENDLIEST CITY

1. Atlanta

2. Copenhagen

3. Chicago

4. Nashville, Tenn.

5. Denver, Colo.

FAVORITE CAR RENTAL COMPANY

1. Sixt

2. Hertz

3. National Car Rental

4. Avis

5. Enterprise

FAVORITE LUGGAGE BRAND

1. Samsonite

2. Swiss Army

3. Tumi

4. Delsey

5. TravelPro

FAVORITE CREDIT CARD

1. United MileagePlus Explorer Card by Chase

2. American Express Green

3. American Express Gold Delta SkyMiles

4. Venture Card from Capital One

5. Chase Ink

FAVORITE CRUISE LINE

1. Norwegian Cruise Line

2. Royal Caribbean International

3. Carnival Cruises

4. U by Uniworld

5. Princess Cruises

FAVORITE RIDE SHARE

1. Lyft

2. Juno

3. Uber

4. Curb

5. Via