Introduction
The Travel Age West WAVE Awards represent a prestigious accolade within the travel industry, celebrating the most outstanding travel suppliers and products. Organized by the editorial team of TravelAge West, these awards are a testament to excellence and innovation in the realm of travel.
Eligibility to Participate
Eligibility for the WAVE Awards is determined by the editorial team at TravelAge West, which conducts a thorough review process. This includes product analysis, on-site visits, a travel agent survey, and online research. The result is a carefully curated list of “Editor’s Pick” nominees, representing the best in the industry.
Categories
The WAVE Awards encompass a wide array of categories, reflecting the diverse nature of the travel industry. Categories range from service excellence to innovative product offerings, with each segment of the industry being recognized for its unique contributions.
How to Nominate Winners
Nominees for the WAVE Awards are placed on an official ballot, which is then distributed both in print and online.
The Travel Age West WAVE Awards serve as a beacon of recognition for those who strive for excellence in the travel sector. They not only honor the achievements of industry leaders but also inspire others to reach new heights in service and innovation. As the travel landscape continues to evolve, the WAVE Awards will undoubtedly remain a symbol of prestige and aspiration for years to come.
AIR-WINNERS
- Best Airline Vacation Brand-Delta Vacations
- Best Airline, Domestic-Delta Air Lines
- Best International First/Business Class-Emirates
- Best Airline, International-Air France
- Best Airline Loyalty Program-Delta Airlines
CAR RENTAL-WINNERS
- Car Rental Company Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-Enterprise
- Car Rental Company Providing the Highest Client Satisfaction-Enterprise
CRUISE-WINNERS
- 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
- Expedition Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-Silversea Cruises
- Small-Ship Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-Windstar Cruises
- Best New Ship (ocean-going)-Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International
- Best New Expedition Ship-Seabourn Venture, Seabourn Cruise Line
- Best Onboard Dining Venue-Pink Agave, Virgin Voyages
- Best Cruise Line for Shows and Nightlife-Royal Caribbean International
- Best Cruise Line for Families-Carnival Cruise Line
- Best Cruise Line for Alaska Sailings-Princess Cruises
- Best Cruise Line for Caribbean Sailings-Royal Caribbean International
- Best Cruise Line for Antarctica Sailings-Lindblad Expeditions – National Geographic
- Best Cruise Line Private Island-CocoCay, Royal Caribbean International
- Best World Cruise-Viking
- Best Cruise Line for Luxury-Regent Seven Seas Cruises
DESTINATION
- Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, USA-Hawaii
- Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Mexico-Los Cabos
- Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Caribbean-Jamaica
- Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Europe-Italy
- Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Asia-Thailand
- Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Pacific-Australia
- Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Central/South America-Costa Rica
- Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Africa-South Africa
- Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Middle East-Jordan
- Favorite Three-Night Destination to Sell-Los Cabos
RAIL-WINNERS
- Best Rail Vacation Provider-Railbookers
RESORT/HOTEL-WINNERS
- Hotel/Resort Chain Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-Marriott International
- All-Inclusive Hotel/Resort Chain Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-Sandals Resort
- Best All-Inclusive Hotel Chain, Caribbean-Sandals Resorts
- Best All-Inclusive Hotel Chain, Mexico-Playa Hotels & Resorts
- Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Mexico-Secrets Moxche Playa del Carmen
- Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Caribbean-Sandals Royal Curacao
- Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Hawaii-The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
- Best All-Inclusive Resort Brand for Romance, Mexico-Secrets Resorts & Spas
- Best All-Inclusive Resort Brand for Romance, Caribbean-Sandals Resorts
- Best Hotel Brand, USA-Marriott International
- Best Hotel Brand, Hawaii-Outrigger Hotels & Resorts
- Best Hotel Brand for Families, Hawaii-Outrigger Hotels & Resorts
- Best Hotel Brand for Families, Mexico-Dreams Resorts & Spas
- Best Hotel Brand for Families, Caribbean-Beaches Resorts
- Best Luxury Hotel Brand-Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
RIVER CRUISE-WINNERS
- River Cruise Line with the Highest Client Satisfaction-AmaWaterways
- River Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-Viking
- Best New River Cruise Ship-Avalon View, Avalon Waterways
- Best River Cruise Line for U.S. Sailings-Viking
- Best River Cruise Line for Families-AmaWaterways
- Best River Cruise Line for Luxury-AmaWaterways
TOUR OPERATOR-WINNERS
- 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-Classic Vacations
- Best Escorted Tour Operator, Europe-Globus Family of Brands
- Best Tour Operator, Africa-Abercrombie & Kent
- Best Tour Operator, Asia-Trafalgar
- Best Tour Operator, Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific-Pleasant Holidays
- Best Tour Operator, Caribbean-Funjet Vacations
- Best Tour Operator, Central/South America-Globus Family of Brands
- Best Tour Operator, Hawaii-Pleasant Holidays
Best Tour Operator, Mexico-Funjet Vacations- Best Tour Operator, USA-Collette
- Best Tour Operator for Adventure Travel-G Adventures
- Best Tour Operator for Multigenerational Travel-Adventures by Disney
- Best Luxury Tour Operator-Abercrombie & Kent
- Best Tour Company Foundation for Responsible Travel-The TreadRight Foundation, The Travel Corporation
- Best DMC, Europe-Titanium Tours
TOURISM BOARD-WINNERS
- U.S. Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau
- International Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-Jamaica Tourist Board
TRAVEL INSURANCE-WINNERS
- Travel Insurance Company Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-Allianz Partners
- Travel Insurance Company Providing the Highest Client Satisfaction-Allianz Partners
AIRLINE
- Best Airline Pandemic Response (Domestic)-Delta Air Lines
- Best Airline Pandemic Response (International)-Emirates
- Best Airline Vacation Brand-Delta Vacations
CRUISE LINE
- Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-Royal Caribbean International
- Expedition Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-Silversea Cruises
- Small-Ship Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-Windstar Cruises
- Luxury Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Most Anticipated New Ship-Mardi Gras
Carnival Cruise Line - Most Anticipated New Expedition Ship-Seabourn Venture
Seabourn Cruise Line - Most Anticipated Refurbished Ship-Norwegian Spirit/Norwegian Cruise Line
- Best Pandemic Community Response by a Cruise Line-Royal Caribbean International
- Best Travel Advisor Engagement Program by a Cruise Line-Princess Cruises
- Most Creative New Virtual Programming by a Cruise Line-Celebrity Cruises
- River Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-AmaWaterways
- Most Anticipated New River Cruise Ship-AmaLucia/ AmaWaterways
- Best River Cruise Line for U.S. Sailings-American Queen Steamboat Company
RAIL
- Best Rail Line Pandemic Response-Amtrak Vacations
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 Tour Operator for Adventure/Experiential Travel-G Adventures
- Best Tour Operator for Multigenerational Travel-Adventures by Disney
- Best Luxury Tour Operator-Abercrombie & Kent
- Best Domestic Tour Operator-Globus Family of Brands
- Best Pandemic Community Response by a Tour Operator-The Collette Foundation
- Best Travel Advisor Engagement Program by a Tour Operator-ALG Vacations
- Most Creative Virtual Programming by a Tour Operator-African Travel, Inc.
CAR RENTAL
- Car Rental Company Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-Enterprise
- Car Rental Company Providing the Highest Client Satisfaction-Enterprise
NEW RESORT
- Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Mexico-Dreams Vista Cancun Golf & Spa Resort
- Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Caribbean-Sandals South Coast Jamaica
- Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Hawaii-Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort
HOTEL
- Best All-Inclusive Hotel Group, Caribbean-Sandals Resorts
- Best All-Inclusive Hotel Group, Mexico-Playa Hotels & Resorts
- Best Hotel Brand USA-Marriott International
- Hotel/Resort Chain Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-Marriott International
- All-Inclusive Hotel Group Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-AMResorts
- Best Pandemic Community Response by a Hotel Group-Marriott International
- Best Travel Advisor Engagement Program by a Hotel Group-Playa Hotels & Resorts
- Most Creative Virtual Programming by a Hotel Group-AMResort
INSURANCE
- Travel Insurance Company Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support-Allianz Travel
- Travel Insurance Company with the Highest Client Satisfaction-Allianz Travel
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
- Best Pandemic Community Response by a Tourism Board-Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau
- Best Travel Advisor Engagement Program by a Tourism Board-Los Cabos Tourism Board
- Most Creative Virtual Programming by a Tourism Board-Switzerland Tourism
SOCIAL MEDIA
- Best Use of Social Media
Winner: Shannon Kittner/Main Street and Beyond Travel Co., LLC.
PANDEMIC
- Best Pandemic Business Pivot-Jennifer Wayland/Island Travel Group
Best Client Engagement Strategy
Winner: Cathie Lentz-Fryer &
CTA Travel