34 globaltravelerusa.com MARCH 2019
OVERLOOKING THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES atop The Peninsula Beverly
Hills, Global Traveler lauded its milestone 15th annual GT Tested Reader Survey
awards. It was truly a night to remember as we celebrated those travel compa-
nies consistently going above and beyond, as voted by our readers. In addition to
honoring those winners, we also feted the Airline and Hotel of the Year; winners
of our 2018 Wines on the Wing airline wine competition; the Quint Status
winners; and, for the first time, the Crystal Status winners, those companies that
won the same GT Tested Reader Survey award for the 15th consecutive year.
The Peninsula Beverly Hills proved the perfect host venue for the eighth year
in a row. As always, its staff, cuisine and views stunned. A number of sponsorsjoined in the festivities, including JP Morgan Chase, celebrating wins for its co-
branded United MileagePlus cards with a Dom Perignon raffle; and Ontario Inter-
national Airport, which awarded one lucky winner round-trip tickets to Taiwan.
Terry Waite, a humanitarian and truly compelling speaker, joined us once again
as our guest of honor. Waite kicked off our celebrations as the guest of honor at our
first event 15 years ago, and again when we commemorated our 10th. As an official
of the Church of England, Waite was taken hostage on his third trip to Lebanon in
1987 and released 1,763 days later. Today he remains a consummate traveler and
peacekeeper, and we thank him for sharing his time with us again.
Be part of the action as we recap the night’s festivities on the following pages.Fifteen and Fabulous
Global Traveler celebrates the 2018 GT Tested Reader Survey award winners.
BY KIMBERLY KROL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHER OTTAUNICK AND NICOLAS BATESfeature