Readers Choice Awards Winners
Travel Weekly celebrates the best of the best in travel in 84 categories, all chosen and voted on by our readers, the travel advisors who sell and stand by the products.
Travel Weekly celebrates the best of the best in travel in 84 categories, all chosen and voted on by our readers, the travel advisors who sell and stand by the products.
January 15, 2024
For the 21st year, Travel Weekly’s Readers Choice Awards honored the best of the best in the travel industry. Accolades were handed out in a record 84 categories this year. In addition, four individuals were honored with Lifetime Achievement awards, and one company was given an award for sustainability within travel. It was certainly a night to celebrate.
The Readers Choice gala dinner is always an exciting affair, and for a second year in a row it was held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, where awards were presented under the giant blue whale in the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life. But the most important aspect of the Readers Choice Awards is our readers — travel advisors who sell these products every day — who are given the opportunity to write in the companies to be nominated as finalists and vote for the winners.
View the finalists – and the winners – of this year’s Readers Choice Awards
From left, Carnival Cruise Line’s Jason Douglas, Mike Julius, Christine Duffy, Ken Tate, Justin French and Janet Wygert.
From left, Carnival Cruise Line’s Jason Douglas, Mike Julius, Christine Duffy, Ken Tate, Justin French and Janet Wygert.
Celebrating Vicky Garcia’s Lifetime Achievement Award are, from left, Cruise Planners’ Brian Shultz, Theresa Scalzitti and Scott Koepf; Vicki’s niece, Chelsea Garcia; Cruise Planners’ Michelle Fee; Vicki’s brother, John Garcia; and Cruise Planners’ Michael Consoli.
Celebrating Vicky Garcia’s Lifetime Achievement Award are, from left, Cruise Planners’ Brian Shultz, Theresa Scalzitti and Scott Koepf; Vicki’s niece, Chelsea Garcia; Cruise Planners’ Michelle Fee; Vicki’s brother, John Garcia; and Cruise Planners’ Michael Consoli.
Seabourn’s Shane Buksh, Jerilyn Giacone, Wendy Whitener and Steve Smotrys.
Seabourn’s Shane Buksh, Jerilyn Giacone, Wendy Whitener and Steve Smotrys.
Silversea’s Christian Sierralta, Mark Conroy and Joe Leon.
Silversea’s Christian Sierralta, Mark Conroy and Joe Leon.
Celebrity Cruises’ Katina Athanasiou and Jennifer Suarez.
Celebrity Cruises’ Katina Athanasiou and Jennifer Suarez.
Holland America Line’s Rob Coleman, Tara Schreiner, Morgan Cattuna and Ann Hall.
Holland America Line’s Rob Coleman, Tara Schreiner, Morgan Cattuna and Ann Hall.
AmaWaterways’ Gary Murphy and Alex Pinelo.
AmaWaterways’ Gary Murphy and Alex Pinelo.
Mark Conroy
Senior Advisor, Silversea
Conroy has accumulated many accomplishments in an array of senior positions in the luxury travel sector over his 50-year career in the cruise industry.
Conroy led startup Diamond Cruises, which later merged with Seven Seas Cruise Line to become Radisson, and after that, Regent Seven Seas Cruises. He was also the president of Renaissance Cruises, vice president of sales for Royal Viking Line and director of group sales and passenger services for Norwegian Cruise Line. In his current role, he is a senior advisor for Silversea, supporting its sales team; he joined the line in 2016 as managing director for the Americas.
Conroy was chairman of CLIA’s executive committee between 2002 and 2004 and was inducted into CLIA’s Cruise Industry Hall of Fame in 2013.
From left, IHG Hotels and Resorts’ Kevin Froemming, Ingrid Jensen, Jeff Krauthamer and Bastien Buffat.
From left, IHG Hotels and Resorts’ Kevin Froemming, Ingrid Jensen, Jeff Krauthamer and Bastien Buffat.
Tourism Ireland’s Alison Metcalfe with Travel Weekly editor in chief Arnie Weissmann.
Tourism Ireland’s Alison Metcalfe with Travel Weekly editor in chief Arnie Weissmann.
Northstar Travel Group’s Bob Sullivan with Disney Destinations’ Javier Moreno.
Northstar Travel Group’s Bob Sullivan with Disney Destinations’ Javier Moreno.
Celebrating Norwegian Cruise Line’s win are Harr Travel’s Daniel Genung, Norwegian’s Brennan Quesnele, Navigatr’s Andrew Dyer, Direct Line Cruises’ Greg Coiro, World Travel Holdings’ Rosemarie Reed, Norwegian’s David Herrera, Internova’s Pam Young, Norwegian’s Jennifer West, Nexion’s Robbi Hamida and Norwegian’s John Chernesky.
Celebrating Norwegian Cruise Line’s win are Harr Travel’s Daniel Genung, Norwegian’s Brennan Quesnele, Navigatr’s Andrew Dyer, Direct Line Cruises’ Greg Coiro, World Travel Holdings’ Rosemarie Reed, Norwegian’s David Herrera, Internova’s Pam Young, Norwegian’s Jennifer West, Nexion’s Robbi Hamida and Norwegian’s John Chernesky.
From left, Collette’s Jeff Roy, Matt Voccola, Christian Leibl-Cote, Kristina Miranda and Todd Bridges.
From left, Collette’s Jeff Roy, Matt Voccola, Christian Leibl-Cote, Kristina Miranda and Todd Bridges.
Viking’s Erik De La Cruz and Shannon Tiger; Northstar Travel Group’s Alicia Evanko-Lewis; Signature’s Karryn Christopher; and Viking’s Sandra Marshall and Michael Eng.
Viking’s Erik De La Cruz and Shannon Tiger; Northstar Travel Group’s Alicia Evanko-Lewis; Signature’s Karryn Christopher; and Viking’s Sandra Marshall and Michael Eng.
Avalon Waterways’ Pam Hoffee, Globus’ Camille Olivere and Northstar Travel Group’s Mary Pat Sullivan.
Avalon Waterways’ Pam Hoffee, Globus’ Camille Olivere and Northstar Travel Group’s Mary Pat Sullivan.
Vicky Garcia
Former COO, Cruise Planners
Garcia, who died in 2022 after a long illness, has been awarded a posthumous Lifetime Achievement award.
Her ambition, accomplishments and advocacy helped grow Cruise Planners, where she served as partner and COO, into the company it is today. Garcia got her start as a cruise line reservations agent and rose to leadership positions at Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line and Cruise Planners. Her leadership as well as her role as an advocate and volunteer for many causes — including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society — secured her several accolades, including serving as a godmother to Viking Cruises’ Viking Magni. She also served on the boards of several travel companies.
Northstar’s Alicia Evanko-Lewis and Arnie Weissmann, left, and Mary Pat Sullivan and Bob Sullivan, right, flank Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, starting third from left: Kathy Sudeikis, Gloria Bohan, Brad Tolkin, Van Anderson, Mark Conroy, Anne Scully, Valerie Wilson, Matthew Upchurch, Jackie Friedman, Ignazio Maza and Michelle Fee.
Northstar’s Alicia Evanko-Lewis and Arnie Weissmann, left, and Mary Pat Sullivan and Bob Sullivan, right, flank Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, starting third from left: Kathy Sudeikis, Gloria Bohan, Brad Tolkin, Van Anderson, Mark Conroy, Anne Scully, Valerie Wilson, Matthew Upchurch, Jackie Friedman, Ignazio Maza and Michelle Fee.
Los Cabos Tourism Board’s Rodrigo Esponda and Cecilia Ghiraldo with Travel Weekly editor in chief Arnie Weissmann.
Los Cabos Tourism Board’s Rodrigo Esponda and Cecilia Ghiraldo with Travel Weekly editor in chief Arnie Weissmann.
Karisma Hotels & Resorts’ Frank Corzo.
Karisma Hotels & Resorts’ Frank Corzo.
Allianz Partners’ Tom Trotta, Rob Cavaliere, Brian Albano, Ashley MacLaughlin, Richard Aquino and Dan Durazo.
Allianz Partners’ Tom Trotta, Rob Cavaliere, Brian Albano, Ashley MacLaughlin, Richard Aquino and Dan Durazo.
Delta Vacations’ Katrin Koenig, Kama Winters and Kristen Molloy.
Delta Vacations’ Katrin Koenig, Kama Winters and Kristen Molloy.
Ignacio Maza
Executive Vice President, Signature Travel Network
Maza’s career started in the airline industry, working for Pan Am and TWA. In 1988, he joined American Express, where he served in both corporate and leisure travel divisions. He later joined Virtuoso as executive vice president of supplier relations and partnerships. And for the past 20 years, he has been with Signature as its executive vice president, working closely with colleagues in marketing, training and partner relations to develop Signature’s luxury business.
Maza has a passion for travel and has visited more than 100 countries and territories on all seven continents. He was born in Cuba and lives in New York.
Sherwin Banda of African Travel, Pleasant Holidays/Journese’s Chanda Vudmaska and Virtuoso’s Daniela Trotta.
Sherwin Banda of African Travel, Pleasant Holidays/Journese’s Chanda Vudmaska and Virtuoso’s Daniela Trotta.
Princess Cruises’ Carmen Roig and Cindy Botelho.
Princess Cruises’ Carmen Roig and Cindy Botelho.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Shanel Knight, Eric Schmit and Kate Otto.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Shanel Knight, Eric Schmit and Kate Otto.
Northstar’s Bob Sullivan, Intrepid Travel’s Tom Smith, Tourism Cares’ Greg Takahara and Travel Weekly’s Arnie Weissmann.
Northstar’s Bob Sullivan, Intrepid Travel’s Tom Smith, Tourism Cares’ Greg Takahara and Travel Weekly’s Arnie Weissmann.
Royal Caribbean’s Christine Coachman, Ensemble’s Michael Johnson, World Travel Holdings’ David Crooks, Royal’s Joanne Schimelman, Royal’s Vicki Freed, Internova’s Stephen McGillivray, World Travel Holdings’ Brad Tolkin and Royal’s Nick Weir.
Royal Caribbean’s Christine Coachman, Ensemble’s Michael Johnson, World Travel Holdings’ David Crooks, Royal’s Joanne Schimelman, Royal’s Vicki Freed, Internova’s Stephen McGillivray, World Travel Holdings’ Brad Tolkin and Royal’s Nick Weir.
Alison Taylor
Chief Customer Officer, American Airlines
For the past 30 years, Taylor has served in leadership roles in two major travel organizations. As chief customer officer at American, she worked to create a secure, comfortable and welcoming environment for customers and oversaw the airline’s international commercial and operations organization. Before joining American in 2016, she led the sales team at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide as senior vice president of global sales.
In 2015 and 2016, Successful Meetings magazine named her one of the most influential people in the meetings industry, and in 2017 Business Travel News named her one of their Top 52 most influential people in business travel.
Taylor, who retired to Australia, was unable to attend the awards ceremony.
From left, Tahryn Nicastro, Shore to Sea Vacations; Jim Campbell, Honeymoons.com; Bob Baker, Global Link Travel; Mary Grace, Mad Hatter Adventures Travel Company; Mike Spremulli, Captain Cruise and Crew; Garth Laird, Unique Vacations; Ashley Beede, Sandals and Beaches Resorts; Jennifer Doncsecz, VIP Vacations; Ellen Volpe, ET Family Travel; and Laurie Beckmann, Enchanting Escapes.
From left, Tahryn Nicastro, Shore to Sea Vacations; Jim Campbell, Honeymoons.com; Bob Baker, Global Link Travel; Mary Grace, Mad Hatter Adventures Travel Company; Mike Spremulli, Captain Cruise and Crew; Garth Laird, Unique Vacations; Ashley Beede, Sandals and Beaches Resorts; Jennifer Doncsecz, VIP Vacations; Ellen Volpe, ET Family Travel; and Laurie Beckmann, Enchanting Escapes.
ALG Vacations’ Mike Ehlers, Jacki Marks, Heather Hendrix and Brian Ehlers.
ALG Vacations’ Mike Ehlers, Jacki Marks, Heather Hendrix and Brian Ehlers.
From left, Windstar’s Dianna Rom and Gina McGinnis with Azure Blue Vacations’ Suzy Schreiner.
From left, Windstar’s Dianna Rom and Gina McGinnis with Azure Blue Vacations’ Suzy Schreiner.
Delta Air Lines’ Scott Jordan and Norma Dean with Northstar’s Bob Sullivan.
Delta Air Lines’ Scott Jordan and Norma Dean with Northstar’s Bob Sullivan.
Intrepid Travel
Travel Weekly’s Sustainability Leadership Award was given to Intrepid Travel in recognition of its long-standing commitment to sustainable practices. The company has been a certified B Corporation since 2018. “Since the beginning, we’ve always been about balancing profit and purpose,” the company states.
“Even beyond the meaningful work of the Intrepid Foundation, Intrepid Travel has led by example through its offerings,” said Arnie Weissmann, editor in chief of Travel Weekly. “It has been on the leading edge of sustainable tour practices and principles and through leadership and example has changed touring for the better.
“The company has demonstrated how travel can be a force for good when leadership aligns with purpose and puts resources behind its intentions.”
Photos by Andrei Jackamets Photography
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