Travel Weekly reveals winners of 2006 Readers Choice Awards

Travel Weekly revealed its Readers Choice Awards winners in 51 categories during a gala dinner. The black-tie awards ceremony, now in its fourth year, was held at the Pierre Hotel in New York.

The award recipients were chosen by Travel Weekly readers. An open ballot phase of the voting was conducted in the summer, and readers were invited to write in the names of any company they chose in a category. The top vote-getters were identified as finalists, and voting on finalists took place through Oct. 21.

Travel Weekly also presented three Lifetime Achievement Awards, to Bill Marriott Jr., the chairman and CEO of Marriott International; Bob Dickinson, the president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines; and John Mullen, the president and CEO of Apple Vacations.

And the winners are ....

• AIRLINE
  Domestic: American Airlines
  International: Virgin Atlantic Airways
• CAR RENTAL
  Domestic: Hertz
  International: Hertz
• HOTEL
  Chain, Domestic: Marriott
  Chain, Asia: Mandarin Oriental
  Chain, Caribbean: Sandals Resorts
  Chain, Europe: Starwood Hotels & Resorts
  Chain, Mexico: Palace Resorts
  Chain, South Pacific: Starwood Hotels & Resorts
  Chain, All-Inclusive: Sandals Resorts
  Chain, Luxury: Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
  Chain, Upscale: Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
  Chain, Mid-Level: Marriott
  Chain, Economy: Hampton Inn
  Chain, Sales & Service: Marriott
  Top Resort Worldwide: St. Regis Resort, Bora Bora
• TOUR OPERATOR
  Domestic: Travel Impressions
  International: Globus
  Africa: Abercrombie & Kent
  Asia/Pacific: Globus
  Canada: Tauck World Discovery
  Caribbean: GoGo Worldwide Vacations
• Europe: World Discovery
  Hawaii: Pleasant Holidays
  Mexico: Apple Vacations
  Luxury: Abercrombie & Kent
  Sales & Service: Travel Impressions
• CRUISE LINE
  Domestic: Royal Caribbean International
  Alaska: Holland America Line
  Caribbean: Royal Caribbean International
  Europe: Princess Cruises
  Luxury: Regent Seven Seas
  Riverboats: Viking River Cruises
  Sales & Service: Carnival Cruise Line
  Overall: Royal Caribbean International
• CRUISE SHIP
  Rookie of the Year: Freedom of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International
  Luxury: Queen Mary 2, Cunard
  Overall Individual: Queen Mary 2, Cunard
• DESTINATION
  Asia/Pacific Country: Australia
  Asia/Pacific City: Sydney
  Canada: Vancouver
  Caribbean: St. Lucia
  European Country: Italy
  European City: Rome
  Hawaii: Maui
  Mexico: Riviera Maya
  Central/South America: Costa Rica
  U.S. State: Hawaii
  U.S. City: New York
• THEME PARK
  Disney World
  
  Get More!
  For more on Travel Weekly's 2006 Readers Choice Awards winners, look in Travel Weekly's Jan. 15 edition.