Tourism News South Africa

2018 Business Traveller Africa Award winners

Honouring those brands that have provided superior South African business travel service, the 7th annual Business Traveller Africa Awards announced its 2018 winners last week.
2018 Business Traveller Africa Award winners
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The awards programme, launched in 2012 in association with Business Traveller Africa magazine, is aimed at the South African business travel trade and the broader business travel community.

The voting survey is compiled and sent to the business travel industry, via various organisations (ASATA, SAACI, SATSA and ABTA), where industry professionals nominate the best in business.

The votes are collated before being vetted by a voting panel of senior industry members, led by Gillian Saunders, currently Special Advisor to the Minister of Tourism.

Emirates was the biggest winner of the evening, taking home three awards for the ‘Best Airport Business Lounge’, ‘Best International Long-Haul Airline’ and ‘Best Business Class’ categories. All three finalists in the Business Lounge category are situated at international departures at OR Tambo.

Tsogo Sun, HRG Rennies Travel and Comair each received two awards, with Tsogo Sun taking the best SA and business hotel group categories, HRG Rennies beating out competition from BCD Travel for both best travel management company and sales team, and Comair's Kulula.com and BA being named the best African low-cost and best regional short-haul airlines respectively.

Shaun Pozyn, head of Marketing at Kulula.com and British Airways (operated by Comair) said, “We’re ecstatic to receive the awards for Best African Low-Cost Airline, as well as the Best African Regional Short-Haul Airline for a second consecutive year. Receiving these accolades are very encouraging as they are proof that both our offerings to travellers and travel-buyers are on par when customers are looking for maximum value for money, especially in the current tough economic climate.”

The 2018 BTA Awards winners

CategoryWinnerFinalistFinalist
African Long-Haul AirlineSAAAir MauritiusEthiopian Airlines
African Low-Cost AirlineKululaFlySafairMango
African Regional Short-Haul AirlineComair (Kulula & BA)AirlinkSAA
Airport Business LoungeEmirates (ORTIA – International)Bidvest Premier (ORTIA – International)SLOW Lounge (ORTIA – International)
Business ClassEmiratesQatarVirgin Atlantic
Business Hotel Group in SATsogo SunCity LodgeMarriott
Car Rental CompanyAvisBidvestEuropcar
Cruise OperatorMSC CruisesCruises International
Forex SupplierBidvest BankAmex Foreign ExchangeTravelex
Global Distribution SystemTravelportAmadeusSabre
International Hotel GroupMarriottHiltonRadisson Hotels
International Long-Haul AirlineEmiratesBAQatar
Large Conference VenueSandton Convention CentreBirchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference CentreCape Town ICC
Large Hotel Conference VenueBirchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference CentreCentury City Conference CentreSun City
Luxury Hotel in SAOne&Only Cape Town and The Oyster Box (joint winners)Michelangelo
Private Aviation OperatorComair Flight ServicesExecuJetFederal Airlines
Small Hotel Conference VenueChampagne Sports ResortEmperors PalaceThe Westin Cape Town
South African Hotel GroupTsogo SunCity LodgeSun International
Travel Credit Card ProviderVisaAmexMasterCard
Travel Management CompanyHRG RenniesBCD TravelFlight Centre Business Travel
Travel Sales TeamHRG RenniesBCD TravelExecuJet
Visa Service ProviderVisa InternationalVisas & Passports UnlimitedVisa Express

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