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OUR 2011 Best in Travel Poll results roll out with some classic winners and a few surprises. In this age of proliferating brands, largely indistinguishable from one another on the Web where a no-star and five-star may look equally alluring, we have posed the million dollar question to readers, "What do these brands represent to you?" And, with a mighty mouse in hand, humble clicks have been a clatter, knocking sacred cows and elevating unknowns. Travel polls are a dodgy exercise at best of times. Ignorance, foibles, geography, Internet access, poor spelling and outright deviousness often conspire to thwart any meaningful attempt to define preferences. Why do hotels show up in the category for "Best Airport" and even "Best Cabin Service"? Is there something they are not telling us? A flying hotel would get our vote every time. We do of course track and eliminate inarticulate, if amusing, outpourings, as well as orchestrated “block” votes.
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Smart Travel Asia is the region’s only dedicated online travel magazine with over one million readers worldwide. These are frequent travellers in the know. We offer review-based editorial written by seasoned journalists to help people make intelligent choices.
The SmartTravelAsia.com 2011 BEST IN TRAVEL POLL – now in its seventh year – is a distillation of our readers’ perceptions and favourite travel brands. Their vote is based on substantial hands-on travel experience, word-of-mouth at dinnertime chats, as well as an idea of the brand drawn from advertising and editorial exposure in the media, a great deal of this online.
The vote is based on actual travel experience, word-of-mouth, as well as an idea of the brand drawn from ads and PR
Our poll ran for three key months May-July. There was no incredible premium. No romantic dinner with Angelina Jolie or offers of cuddly adoption. Who were these voters then? On average, voters took 15.75 air trips (up from 13.56) over the past 12 months and earned US$156,716 in household income (down modestly from US$164,501 in 2010).
Approximately 60 percent were based in Asia (largely Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and the Middle East), 20 percent in UK/Europe and 20 percent in USA and North America. As many as 92.4 percent of the voters said they drew their primary image of brands from the Internet and 88.8 percent said they made travel decisions online. However, just 36% said they book online, many preferring to talk with a human being especially for high-end bookings. Most readers said they went online primarily to seek independent "reviews and information" first and not just the "best price".
Here then, are the winners of the SmartTravelAsia.com 2011 BEST IN TRAVEL POLL. These lists of leading “aspirational” brands offer insight into business and leisure travel preferences at the mid to upper end of the market. There were no nominations or limits on whom readers could vote for. Readers picked products from thousands of possible choices in Asia.
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| WORLDWIDE |
| 2011 Rank |
2010 Rank |
| 1. Singapore Airlines |
1 |
| 2. Cathay Pacific Airways |
2 |
| 3. Emirates |
3 |
| 4. Thai Airways International |
4 |
| 5. Virgin Atlantic |
5 |
6. Jet Airways
Korean Air
Malaysia Airlines |
5
9
7 |
7. British Airways
Qatar Airways |
6
10 |
| 8. Qantas |
8 |
9. Etihad Airways
Lufthansa |
-
7 |
10. Air France
EVA Air |
10
- |
 |
| WORLDWIDE |
| 2011 Rank |
2010 Rank |
| 1. Singapore Airlines |
1 |
2. Cathay Pacific Airways
Thai Airways International |
2
2 |
| 3. Emirates |
3 |
| 4. Malaysia Airlines |
5 |
5. Jet Airways
Qatar Airways |
4
10 |
| 6. SilkAir |
6 |
7. Bangkok Airways
Korean Air
|
9
10 |
8. Asiana Airlines
Kingfisher Airlines
Virgin Atlantic |
-
7
7 |
9. Dragonair
EVA Air
British Airways |
10
-
8 |
10. Vietnam Airlines
SriLankan Airlines |
-
9 |
 |
| ASIA |
| 2011 Rank |
2010 Rank |
| 1. Bali, Indonesia |
2 |
| 2. Phuket, Thailand |
3 |
| 3. Hong Kong |
4 |
| 4. Kerala, India |
1 |
5. Maldives
Palawan, Philippines |
5
5 |
6. Hanoi, Vietnam
Shanghai, China |
7
6 |
7. Hoi An, Vietnam
Rajasthan, India
Seoul, South Korea |
5
8
9 |
8. Angkor (Siem Reap), Cambodia
Langkawi, Malaysia |
10
7 |
9. Goa, India
Koh Samui, Thailand
Penang, Malaysia |
10
8
10 |
10. Bangkok, Thailand
Boracay, Philippines
Krabi, Thailand
Sanya, China
Taipei, Taiwan |
6
9
-
-
- |
 |
| ASIA |
| 2011 Rank |
2010 Rank |
| 1. Conrad Maldives, Rangali Island |
1 |
| 2. Bulgari Resort Bali |
3 |
3. Four Seasons Resort Bali
at Jimbaran Bay
The Nam Hai, Hoi An |
4
5 |
| 4. Amanpuri, Phuket |
4 |
| 5. Banyan Tree Phuket |
2 |
6. Soneva Gili by Six Senses,
Maldives |
15
|
7. Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa,
Maldives |
7
|
8. AYANA Resort and Spa, Bali
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
Grand Hyatt Bali |
6
8
9 |
9. JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa
Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang
Resort & Spa, Penang
Six Senses Samui – A SALA Property |
6
9
8 |
10. The Landmark Mandarin Oriental,
Hong Kong
The Legian, Bali
The St Regis Singapore |
10
-
12 |
11. The St Regis Bali Resort
The Peninsula Bangkok
The Ritz-Carlton, Sanya |
-
5
13 |
12. Capella Singapore
The Datai, Langkawi, Malaysia |
14
- |
13. Sofitel Centara Grand
Resort & Villas Hua Hin |
11
|
| 14. The Royal Pita Maha, Bali |
16 |
15. Hotel Tugu Bali
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok |
21
12 |
16. Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui
Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi,
Chiang Mai |
13
7
|
| 17. The Peninsula Hong Kong |
- |
18. Hilton Maldives / Iru Fushi
Resort & Spa
Shangri-La's Mactan
Resort and Spa, Cebu
The Oberoi Udaivilas,
Udaipur, Rajasthan |
-
21
-
|
19. Conrad Bangkok
InterContinental Bali Resort
The PuLi Hotel and Spa, Shanghai |
14
17
20 |
20. Ananda in the Himalayas,
Rishikesh, India
Anantara Golden Triangle
Resort & Spa, Chiang Rai
Chiva-Som, Hua Hin
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
Pangkor Laut Resort, Malaysia |
10
16
17
-
15 |
21. COMO Shambhala Estate, Bali
Maya Ubud Resort & Spa, Bali |
19
- |
22. Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa,
Dubai
Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa
Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou
at Westlake
Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru
Resort and Spa, Kota Kinabalu |
23
18
-
24
|
23. Centara Grand Beach
Resort & Villas Krabi
Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai
Kamandalu Resort And Spa,
Ubud, Bali
Kupu Kupu Barong Villas and
Tree Spa, Ubud, Bali
W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak |
-
17
-
-
- |
24. InterContinental Hong Kong
Shangri-La's Boracay Resort & Spa |
-
- |
25. Aleenta Phuket – Phang Nga
Resort and Spa
Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok
Mandala Spa & Villas, Boracay
Plaza Athénée Bangkok,
A Royal Méridien Hotel
W Seoul – Walkerhill |
-
22
23
20
18 |
 |
| ASIA |
| 2011 Rank |
2010 Rank |
| 1. Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong |
2 |
| 2. The Fullerton Hotel Singapore |
2 |
| 3. Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong |
4 |
4. Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong
The Peninsula Hong Kong |
1
3 |
| 5. The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore |
3 |
| 6. Four Seasons Hotel Singapore |
6 |
| 7. Raffles Hotel Singapore |
5 |
| 8. InterContinental Hong Kong |
5 |
9. Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok
The Ritz-Carlton Beijing |
7
9 |
10. Grand Hyatt Shanghai
Park Hyatt Shanghai
Shangri-La Hotel Singapore
The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai |
11
9
10
12 |
| 11. Park Hyatt Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City |
8 |
12. JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong
Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit,
Bangkok |
12
13
10
|
13. Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore |
7
- |
14. Conrad Bangkok
The Regent Taipei |
8
15 |
15. The Peninsula Shanghai
The St Regis Singapore
The Westin Chosun, Seoul |
16
16
14 |
16. The Peninsula Tokyo
The Shilla, Seoul |
13
19 |
17. Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok
W Taipei |
14
- |
18. Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur |
20
15 |
19. Centara Grand at CentralWorld,
Bangkok
Fairmont Peace Hotel, Shanghai
InterContinental Bangkok |
22
-
24 |
20. Grand Hyatt Seoul
Raffles Dubai
Waldorf Astoria Shanghai
on the Bund |
22
19
-
|
21. Park Hyatt Seoul
The Peninsula Manila |
24
17 |
22. Hilton Kuala Lumpur Hotel
JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok
The Oberoi, New Delhi |
18
17
21 |
23. Caravelle Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City
Dusit Thani Bangkok
Imperial Hotel, Tokyo
ITC Maurya, New Delhi
Sofitel Wanda Beijing |
-
23
-
-
25 |
24. Burj Al Arab, Dubai
InterContinental Asiana Saigon
Makati Shangri-La, Manila
Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur Hotel
W Hong Kong |
25
-
21
-
18 |
25. Conrad Tokyo
Courtyard Bangkok
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
Mandarin Oriental Tokyo
The Regent Singapore
The Upper House, Hong Kong |
23
-
18
20
-
- |
Our voters took an average 15.75 air trips over the past year and earned an average US$156.716 in household income. They travelled enough to tell the difference between crass and class. Their verdict? Classical is back in fashion and so are authentic destinations. |
 |
| WORLDWIDE |
| 2011 Rank |
2010 Rank |
| 1. Singapore Airlines |
1 |
| 2. Emirates |
2 |
| 3. Cathay Pacific Airways |
2 |
| 4. Jet Airways |
3 |
5. Air New Zealand
Korean Air
Qatar Airways |
8
6
9 |
6. Malaysia Airlines
Thai Airways International |
6
4 |
| 7. Virgin Atlantic |
5 |
8. British Airways
Lufthansa |
7
7 |
| 9. Qantas |
9 |
10. Air France
Etihad Airways |
-
10 |
 |
| ASIA |
| 2011 Rank |
2010 Rank |
| 1. AirAsia / AirAsia X |
1 |
| 2. Jetstar Asia |
2 |
| 3. Cebu Pacific |
4 |
| 4. SpiceJet |
5 |
| 5. Kingfisher Red |
6 |
| 6. IndiGo |
8 |
| 7. Tiger Airways |
3 |
| 8. Virgin Blue |
10 |
| 9. Nok Air |
7 |
10. Hong Kong Express
Jet Airways Konnect |
9
- |
 |
| ASIA |
| 2011 Rank |
2010 Rank |
| 1. Hong Kong |
1 |
| 2. Singapore |
2 |
3. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Seoul, South Korea |
3
4 |
| 4. Shanghai, China |
6 |
| 5. Sydney, Australia |
10 |
| 6. Beijing, China |
9 |
| 7. Taipei, Taiwan |
7 |
| 8. Bangalore, India |
8 |
| 9. Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
- |
10. Bangkok, Thailand
Tokyo, Japan |
5
9 |
 |
| WORLDWIDE |
| 2011 Rank |
2010 Rank |
| 1. Hong Kong International Airport |
2 |
| 2. Singapore Changi Airport |
1 |
3. Incheon International Airport,
South Korea |
4
|
| 4. Kuala Lumpur International Airport |
5 |
5. Shanghai Pudong International Airport
Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok |
9
3 |
| 6. Beijing Capital International Airport |
6 |
| 7. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol |
8 |
| 8. London Heathrow Airport |
8 |
9. Dubai International Airport, Emirates
Terminal 3
Samui Airport, Thailand
Zurich Airport |
-
10
9 |
10. Delhi Indira Gandhi International
Airport, Terminal 3 |
-
|
 
 |
| ASIA |
| 2011 Rank |
2010 Rank |
1. Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
The Nam Hai, Hoi An, Vietnam |
3
2 |
| 2. The Peninsula Hong Kong |
14 |
3. Amandari, Bali
Bulgari Resort Bali |
7
4 |
4. Amanpuri, Phuket
Four Seasons Resort Bali at
Jimbaran Bay |
1
4
|
5. Conrad Maldives, Rangali Island
Grand Hyatt Bali
The Legian, Bali
The Oberoi Udaivilas,
Udaipur, Rajasthan
|
6
5
5
4
|
6. Soneva Gili by Six Senses,
Maldives
The Opposite House, Beijing |
9
3 |
| 7. The Datai, Langkawi |
6 |
8. Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, Rajasthan
Twinpalms Phuket |
-
9 |
| 9. Amankila, Bali |
7 |
10. El Nido Lagen Island Resort,
Palawan
Four Seasons Resort Maldives
at Landaa Giraavaru
Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang
Resort & Spa, Penang |
11
8
10
|
| 11. The Ritz-Carlton, Sanya |
11 |
12. Raffles Hotel Singapore
Sofitel Centara Grand
Resort & Villas Hua Hin |
15
10
|
13. Amanpulo, Philippines
Capella Singapore |
-
14 |
14. Amanusa, Bali
One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai
The Laguna Resort & Spa,
Nusa Dua, Bali |
12
13
-
|
15. Aman at Summer Palace, Beijing
Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa,
Maldives
Raffles Grand Hotel d'Angkor |
20
18
16 |
16. Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui
El Nido Miniloc Island Resort,
Palawan
The Chedi, Chiang Mai |
18
17
12 |
17. AYANA Resort and Spa, Bali
Banyan Tree Phuket
InterContinental Bali Resort
The Royal Pita Maha, Bali |
16
12
19
- |
18. JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa
Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi,
Chiang Mai
Sofitel Angkor Phokeethra Golf
and Spa Resort |
13
15
-
|
19. Furama Resort Danang
Neemrana Fort-Palace, Rajasthan
The Andaman, Langkawi
The Venetian Macao |
-
20
-
21 |
20. The Chedi Club at Tanah Gajah,
Ubud
The Library, Koh Samui
The Oberoi, Bali
Wynn Macau |
21
-
25
24 |
21. Centara Grand Mirage Beach
Resort Pattaya
Goodwood Park Hotel, Singapore
Princess d'Annam Resort & Spa
Samode Palace
Sheraton Sanya Resort |
23
20
25
-
22 |
22. Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru
Resort and Spa, Kota Kinabalu |
22 |
23. Alila Ubud, Bali
Aman New Delhi
Anantara Golden Triangle
Resort & Spa, Chiang Rai
Conrad Bali
W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak |
23
25
19
22
- |
24. Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
The Imperial New Delhi
The Strand, Yangon
Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa |
14
25
23
- |
25. Courtyard Bangkok
Sala Phuket Resort And Spa
The Leela Kempinski Kovalam
Beach, Kerala
The Upper House Hong Kong |
-
24
-
- |
 |
| ASIA |
| 2011 Rank |
2010 Rank |
| 1. The Fullerton Hotel Singapore |
1 |
| 2. Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong |
3 |
| 3. Grand Hyatt Hong Kong |
4 |
| 4. Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong |
5 |
| 5. The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore |
2 |
6. Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur
Raffles Hotel Singapore |
6
7 |
| 7. Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong |
- |
8. Shangri-La Hotel Singapore
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi |
13
8 |
9. The Peninsula Hong Kong
The St Regis Singapore |
-
9 |
| 10. The Regent Taipei |
11 |
| 11. JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong |
12 |
| 12. InterContinental Hong Kong |
- |
| 13. Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok |
8 |
14. Grand Hyatt Bali
Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit,
Bangkok |
16
9
|
15. Conrad Bangkok
InterContinental Bangkok
The Shilla, Seoul
The Westin Beijing Financial Street |
3
14
22
17 |
16. Conrad Hong Kong
Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok
Park Hyatt Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City |
14
15
10 |
17. Grand Hyatt Beijing
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore
The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali |
25
-
- |
| 18. Grand Hyatt Seoul |
19 |
| 19. Sheraton Hanoi Hotel |
17 |
20. AYANA Resort and Spa, Bali
Centara Grand at CentralWorld,
Bangkok
Raffles Dubai
The Peninsula Shanghai |
21
18
20
- |
| 21. The Venetian Macao |
- |
22. Dusit Thani Bangkok
Hyatt on the Bund, Shanghai |
16
23 |
23. JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa
Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong
Makati Shangri-La, Manila |
20
-
18 |
24. Conrad Bali
JW Marriott Hotel Bangkok
Sheraton Sanya Resort
The Portman Ritz-Carlton Shanghai
The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai |
25
19
-
21
- |
25. Conrad Tokyo
Grand Hyatt Mumbai
Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok
The Ritz-Carlton, Jakarta
The Ritz-Carlton, Sanya |
23
-
-
22
- |
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