Launched in 2012 in association with Business Traveller Africa magazine, the awards programme is targeted at the South African business travel trade and the broader business travel community.
Emirates picked up three awards, coming out tops in the ‘Best Airport Business Lounge’, ‘Best International Long-Haul Airline’ and ‘Best Business Class’ categories. The lounge award was for the airline’s offering in the international departures terminal at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
Comair, Tsogo Sun and HRG Rennies Travel were the other multiple winners, with two awards each. Comair claimed the ‘Best African Low-Cost Airline’ award for Kulula, to go with the top prize in the ‘Best African Regional Short-Haul Airline’ category for its overall offering covering Kulula and British Airways in Southern Africa.
Tsogo Sun came out on top in the ‘Best Business Hotel Group in SA’ category and the ‘Best South African Hotel Group’ category, edging out competitors City Lodge and Sun International in the latter. In the former category, Tsogo Sun was able to break the stranglehold that Marriott International – through it’s Protea Hotels by Marriott brand – has held on this category over the past few years.
HRG Rennies Travel was awarded in the ‘Best Travel Management Company’ and ‘Best Travel Sales Team’ categories – both awards the TMC has claimed before.
Other notable winners included Avis, which has dominated the car rental category for some years now; Global Distribution System winner Travelport, which held off the challenge of rival Amadeus; Comair Flight Services, which defended its title in the ‘Best Private Aviation Operator’ category; and Champagne Sports Resort, a first-time winner in the ‘Best Small Hotel Conference Venue’ category.
Programme organisers Future Group once again engaged ASATA (Association of Southern African Travel Agents), ABTA (African Business Travel Association), and SAACI (Southern African Association for the Conference Industry), with their members casting votes in the relevant categories, and this year also broadened the voting scope to the wider South African business industry, along with engaging the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) and their members.
African Long-Haul Airline
- Air Mauritius
- Ethiopian Airlines
- SAA (winner)
African Low-Cost Airline
- FlySafair
- Kulula (winner)
- Mango
African Regional Short-Haul Airline
- Airlink
- Comair (Kulula & BA) (winner)
- SAA
Airport Business Lounge
- Bidvest Premier (ORTIA – International)
- Emirates (ORTIA – International) (winner)
- SLOW Lounge (ORTIA – International)
Business Class
- Emirates (winner)
- Qatar
- Virgin Atlantic
Business Hotel Group in SA
- City Lodge
- Marriott
- Tsogo Sun (winner)
Car Rental Company
- Avis (winner)
- Bidvest
- Europcar
Cruise Operator
- Cruises International
- MSC Cruises (winner)
Forex Supplier
- Amex Foreign Exchange
- Bidvest Bank (winner)
- Travelex
Global Distribution System
- Amadeus
- Sabre
- Travelport (winner)
International Hotel Group
- Hilton
- Marriott (winner)
- Radisson Hotels
International Long-Haul Airline
- BA
- Emirates (winner)
- Qatar
Large Conference Venue
- Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre
- Cape Town ICC
- Sandton Convention Centre (winner)
Large Hotel Conference Venue
- Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre (winner)
- Century City Conference Centre
- Sun City
Luxury Hotel in SA
- Michelangelo
- One&Only Cape Town (joint winner)
- The Oyster Box (joint winner)
Private Aviation Operator
- Comair Flight Services (winner)
- ExecuJet
- Federal Airlines
Small Hotel Conference Venue
- Champagne Sports Resort (winner)
- Emperors Palace
- The Westin Cape Town
South African Hotel Group
- City Lodge
- Sun International
- Tsogo Sun (winner)
Travel Credit Card Provider
- Amex
- MasterCard
- Visa (winner)
Travel Management Company
- BCD Travel
- Flight Centre Business Travel
- HRG Rennies (winner)
Travel Sales Team
- BCD Travel
- ExecuJet
- HRG Rennies (winner)
Visa Service Provider
- Visas & Passports Unlimited
- Visa Express
- Visa International (winner)