South African Airways was the standout nominee when the finalists were named for the second annual Business Traveller Africa Awards, which will take place at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton, Johannesburg on 20 August.
Future Group – the publishers of Business Traveller Africa magazine – in association with headline sponsor Absa and corporate partners ExecuJet, Travelport, Gautrain, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Crowne Plaza Johannesburg – has partnered with independent research company TNS Research Surveys, to interrogate the industry, collate the results, and come up with the winners in each category.
SAA picked up nominations in the ‘Best African Regional Short-Haul Airline’, ‘Best African Long-Haul Airline’ and ‘Best Business Class’ categories, whilst the airline’s Baobab Business Class Lounge at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg was nominated in the ‘Best Airport Business Lounge’ category.
SAA’s fellow nominees in the airline categories include Comair, Mango, Airlink, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, Etihad Airways and British Airways.
In the main hotel category, the ‘Best Hotel Group’ prize will be contested by Tsogo Sun, Protea Hotels, City Lodge, Sun International and Legacy Hotels & Resorts.
The ‘Best Travel Management Company’ category sees HRG Rennies Travel, American Express Travel Services, BCD Travel, Carlson Wagonlit and Travel with Flair up against each other.
As with last year, Future Group and Business Traveller Africa magazine will also hand out the ‘Travel Personality of the Year’, which in 2012 went to outgoing Avis CEO Wayne Duvenage, for his role as Chairman of OUTA – the Opposition to Urban Tolling Alliance.
To view the full list of nominees, click here.
To book your ticket to the event, click here.