The 18th edition of the ULTRAs awards ceremony in London revealed the world’s leading hotels, destinations, airlines, and airports, as voted for by 28 million members of the GHA DISCOVERY loyalty programme. The event, organized by Nick Perry, Chairman of multi-media brand Ultratravel, is an annual event for the luxury travel industry. The winners include Portrait Milano as hotel of the year, The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts as leading luxury hotel brand, Italy as most popular holiday hotspot, and The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel, New York as best new hotel. Emirates also won the best airline in the world.

Hosted at London’s historic royal residence, The State Apartments and The Orangery at Kensington Palace, this year’s ULTRAs featured 18 categories, honouring leading names in travel as voted for by millions of GHA DISCOVERY members. The awards reflected a growing global appreciation for excellence across a wide range of luxury travel experiences.

The awards were presented by well-known UK TV presenters Natalie Pinkham and Gethin Jones, with a raft of celebrities in attendance including HRH Princess Eugenie, Dame Kelly Holmes, the Double Olympic Champion, Charlotte Hawkins, one of the anchors on Good Morning Britain and Australian and British author Kathy Lette.

The line-up of 2024 winners included Portrait Milano, hailed the ‘Ultratravel Collection Hotel of the Year’; The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts, which took home the title of ‘Luxury Brand of the Year’ The Surrey, A Corinthia Hotel in New York, named ‘Best New Hotel in the World’ and The Apurva Kempinski Bali, honoured as the ‘Best Sustainable Hotel’.

Among the most celebrated hotels, Lutetia Paris was crowned ‘Best Hotel in Europe’; Capella Sydney won ‘Best Hotel in Asia/Pacific’; and The Leela Palace New Delhi triumphed as ‘Best Hotel in the Middle East/India’. The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara was recognised as ‘Best Hotel in Africa/Indian Ocean’ and Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort, was named ‘Best Hotel in the Americas/Caribbean’.

Dubai-based Emirates once again claimed the title of ‘Best Airline in the World,’ demonstrating its continued leadership in global aviation and Regent Seven Seas Cruises won ‘Best Luxury Cruise Line’, while Italy was revealed as the ‘Favourite Country for a Holiday’, just a little more popular than runners-up, Australia and Japan.

Singapore Changi Airport emerged victorious in the hotly contested ‘Best Airport in the World’ category, while Virgin Atlantic secured the ‘Best Premium Economy Class,’ and Qatar Airways won ‘Best Business Class.’

In celebration of Ultratravel’s 20th anniversary, a special award for the year’s ‘Most Innovative Airline in the Last 20 Years’ went to Qatar Airways, and Anantara Hotels & Resorts was recognised as the ‘Best Hotel Brand in the Last 20 Years’.

“The ULTRAs are a true reflection of the highest standards in luxury travel today based on the opinions and preferences of millions of GHA DISCOVERY members,” said GHA CEO Chris Hartley. “I extend my congratulations to all the winners for setting new benchmarks in the industry and showcasing the best of hospitality, aviation, and travel.”

For more information visit Global Hotel Alliance, the Ultratravel Collection, Ultratravel, and GHA DISCOVERY