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Aaron Kaupp of the Hotel Palazzo Sasso; Sarah Ball of PURE; Top Concierge, Frank Laino of The Stafford; Andrea Grisdale of IC Bellagio, who received the Top Educator Award; Stuart Procter of The Stafford; Tara Grand of the Maybourne Hotel Group; Ben Provost of The Stafford, who accepted for The Stafford’s American Bar, voted the Best Hotel Bar Worldwide; Karen Fedorko Sefer of Seasong Tours; and Peter Carideo of CRC Travel, who is on the nominating committee for the Luxury Travel Advisor Awards of Excellence |
The stars were out in Las Vegas at the Luxury Travel Advisor Awards of Excellence ceremony in December. The exclusive event, which was held at The Mirage, drew luxury travel executives from around the globe, including Dubai, Phuket, Italy and South Africa. The awards, which recognize the top travel suppliers in the world, were presented by a host of luxury travel advisors, who also served as the nominating advisory board for the program. The beautiful glass-blown awards were custom designed and handcrafted by glass artist James Stone of Stone and Glass in San Diego.
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Ricci Zukerman of Worldview Travel; Kathy and Leo Falkensammer of Prestige Travel and Cruises; Steve Tucker of Silversea; Arie Zukerman of Worldview Travel; and Doug Seagle of Seabourn |
Winners & Sightings
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Jeff Johnson of Montage Hotels & Resorts; Ruthanne Terrero of Luxury Travel Advisor; James Bermingham of Montage Laguna Beach; and John McMahon of Luxury Travel Advisor. Montage Laguna Beach won Best Luxury Hotel in North America |
The 2009 Awards of Excellence Winners are: | ||
Airline With The Best First-class Service
Airline With The Best Business-class Service
Best Private Jet CompanyBlue Star Jets Best Cruise Line For Luxury Ocean CruisesCrystal Cruises Best Cruise Line For Luxury Small Ships
Best Hotel Bar WorldwideAmerican Bar, The Stafford Hotel, London Best Luxury River Cruise Provider
Best Luxury Tour Operator/WholesalerAbercrombie & Kent Best Luxury Car Rental Company
Best City Center Luxury Hotel in Europe
Best Luxury Hotel/Resort In North America
Best Luxury Hotel/Resort in AsiaAmanpuri Phuket, Thailand Best Luxury Hotel/Resort in South Pacific/Australia
Best Luxury Hotel/Resort in Caribbean/Bermuda/Bahamas
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From The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Pauletta Kaufman, national director of sales; Andrew Oxton of Bachelor Gulch; Sue Stephenson of Community Footprints; Megann Spohn of Half Moon Bay and David Taylor of New York’s Central Park South hotel |