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feBusiness Traveller Awards The Best
It was an evening of high-voltage drama and anticipation. The JW Marriott Hotel,
Mumbai, was awash with colour and excitement: serious-looking black suits were
set off against glittering sequins and vibrant silks, as the who's who of the
Indian travel and hospitality world filed into hotel's opulent banquet hall.
In a matter of a year since its re-launch, feBusiness Traveller awarded excellence
in the hospitality and tourism industry. With riveting entertainment punctuating
the proceedings of the evening, the tempos built up as thirteen categories of
awards were handed out. The Antiquity feBusiness Traveller Award was a certification
of excellence from the business traveller himself: a popular choice award, none
other than the consumer played arbitrator, judging whom they considered the
best. With the Antiquity fe Business Traveller awards, we let the consumer give
the final verdict.
An extensive nation-wide polling process among readers of both publications,
the Financial Express and the feBusiness Traveller were conducted, with the
voters chosen from a highly select and discerning audience throughout the country.
The entries were then tabulated and the data validated by a process audit, which
was conducted by Ernst & Young, the consulting firm of international repute,
to finally arrive at the winners in each category. Explaining the process, so
as to de-mystify the voting process, an Ernst & Young representative addressed
the audience at the awards ceremony.
Service Meets Style
The evening started off with a bang, as actress Urmila Matondkar inaugurated
the event, her characteristic charm holding the audience enthralled. In an industry
where the number of awards ceremonies simply keeps multiplying, Matondkar asserted
that she could personally vouch for the credibility of an Indian Express award.
An avid traveller herself, she emphasised that she, 'couldn't let go of the
opportunity' to thank those who have helped create memorable vacations. The
eloquence of the master of ceremonies, Brian Tellis, cohesively held the event
together. And between the flashbulb moment, spellbinding entertainment by Louis
Banks and his troupe ensured that the evening steered clear of being passé.
What are these Awards about?
All over the world, specialised magazines such as ours recognise and award these
service providers of the travel and hospitality industries for their outstanding
contribution to the business travel segment. In India as well, with business
travel coming of age, the time was ripe to encourage further development and
reward consistent performance with an aim to uplift the overall quality levels
of service.
The Categories:
1. Airlines
The airlines awards are broken up into domestic and international for the respective
carriers operating in India.
Domestic Airlines:
- Best Business Class
- Best Economy Class
- Best Service (Airport & In-flight)
International Airlines:
- Best First Class
- Best Business Class
- Best Economy Class
- Best Service (Airport & In-flight)
2. Hotels
The categories in this segment are :
Best Leisure Hotel:
Best Business Hotel:
3. MICE Destinations
There was just one category in this section
Best MICE Destination:
4. Car Rentals
One award was instituted in this category to recognise the
Best Car Rental Agency in India.
5. Editor’s Choice Award
THE AWARDS PROCESS
The feBusiness Traveller Award are a popular choice award.
It is a result of an extensive nation wide polling process among our readers
of both publications, the Financial Express and the feBusiness Traveller . The
voters were a highly select and discerning audience throughout the country.
The entries were then tabulated and the data validated by a process audit which
was conducted by Ernst & Young, an audit and consulting firm of international
repute, to finally arrive at the winners in each category. And as we all waited
with bated breath for the winners, the suspense was broken on the evening of
February 6, 2004, in Mumbai at the J W Marriott. The Best Have Won!
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