Air New Zealand top Australasian airline in World Travel Awards

An Air New Zealand Dreamliner at Auckland Airport. Photo / Grant Bradley

Air New Zealand has been named Australasia's leading airline and airline brand in the World Travel Awards.

The airline took out the leading airline award for the 10th year in a row in the Asia-Australasia areas.

Other airline winners announced in Hong Kong were Hainan Airlines winning Asia's leading airline brand and Asia's best business class and cabin crew, while Cathay Pacific was named Asia's leading airline. That airline also took top spot in Auckland Airport's operations awards last week.

Sydney Airport took top spot in the World Travel Awards for airports in Australasia and Singapore's Changi Airport was named Asia's best.

Australasia's leading airport lounge was Etihad Airways' premium lounge at Melbourne Airport.

The awards are voted for by travel and tourism professionals, as well as business and leisure travellers worldwide.

Air New Zealand chief marketing and customer officer Mike Tod said it was a huge achievement.

''I'd like to thank all of our customers as well as those in the industry who voted for Air New Zealand. This award is a reflection of the commitment our 12,000 staff around the world put into ensuring we deliver products and services.''

New Zealand hotels were among winners in the overall Australasia category.

The InterContinental in Wellington was named Australasia's leading conference hotel while the Holiday Inn Auckland Airport was Australasia's top airport hotel.

Australasia's leading luxury hotel villa was The Residence at the George in Christchurch and the leading villa resort was Eagles Nest in the Bay of Islands.

Treetops Lodge and Estate near Rotorua won Australasia's responsible tourism award.
Annandale in Christchurch was Australasia's leading experiential luxury property.

New Zealand hotel winners were:

• Boutique hotel: The George Christchurch
• Business hotel: Crowne Plaza Auckland
• Hotel: Hilton Queenstown Resort & Spa
• Residences: Residences at Pullman Auckland
• Suite: Presidential suite at the InterContinental Wellington
• Lodge: Huka Lodge
• Resort: Eagles Nest

The awards last night in Hong Kong were part of a series of regional events to acknowledge the world's outstanding travel brands.

The regional winners will progress to the grand final, which is being hosted in Lisbon, Portugal on December 1.