16 December 2009 LeisureGroupTravel.com

2009

About This Year’s Award WinnersNew York City once again proved it’s A-No. 1, top of

the heap, earning Platinum in the Domestic Destinationcategory. Washington, DC, and Hawaii bumped outAlaska and Las Vegas, our second and third place finish-ers in 2007 and 2008. Canada placed first in the Interna-tional Destination sweepstakes, perhaps a reflection ofcloser-to-home travel in these difficult economic times.

When it comes to Tour Operator, readers of LeisureGroup Travel for the third year in a row give the Plat-inum and Gold to Collette Vacations and Globus, re-spectively. Tauck World Discovery knocked DiamondTours out of its 2008 Silver slot.

Several categories show remarkable consistency fromyear to year. Florida’s Disney World (admittedly a desti-nation in itself ) was again favorite Attraction, with theTulip Time Festival in Holland, Mich., creeping up toGold (from Silver last year). Mt. Rushmore, in a surpris-ing move to some, won Silver, the first time it has placedin the top three. Broadway, for the third year running,took Platinum in Theater, with Wisconsin’s Fireside No.2 and Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Maryland taking Silverfor the second consecutive year. Sight & Sound, a con-sistent past winner, failed to make the cut.

Marriott, another perennial favorite, again topped theHotel Chain category, followed by Hampton, which has

Awards �

Congratulations to our 2009 Reader’s Choice winners, selected by readers of Leisure Group Travel.

Subscribers voted by mailing in their Reader Service Card or going online at leisuregrouptravel.com.

READER ’SCH ICEREADER ’SCH ICE�

You voted…

and the results are in!

You voted…

and the results are in!

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earned Gold or Silver in previouscontests. Holiday Inn won Silver.For the first time in recent years,Hilton did not place. In the CruiseLine category, Holland Americacontinues to rate Platinum withgroup tour organizers. Princess re-peated its 2008 Silver performance,while Royal Caribbean beat outCelebrity, last year’s Gold winner. InGaming Establishment, Harrah’sslipped to Gold from its 2008 Plat-inum perch, but the real surprisewas Hard Rock coming in first andtwo past favorites—Mohegan Sunand Greektown—not making thetop three spots.

Thanks to all who voted in thisyear’s Reader’s Choice Awards. Ifyou disagree with the results, ensureyour opinion is voiced in our 2010Awards—voting starts next August.

ATTRACTION

Disney World • PlatinumTulip Time Festival • Gold

Mt. Rushmore • Silver

CRUISE LINE

Holland America • PlatinumRoyal Caribbean • Gold

Princess • Silver

THEATER

Broadway • PlatinumThe Fireside Dinner Theatre • Gold

Toby’s Dinner Theatre • Silver

GAMING ESTABLISHMENT

Hard Rock • PlatinumHarrah’s • GoldBelterra • Silver

HOTEL CHAIN

Marriott • PlatinumHampton • Gold

Holiday Inn • Silver

DOMESTIC DESTINATION

New York City • PlatinumWashington, DC • Gold

Hawaii • Silver

INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION

Canada • PlatinumGermany • Gold

Italy • Silver

TOUR OPERATOR

Collette • PlatinumGlobus • GoldTauck • Silver