Forbes Travel Guide ("FTG"), the world's leading authority on luxury hospitality, is expanding its reach into the skies with the launch of the inaugural Verified Air Travel Awards. These awards, set to be unveiled on October 22, will recognize excellence in air travel, a vital component of the luxury travel experience. The awards will cover over 20 categories, including Best Airlines, Best Airports, and Best Private Jet Services, with winners chosen by an exclusive panel of the world's top luxury travel advisors and elite global travelers.

The invitation-only panel, comprising 5,000 highly qualified travel advisors, FTG's incognito inspectors, and globe-trotting Learning & Development experts, will cast their votes based on real-world experience. Their insights will be validated by FTG, renowned for the integrity and objectivity of its Star Ratings system, which has set the benchmark in luxury hospitality for 66 years.

Peter Greenberg, Emmy Award-winning travel journalist and host of "Eye on Travel" on CBS Radio, underscores the importance of these awards: "Too many travel industry awards are the result of a somewhat suspect popularity contest. The Verified Air Travel awards are important because the metrics are based on real-world experience and real-world accountability." He further emphasizes that in a world where luxury brands are proliferating, the focus should be on unbiased opinions and reliable facts to define true excellence.

Jeff Arnold, Chairman of the Board at Forbes Travel Guide, highlighted the interconnected nature of luxury travel today: "In today's luxury travel landscape, the quality of both air and hotel experiences is inseparable for a seamless journey. Our Verified Air Travel Awards are a natural extension of FTG's commitment to excellence, ensuring discerning travelers can trust the highest standards of service and comfort from takeoff to landing."

The awards have already garnered attention with nominations for large airlines such as Air France, British Airways, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines, as well as small airlines like Beond and BermudAir. Private jet services like Flexjet and NetJets are also among the nominees.

The winners will be celebrated at FTG's annual event, The Summit, held in Monaco in February 2025. This event is dedicated to luxury brands and travel, bringing together industry leaders to celebrate the pinnacle of luxury service.

While the Verified Air Travel Awards will be supported by FTG's expertise, they will operate independently from the organization's established Five-Star, Four-Star, and Recommended Ratings, which are exclusively awarded to hotels, restaurants, spas, and ocean cruise ships globally through anonymous, in-person inspections.

The highly anticipated results of the Verified Air Travel Awards will be revealed on October 22 on ForbesTravelGuide.com, offering travelers a new benchmark for luxury in air travel.

Connect with Forbes Travel Guide:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ForbesTravelGuide

• X: www.twitter.com/ForbesInspector

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ForbesTravelGuide

About Forbes Travel Guide:

Forbes Travel Guide is the only global rating system for luxury hotels, ocean cruises, restaurants, and spas. Our anonymous professional inspectors evaluate based on hundreds of exacting standards to help discerning travelers select the world's best experiences. The only way to get a Five-Star, Four-Star, or Recommended rating is by earning it through our independent inspections. Learn more at ForbesTravelGuide.com. For more about The Summit, visit Summit.ForbesTravelGuide.com.