Search | About Us | Specials | Testimonials | Index
EcoAdventures
TravelAge West WAVE Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lisa Frobisher
(310) 954-2514

Click here to print or download this page. Opens in new window and requires Adobe Reader.Print/Download this page (62K PDF - requires Adobe Reader and opens in new window)

TravelAge West Announces Its 2014 Editor’s Pick Recipients

FEBRUARY 28, 2014 (Los Angeles) — EcoAdventures, Inc. has been honored with a TravelAge West 2014 Editor’s Pick Award in the category of Best Tour Operator Central/South America as part of the TravelAge West WAVE (Western Agents’ Votes of Excellence) Awards.

Now in its ninth year, the goal of TravelAge West’s WAVE Awards is to give travel agents in the West the opportunity to recognize the outstanding qualities and services of their travel-supplier partners.

The Editor’s Picks were chosen by Editor-in-Chief Kenneth Shapiro and the entire editorial team of TravelAge West. Review methods included product analysis, on-site visits, a survey of a select group of travel agents and online research.

“As the top travel trade publication in the West, it’s important that TravelAge West acknowledge the suppliers that go above and beyond for travel agents,” said Shapiro. “These awards are a lot of work for our staff, but we remain committed to doing whatever it takes to honor the travel companies that lead the way.”

In addition to this distinction, Editor’s Pick honorees are also in the running for a WAVE Award, to be determined by a TravelAge West readers’ choice poll conducted during the month of April. The voting is open to readers of the print and online publication, and will be available at www.travelagewest.com/WAVE.

Editor’s Pick recipients will be celebrated at the WAVE Awards Gala on June 5 at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., where the readers’ choice winners will be announced as well. TravelAge West will include a special WAVE Awards section in the July 7 issue, highlighting award winners.

"We are honored to be nominated for TravelAge West Editor's Pick Award for Best Tour Operator, Central/South America" exclaimed EcoAdventures' President and CEO, Alma Megeath. "It is also gratifying that the dedication and expertise of EcoAdventures' staff has been recognized, as well as the hard work of our outstanding service providers in Latin America. We ensure that only the best local ground operators work with us. The most important and rewarding thing for us is when the travel agents' clients have the trip of a lifetime."

* * * * * * * * * 

EcoAdventures, Inc. was founded in 1992 by a group of dedicated travel people who collectively represent over 75 years of travel industry experience, and share the belief that ecologically responsible tourism will heighten awareness of global ecological issues, and further the efforts to preserve fragile and endangered ecosystems. EcoAdventures specializes in individual itineraries and small groups and takes every precaution to minimize the ecological impact of tourism on the areas visited. EcoAdventures also believes and hopes that the growing economic sector of ecotourism will supplant more exploitative activities.

###

TravelAge West is the leading trade magazine for travel agents and the travel industry in the 14 Western U.S. states. Serving more than 22,000 readers for 45 years, the biweekly magazine is a main source of news and product information for the region’s agents and travel executives. TravelAgeWest.com is a winner of a Gold Award from the North American Travel Journalists Association for Best Travel Journalism Website. TravelAge West is a part of Northstar Travel Media LLC, a worldwide provider of information, news and data for the travel and hospitality industry. Northstar Travel Media is based in Secaucus, N.J.

###

TravelAge West’s 2014 Editor’s Picks

AIR
Best Airline, Domestic

• Alaska Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• JetBlue
• Southwest Airlines
• Virgin America

Best Economy Class, Domestic
• Alaska Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• JetBlue
• Virgin America
• United Airlines

Best Business/First-Class, Domestic
• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• United Airlines
• Virgin America

Best Airline, International
• British Airways
• Emirates
• Lufthansa
• Singapore Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic Airways

CRUISE
Cruise Line with Highest Client Satisfaction (less than 1,100 passengers)

• Azamara Club Cruises
• Crystal Cruises
• Oceania Cruises
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Seabourn Cruise Line

Cruise Line with Highest Client Satisfaction (more than 1,100 passengers)
• Celebrity Cruises
• Holland America Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Princess Cruises
• Royal Caribbean International

Best Family Accommodations/Experience (Ocean-going)
• Carnival Cruise Lines
• Disney Cruise Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Royal Caribbean International

Best Kids’ Program
• Carnival Cruise Lines
• Disney Cruise Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Royal Caribbean International

Best Shore Excursions
• Azamara Club Cruises
• Crystal Cruises
• Oceania Cruises
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Silversea Cruises

Cruise Line Providing the Best Travel Agent Support
• Celebrity Cruises
• Holland America Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Princess Cruises
• Royal Caribbean International

Best New Ship (Ocean-going)
• Celebrity Reflection, Celebrity Cruises
• Europa 2, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises
• Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Cruise Line
• Royal Princess, Princess Cruises

Best Onboard Entertainment (Ocean-going)
• Carnival Cruise Lines
• Disney Cruise Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Royal Caribbean International 

Best Onboard Dining (Ocean-going/less than 1,100 passengers)
• Azamara Club Cruises
• Crystal Cruises
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Seabourn Cruise Line
• Silversea Cruises

Best Onboard Dining (Ocean-going/more than 1,100 passengers)
• Celebrity Cruises
• Holland America Line
• Oceania Cruises
• Princess Cruises
• Royal Caribbean International
Best Refurbished Ship
• Carnival Sunshine, Carnival Cruise Lines
• Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Cruises
• Pride of America, Norwegian Cruise Line
• Legend of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International

Best Overall Cruise Line for River Cruising
• AmaWaterways
• Avalon Waterways
• Tauck
• Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
• Viking River Cruises

River Cruise Line Providing Best Travel Agent Support
• AmaWaterways
• Avalon Waterways
• Tauck
• Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
• Viking River Cruises

Best New Ship (River Cruise)
• AmaPrima, AmaWaterways
• Avalon Expression, Avalon Waterways
• Queen Isabel, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
• Scenic Jewel, Scenic Cruises
• Viking Bragi, Viking River Cruises

Best Staterooms
• AmaWaterways
• Avalon Waterways
• Scenic Cruises
• Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
• Viking River Cruises

Best Onboard Dining (River Cruise)
• AmaWaterways
• American Queen Steamboat Co.
• Tauck
• Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
• Viking River Cruises

RAIL
Best North American Rail Vacation Provider

• Alaska Railroad
• Amtrak Vacations
• Rocky Mountaineer
• VIA Rail Canada

TOUR OPERATOR 
Tour Operator Providing the Best Travel Agent Support

 Globus Family of Brands
• Pleasant Holidays
• Tauck
• Trafalgar
• Travel Impressions

Best Tour Operator, Escorted
• Abercrombie & Kent
• Globus Family of Brands
• Insight Vacations
• Tauck
• Trafalgar

Best Tour Operator, FIT
• Avanti Destinations
• Monograms
• Pleasant Holidays
• Gogo Vacations
• Travel Impressions

Best Tour Operator for Adventure
• CW Adventures (formerly Country Walkers)
• G Adventures
• International Expeditions
• Mountain Travel Sobek
• Zegrahm & Eco Expeditions

Best Tour Operator, Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific
• Goway Travel
• Pleasant Holidays
• Swain Destinations
• Travel2
• Worldwide Traveler

Best Tour Operator, Hawaii
• Apple Vacations
• Blue Sky Tours
• Classic Vacations
• Gogo Vacations
• Pleasant Holidays

Best Tour Operator, Mexico
• Apple Vacations
• Classic Vacations
• MLT Vacations
• Pleasant Holidays
• Travel Impressions

Best Tour Operator, USA/Canada
• Adventures by Disney
• Collette
• Globus Family of Brands
• Insight Vacations
• Tauck

Best Tour Operator, Europe
• CIE Tours International
• Globus Family of Brands
• Insight Vacations
• Tauck
• Trafalgar

Best Tour Operator, Asia
• General Tours World Traveler
• Pacific Delight Tours
• Ritz Tours
• Sita World Tours
• Wendy Wu Tours

Best Tour Operator, Africa
• Abercrombie & Kent
• African Travel, Inc.
• Cox & Kings
• Great Safaris
• Micato Safaris

Best Tour Operator, Middle East
• G Adventures
• General Tours World Traveler
• Globus Family of Brands
• IsramWorld
• Ya’lla Tours USA

Best Tour Operator, Central/South America
• Avanti Destinations
• EcoAdventures
• Globus Family of Brands
• Goway Travel
• Latour

Best Tour Operator, Caribbean
• Apple Vacations
• Funjet Vacations
• Gogo Vacations
• Pleasant Holidays
• Travel Impressions

CAR RENTAL
Car Rental Company Providing Best Agent Support

• Alamo Rent A Car
• Avis Rent a Car
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car
• Hertz Rent-a-Car

Car Rental Company Providing the Highest Client Satisfaction
• Alamo Rent A Car
• Avis Rent a Car
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car
• Hertz Rent-a-Car

RESORT/HOTEL
Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Mexico

• Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
• El Dorado Royale, a Spa Resort, by Karisma
• Nizuc Resort & Spa, Las Brisas Hotel Collection
• Secrets Aura Cozumel, AMResorts

Best New Resort or Major Renovation, Caribbean
• Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa
• Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Puerto Rico
• Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, St. Lucia

Best Resort for Weddings, Mexico
• Azul Beach Hotel by Karisma, Riviera Maya
• Barcelo Puerto Vallarta
• Grand Velas Riviera Maya
• One&Only Palmilla, Los Cabos
• Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya

Best Resort for Weddings, Caribbean
• Couples Swept Away, Jamaica
• Jade Mountain St. Lucia
• Paradisus Palma Real Golf & Spa Resort, Punta Cana
• Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa, Jamaica
• Secrets St. James Montego Bay

Best Hotel Chain, Europe
• Hilton Worldwide
• Iberostar Hotels & Resorts
• InterContinental Hotels Group
• Kempinski
• Sofitel

Best Hotel Chain, Hawaii
• Aqua Hotels and Resorts
• Aston Hotels & Resorts
• Hilton Hawaii
• Outrigger Hotels & Resorts
• Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii

Best All-Inclusive Hotel Chain, Mexico
• AMResorts
• Palace Resorts
• Karisma Hotels & Resorts
• Riu Hotels & Resorts
• Melia Hotels International

Best All-Inclusive Hotel Chain, Caribbean
• AMResorts
• Club Med
• Sandals Resorts International
• Iberostar Hotels & Resorts
• Barcelo Hotels & Resorts

Best Luxury Hotel Brand
• Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
• Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
• Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
• The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company
• St. Regis Hotels & Resorts

Best Hotel Brand, USA
• Hilton Worldwide
• Hyatt Hotels Corporation
• InterContinental Hotels Group
• Marriott International
• Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

Hotel/Resort Chain Providing the Best Travel Agent Support
• InterContinental Hotels Group
• Hilton Worldwide
• Hyatt Hotels Corporation
• Marriott International
• Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

DESTINATIONS
Best of the West: Best Destination for a Wellness Vacation
• Arizona
• California
• Hawaii
• New Mexico

Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Europe
• France
• Great Britain
• Ireland
• Italy
• Spain

Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Asia
• China
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• Singapore
• Thailand

Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, Central/South America
• Argentina
• Belize
• Costa Rica
• Panama
• Peru

Favorite Three-Night Destination to Sell
• Disneyland Resort (Anaheim, Calif.)
• Greater Palm Springs
• Las Vegas
• Los Cabos
• San Francisco

Best Destination for Adventure, Mexico
• Cancun/Riviera Maya
• Chiapas
• Cozumel
• Los Cabos
• Puerto Vallarta/Riviera Nayarit

Best Beach Destination for a Romance Vacation
• Hawaii
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Tahiti

Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, USA
• California
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Nevada
• New York

TRAVEL INSURANCE
Best Travel Insurance Company
• Allianz
• CSA Travel Protection
• Travel Guard
• Travelex Insurance Services
• Trip Mate

TOURISM BOARD
Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Agent Support
• Tourism Australia
• Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau
• Tourism Ireland
• Jamaica Tourist Board
• Mexico Tourism Board