The Travelling for Business Awards 2026 finalists have been announced, with more than 230 places confirmed across 23 categories covering airlines, airports, lounges, hotels, loyalty schemes, car hire, meetings destinations and travel technology.
Winners will be named at a black tie gala dinner at Together, 88 Wood Street, in the City of London on Thursday 22 October 2026.
The shortlists read as a map of the suppliers UK business travellers actually use, from the carriers competing for corporate accounts on long-haul routes to the budget hotel brands that put delegates up for a conference. The full line-up is published on the awards website, where every category can be browsed on the 2026 finalists page.
The programme is editorially led and independently judged, with categories designed as benchmarks rather than popularity contests. That matters for travel managers and SME owners who use shortlists like these to sense-check their preferred suppliers.
Inside the Travelling for Business Awards 2026 finalists list
In the air, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways all feature among the Best Long-Haul Airline finalists, joined by newcomer Riyadh Air, which also appears in the business class and standard class fields. The short-haul list pits Jet2.com, easyJet, Ryanair and Aer Lingus against flag carriers including KLM and SAS, with Scottish regional operator Loganair also making the cut. In business class, the Qatar Airways Qsuite and Cathay Pacific Aria Suite go up against the British Airways Club Suite and Virgin Atlantic Upper Class.
Singapore Changi, Tokyo Haneda and Hong Kong lead the Best Airport in the World field, with London Heathrow and London City carrying UK hopes. Heathrow dominates the lounge shortlist, hosting seven of the ten Best Airline Lounge finalists, including the British Airways Concorde Room at Terminal 5 and the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at Terminal 3, while the Emirates Lounge in Manchester flies the flag outside the capital.
Among hotels, a twelve-strong Best UK Hotel field ranges from Gleneagles and Grantley Hall to Raffles London at The OWO, The Peninsula London and The Savoy. Premier Inn, Travelodge and easyHotel contest the budget crown, and in the loyalty categories Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt face IHG One Rewards, while The British Airways Club takes on Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Flying Blue among the frequent flyer schemes.
Delivery counts in accessibility and sustainability
Two awards were open to any supplier serving UK business travellers. The Accessibility Award recognises work that makes business travel genuinely accessible for disabled travellers, and its finalists range from Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and easyJet to the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme, Teesside International and Belfast City airports and the Titanic Hotel Belfast. The Sustainability Award was judged on measured delivery rather than pledges, with Air France-KLM, Eurostar, Amsterdam Schiphol, The Pig Hotels and TravelPerk among those shortlisted.
A category for Best Attraction Buyout for Corporate Groups reflects the rise of full private hire for company events, shortlisting Universal Destinations and Experiences, Business Solutions by Disneyland Paris, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, the Natural History Museum and Sphere in Las Vegas. Closer to home, ExCeL London, Manchester Central, the Scottish Event Campus and ICC Wales contest Best MICE Venue UK, and the Best Travel App field puts corporate platforms Navan and SAP Concur against consumer favourites Flighty, TripIt and Trainline.
How to book a table for 22 October
The winners will be revealed in front of an audience of airline executives, hotel owners and general managers, corporate travel buyers and MICE decision makers. Tables are on sale now through the book a table page on the awards site, and a limited number of sponsorship and partnership opportunities remain for brands wanting a presence on the night, each with exclusivity in its category.
For SME travel bookers, the value of the list arrives well before any trophies are handed out. With more than 230 finalists spread across every stage of a trip, from the kerb at the airport to the checkout screen of a booking app, the shortlists offer a ready-made benchmark for anyone reviewing travel suppliers ahead of 2027 budgets.
