People and Innovation in Airport Experiences
Priority Pass Celebrates the People and Pioneers Shaping the Future of Airport Experiences
2026 Priority Pass Excellence Awards recognise three All Star of the Year winners for their exceptional service
Pioneer of the Year winners in Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Spain recognised for innovations spanning traveller accessibility, sustainability and the passenger experience
All Star and Pioneer of the Year winners round out the 2026 Priority Pass Excellence Awards, following the Lounge of the Year and One to Watch winners announced earlier this year
Priority Pass, the original and market-leading airport lounge and experiences programme, has today announced the winners of the Pioneer of the Year and All Star of the Year categories in the 2026 Priority Pass Excellence Awards.
Now in their 18th year, the awards celebrate the outstanding people, lounges and travel experiences across the Priority Pass global network. Following the announcement of this year’s Lounge of the Year and One to Watch winners in May, the latest categories turn the spotlight on the people delivering exceptional service every day and the partners responding to the changing needs of travellers.
This year’s winners demonstrate how innovation in the airport experience can take many forms. Recognised initiatives range from a dedicated Calm Room designed to support neurodivergent travellers in Brazil, to more sustainable lounge operations in Saudi Arabia and the use of thousands of recycled plastic bottles in lounge design in Spain. Alongside them, three All Star winners have been recognised for the individual acts of care, problem-solving and personalised service that can make a lasting difference to a traveller’s experience. Winners for both categories are selected by a judging panel based on partner nominations, enabling deeper insight into those pioneering in the industry.
Pioneer of the Year
The Pioneer of the Year category celebrates partners that offer unique and innovative services and solutions to enhance the overall traveller experience. This year’s winners are:
BRT Lounge Porto Seguro at Porto Seguro Airport, Brazil
Cozaya Lounge at King Fahd International Airport, Saudi Arabia
A Coruña Sala VIP Lounge at A Coruña Airport, Spain
At BRT Lounge Porto Seguro in Brazil, inclusivity is at the heart of the lounge experience.
Commenting on the Pioneer of the Year winners, one of the Priority Pass Excellence Awards judges, said: “The idea that stayed with me from judging was the Calm Room at Porto Seguro. It gives neurodivergent travellers a quiet place to reset, and for a family that can change the whole trip. The BRT team looked at who flies through Porto Seguro and built the lounge around them. That is what pioneering looks like to me.”
At Cozaya Lounge at King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia, the team has focused on making sustainability part of its day-to-day operations, from reducing food waste and removing single-use plastics to training staff to embed more sustainable practices without compromising the guest experience.
Meanwhile, A Coruña Sala VIP Lounge in Spain has brought sustainability into the design of the lounge itself. Sound panels have been created from thousands of recycled plastic bottles, while displays give travellers greater insight into the materials used throughout the space. The changes have also been accompanied by improvements in guest satisfaction.
All Star of the Year
The All Star of the Year category recognises individuals who consistently go above and beyond to deliver service excellence for Priority Pass members. This year’s winners include:
Tran Minh Quang of SH Premium Lounge Hanoi 2 at Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam
Abdulaziz Fahad Alharbi of Cozaya Lounge at King Fahd International Airport, Saudi Arabia
Miao Shu Na of Oriental Club Lounge at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan
At SH Premium Lounge Hanoi 2, Shift Leader, Tran Minh Quang was commended for his calm leadership, personalised approach to service and commitment to going above and beyond for guests. From responding to a medical emergency to remembering individual guest preferences and developing signature lounge experiences, his approach has helped improve both guest satisfaction and waiting times.
Commenting on his win, Tran Minh Quang said: “Honestly, even now, I am still deeply moved. To be recognised as one of just three individuals worldwide to receive the Priority Pass Excellence Award – All Star of the Year is an extraordinary honour. I have simply carried out my work guided by a principle I hold close to my heart: to always put the guest first, and to act before they even need to ask.”
At Cozaya Lounge at King Fahd International Airport, Team Leader Abdulaziz Fahad Alharbi was praised for his proactive approach to problem-solving and service innovation. His work has introduced many improvements for guests, spanning comfort and organisation through to cultural relevance and operational reliability.
Commenting on the award, Abdulaziz Alharbi said: “I’m truly honoured to be named All Star of the Year. This recognition means everything – it’s a reward for the hard work, and it belongs to everyone who supported me.”
At Oriental Club Lounge at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Supervisor Miao Shu Na was also named an All Star of the Year for her exceptional customer care, empathy and ability to respond to guests’ individual needs. This included supporting a child who had suffered burns, demonstrating the level of care and attentiveness she brings to travellers visiting the lounge.
Commenting on the win, Miao Shu Na said: “Receiving the All Star of the Year award is a tremendous honour and encouragement. As a supervisor, I firmly believe that even the simplest gesture can become a warm and meaningful memory in a passenger’s journey.”
“The All Star of the Year and Pioneer of the Year winners are a brilliant reflection of the people and ideas shaping the airport experience today,” says Christopher Evans, CEO of Collinson International. “Whether it’s an individual making a traveller’s journey that little bit more special, or a team finding new ways to create more thoughtful and inclusive spaces, these awards recognise the care and creativity that goes into delivering a great guest experience. We’re incredibly proud to work with partners who share that commitment, and I’d like to congratulate all of this year’s winners on their achievements.”
The 2026 Priority Pass Excellence Awards have celebrated outstanding people, lounges and travel experiences from across the global Priority Pass network. Together, this year’s winners showcase the breadth of experiences being delivered across the network and the many ways Priority Pass partners are responding to the evolving needs of travellers around the world.