London: The American Admirals Club at Rio de Janeiro’s Galeao International Airport is today celebrating victory in the prestigious Priority Pass Lounge of the Year Awards. The lounge has won the Latin American & The Caribbean (LAC) Regional Award 2012, voted for by the members of Priority Pass, the world’s largest independent airport lounge access program.
Jonathan French, head of brand, Priority Pass, says: “We congratulate the American Admirals Club at Rio de Janeiro’s Galeao International Airport for the rare achievement of offering a near-seamless extension of its guests’ office environments in an airport setting. The convenience and quality of facilities offered by the lounge were widely appreciated by our members and we are proud to offer this outstanding facility in the Priority Pass portfolio.”
Nancy Knipp, president, American Airlines Admirals Club, says: “We are truly honored that Priority Pass members have selected the Galeao International Airport Admirals Club for the 2012 Priority Pass Lounge of the Year Latin America Award. This distinction is a testament to our outstanding club employees in Rio who continually go above and beyond their regular duties to offer exemplary customer service. We are proud of their efforts as American Airlines maintains its commitment to provide a differentiated customer experience with world class products and services.”
The Priority Pass Lounge of the Year Awards, established in 2005, are designed to recognise service excellence amongst the lounges in the Priority Pass programme. The American Admirals Club was singled out for honour amongst more than 100 other airport lounges in its region, with the award based on more than 40,000 ratings made by Priority Pass members from around the world.
The American Admirals Club was recognised for offering a standard of facilities similar to having a ‘private office at the airport’. The lounge’s extensive facilities include a conference room, comprehensive computing and audio visual amenities, Wi-Fi and reinvigorating showers.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Priority Pass has millions of members worldwide. The programme provides frequent travellers with airport lounge access, irrespective of their class of travel, airline flown or existing membership in an airline loyalty programme. Founded in 1992 with 55 lounges in 49 countries, Priority Pass today offers access to more than 1,500+ airport lounges in over 600 cities in more than 145 countries.
There were a total of nine winners in the Priority Pass 2012 Lounge of the Year Awards:
Global Award: Swiss-Lounge, Basel-Mulhouse
Regional Awards:
Europe Swiss Lounge, Basel-Mulhouse (global winner)
North America Alaska Airlines Board Room, Seattle
Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) American Admirals Club, Rio
Africa/Middle East Menzies Aviation Shongololo Lounge, Johannesburg
Asia Pacific Travelers’ Lounge, Hong Kong – East Hall
Best Staff: The Yorkshire Premier Lounge, Leeds Bradford
Best Refreshments: Dilmun Lounge, Bahrain
Best Business Facilities: No.1 Gatwick, North Terminal, London Gatwick