Picture special: Grand Travel Award Finland 2026 honoured the best in the travel industry

Grand Travel Award Finland 2026 brought together around 300 travel industry professionals, business leaders, partners and media representatives on Thursday evening at Sokos Hotel Pier 4 in Katajanokka, Helsinki, to celebrate the industry’s most successful players.

Grand Travel Award is one of the Nordic region’s most respected award concepts in the travel industry. In Finland, the awards are based on an independent survey conducted by Nordic Bench. The final result combines consumers’ assessments, the views of travel industry professionals and an evaluation by an expert jury.

During the evening, ten leading players in the travel industry were honoured.

Best intercontinental airline 2026

Winner: KLM

KLM was awarded best European airline of the year. The company stood out in particular thanks to its extensive European route network, strong customer confidence and reliable operational performance. KLM has been an important player in the Finnish market for decades and has succeeded in combining a high level of service with smooth connections across Europe.

Best intercontinental airline 2026

Winner: Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways was chosen as the best intercontinental airline of the year. Behind the win was a world-class service experience, high travel comfort, an exceptionally extensive global route network and consistently high results in customer satisfaction. The company has managed to retain its position as a player that sets the quality standard in international aviation.

Best hotel group in Finland 2026

Winner: Lapland Hotels

Lapland Hotels was awarded Finland’s best hotel chain. The jury highlighted the chain’s strong Finnish identity, distinctive concept and ability to make the experiences of Lapland part of modern hotel service. Lapland Hotels has succeeded in building an experience-rich and recognisable brand that appeals to both domestic and international travellers.

Best international hotel group 2026

Winner: Marriott International

Marriott International was awarded this year’s best international hotel group. The company’s strengths were considered to be a broad portfolio of hotel brands, a strong global market position and the ability to offer high-quality customer experiences for different types of travellers around the world. Marriott has succeeded in combining international scale and local experiences in an exceptionally effective way.

Best car hire company 2026

Winner: Hertz

Hertz won the award for this year’s best car hire company. The company received recognition in particular for its customer service, its broad vehicle fleet, its operational reliability and its ability to meet travellers’ changing needs. Hertz has maintained its position as one of the industry’s most reliable operators among both leisure and business travellers.

Best ferry company 2026

Winner: Finnlines

Finnlines was awarded best ferry company of the year. The company stood out for its reliable operations, its continuously developing passenger experience, and its significant role as a link between Finland and the rest of Europe. Finnlines has invested purposefully in new vessels, services and sustainability.

Best tour operator 2026

Winner: Aurinkomatkat

Aurinkomatkat was named best tour operator of the year. Its long history, strong expertise and ability to renew itself in a changing travel market lifted the company ahead of its competitors. Aurinkomatkat has retained its position as one of Finns’ most trusted holiday brands and continues to inspire travellers with high-quality holiday packages.

Best specialised tour operator 2026

Winner: Helin Matkat

Helin Matkat won the award for best specialised tour operator of the year for the second time. The company is known for its exceptionally personal service, its deep destination knowledge, and its long-standing customer relationships built up over decades. Customers’ trust and a strong service culture have made Helin Matkat one of the most highly regarded players in the industry in Finland.

Best cruise line 2026

Winner: Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line was awarded best cruise line of the year. The company received recognition for its innovative onboard experiences, its diverse range of itineraries and its strong appeal among Finnish cruise travellers. Norwegian Cruise Line has been a significant trailblazer in the development of the modern cruise product.

World’s best destination 2026

Winner: Greece

Greece was chosen as the world’s best destination for the second year in a row. The country’s appeal is built on a unique combination of history, culture, hospitality, gastronomy, archipelago experiences and high-quality tourism services. Year after year, Greece has maintained its position as one of Finns’ most beloved travel destinations.

The travel industry looks to the future with confidence

Grand Travel Award Finland 2026 once again demonstrated the travel industry’s strong vitality. Although the industry has faced significant challenges in recent years, the desire to travel continues to grow and travel companies are actively investing in new services, experiences and sustainability.

The aim of the Grand Travel Award is to highlight companies and organisations that, through their operations, develop the travel industry and create exceptional experiences for their customers.

Images from Grand Travel Award Helsinki

The next Travel News Market and Grand Travel Award Finland will be held at Clarion Hotel in Helsinki on 27 May 2027.

Images from Travel News Market