Full Speed Ahead

O’hare International Airport celebrates the completion of its modernization program, among other exciting developments.

DESPITE THE SUBSTANTIAL impact of the pandemic on the aviation industry, Chicago is excited about the future of air travel and is working just as hard as before to invest in its airport infrastructure. The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) recently joined government officials and airline executives at O’hare International Airport to celebrate the completion of the O’hare Modernization Program, or OMP. This concludes the 16-year, $6 billion investment that transforms the airfield into a modern configuration, reduces delays and paves the way for future terminal redevelopment. It’s a tremendous achievement for the airport and one of the largest runway reconfiguration projects in the world. The development incorporated the construction of four new runways, the extensions to two existing runways, the building of two new airport traffic control towers and the relocation of numerous facilities at O’hare International Airport. The most recent project extends Runway 9R-27L by approximately 3,290 feet to make it 11,260 feet and the second-longest runway on the O’hare airfield. Since the beginning of OMP, national airspace system impact delays attributable to O’hare reduced by 64 percent. Further the investment led to the creation of tens of thousands of jobs and work for diverse businesses of all sizes. The completed runway reconfiguration also offers a more balanced airfield with three runways on the north airfield, three on the south airfield and two crosswind runways. This gives the airport more options in the airport’s constructive dialogue with regional leaders to ensure no community takes the brunt of runway noise. To commemorate the accomplishment, a set of murals were painted by teens at a program held with the Chicago Park District as part of First Lady Amy Eshleman’s My CHI. My Future program. The free summer series connected Chicago’s youth with safe and engaging spaces throughout 15 communities across the south and west sides and featured activities, games, food and more. The murals will go on display at O’hare. These final phases of OMP are part of the O’hare 21 capital program — Chicago’s vision for a modern airport that will be an efficient and accessible international gateway to the world and to Chicago. Through this $8.5 billion investment, O’hare will be transformed from curb to gate and meet the needs of the traveling public through the 21st century and beyond.

WINNERS’ CIRCLE Best Frequent-stay Elite-level Program

Hilton Honors Diamond

Best Frequent-stay Bonus Program

Hilton Honors

Second Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-stay Award Redemption

Marriott Bonvoy

Second Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-stay Customer Service

World of Hyatt

Best Hotel in the United States

The Peninsula Beverly Hills 11th Consecutive Year

Best Hotel in Asia

SIGNIEL SEOUL

Second Consecutive Year

Best New Hotel in Asia

SIGNIEL BUSAN

Best Hotel in South Korea

LOTTE HOTEL SEOUL 10th Consecutive Year

Best European Hotel Chain

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Sixth Consecutive Year

Best Hotel Chain in Mexico

Fiesta Americana 11th Consecutive Year

Best Hotel Chain in the Middle East

Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Hotel in the Middle East

Burj Al Arab Jumeirah Fourth Consecutive Year

Best Overseas Delivery Program

Volvo

Sixth Consecutive Year

WINNERS’ CIRCLE Best Rental Car Company

Hertz

Best Airport Parking

The Parking Spot Third Consecutive Year

Best Tourism Destination

Greece

Best MICE City

Seoul

Seventh Consecutive Year

Best Wifi Service

Intelsat (formerly Gogo Commercial Aviation)

Best Luggage Brand

Briggs & Riley

12th Consecutive Year

Best Hotel App

Hilton

Third Consecutive Year

Best Airline App

Delta Air Lines

Best Small- to Mid-sized Business Program

IHG Business Edge Third Consecutive Year

Best Overall Credit Card

United Club Infinite Card from Chase Second Consecutive Year

Best Small Business Credit Card

Capital One Spark Miles for Business Card

Best Credit Card Special Events

United Card Event Second Consecutive Year

Best Credit Card Rewards Programs

United Club Infinite Card from Chase Second Consecutive Year

WINNERS’ CIRCLE Best Frequent-stay Affinity Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card from Chase 10th Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-stay Affinity Credit Card Promotions

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card Third Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-stay Affinity Credit Card Benefits

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card from Chase

Best Frequent-stay Affinity Credit Card Redemptions

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card Second Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-flyer Affinity Credit Card

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America

10th Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-flyer Affinity Credit Card Promotions

United Club Infinite Card from Chase Second Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-flyer Affinity Credit Card Benefits

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card from Bank of America

Third Consecutive Year

Best Frequent-flyer Affinity Credit Card Redemptions

United Explorer Card from Chase Ninth Consecutive Year

Best Cruise Line Affinity Credit Card

Princess Cruises Visa Signature Card from Barclays Fourth Consecutive Year

Airline of the Year

Delta Air Lines

Hotel of the Year

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants

Outstanding Diversity & Inclusion in Travel – Airline

Alaska Airlines

Outstanding Diversity & Inclusion in Travel – Hotel

Marriott International

Outstanding Diversity & Inclusion in Travel – Cruise

Celebrity Cruises

1. Eoghan Slye, senior vice president, Hertz 2. Scott Linebrink; Luc Bondar, president, Mileageplus, vice president, marketing & loyalty, United Airlines, accepting on behalf of Jpmorgan Chase & Co., for the United Airlines co-branded credit cards 3. Maria Krasilnikova, head of global brand, marketing, loyalty, oneworld 4. Amine El Farissi, vice president, Americas, Royal Air Maroc 5. Joey Seow, regional vice president, Singapore Airlines 6. Fern Ottavio, sales and marketing manager, TAP Air Portugal 7. Lauren Rocklin, senior vice president, marketing, The Parking Spot 8. Offer Nissenbaum, managing director, The Peninsula Beverly Hills 9. Ersen Engin, general manager, Turkish Airlines 10. Lee Seow Hiang, CEO, Singapore Changi Airport 11. Thomas Loforese, overseas delivery specialist, Volvo 12. Kristin Shannon, vice president, travel & affinity partnerships, Barclays

1. Julian Tucker, general manager, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts 2. Ralph Cutié, director and chief executive officer, Miami-dade Aviation Department 3. Mark Weinstein, senior vice president, global head of marketing & loyalty, Hilton Worldwide 4. Juan Ordoñez, director of onboard services, LATAM Airlines Group 5. Kil Ki-yon, president and CEO, Seoul Tourism Organization 6. Sunil M. Daware, regional director, Americas, Air India 7. Sawako Oda, vice president, marketing & sales, the Americas, All Nippon Airways 8. Porsche Hsu, marketing director, the Americas, China Airlines 9. Colm Mcloughlin, executive vice chairman, CEO, Dubai Duty Free 10. Abdulaziz Abdullah Al-mass, vice president commercial, marketing and communications, Hamad International Airport 11. Ermanno Zanini, general manager, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah 13. Richard Krulik, CEO, Solo/briggs & Riley

1. Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO, Fxexpress Publications, Inc.; Vincent Frascogna, vice president, Americas, Etihad Airways 2. Francis X. Gallagher, publisher & CEO, Fxexpress Publications, Inc.; Amine El Farissi, vice president, Americas, Royal Air Maroc; Carrie Cox, account executive, Southern region and the Caribbean, Fxexpress Publications, Inc. 3. Katie Skrzek, vice president/digital director, Fxexpress Publications, Inc.; Rina Nehdar; Kimberly Krol Inlander, editor in chief, Fxexpress Publications, Inc.; Tracey Cullen, art director, Fxexpress Publications, Inc.; Mary Melnick, social media and editorial coordinator, Fxexpress Publications, Inc. 4. Fern Ottavio, sales and marketing manager, TAP Air Portugal; Sean Lutkenhouse, corporate sales manager, American Airlines; Eric Ludwig, member, Global Traveler’s Globility Board 5. Maria Angeles, account executive, Western region and Asia, Fxexpress Publications, Inc.; Julian Tucker, general manager, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts 6. Javier Cano, area general manager, Marriott International; Kathryn Kilburg, senior director of redemption products, loyalty, Marriott Bonvoy; Parool Shah, vice president, global brand public relations, Marriott International; Haley Fogarty, advertising manager, Fxexpress Publications, Inc.; Francis X. Gallagher, publisher & CEO, Fxexpress Publications, Inc. 7. Edyth Adedeji, director of Southwest regional sales, Delta Air Lines; Francis X. Gallagher, publisher & CEO, Fxexpress Publications, Inc. 8. Luc Bondar, president, Mileageplus, vice president, marketing & loyalty, United Airlines