It's that time of year again, when we get to acknowledge the business and services we love most about travel. This year, Executive Travel polled our readers to learn about their favorite companies. The results for the 60-plus catagories were not unexpected. The usual standards are also our standards for a reason: They've got staying power, with panache. Here we detail the recent accomplishments of a few notable winners and also list the entire pack—with kudos to all. Congratulations to our 2006 Leading Edge Award winners.

American

Business class at American Airlines is about to get classier. This past summer, American unveiled its Next Generation Business Class, a remodeled business section of 30 seats on its Boeing 767-300 planes. The planes service many of American's transatlantic routes, but also fly between a host of important U.S. cities: JFK to San Francisco, L.A. to Miami, and Dallas to San Francisco among them. Both domestic and international passengers will get a chance to experience the new lie-down seats and entertainment centers after they're installed (due by next summer).

In the lie-down seats, passengers will recline at an angle—that is, down, but not entirely flat. American opted for the "flat at an angle" design, with seats manufactured by the German company Recaro, for several reasons. First, the fully flat models would have meant sacrificing seat pitch. In addition, tests showed high satisfaction with the "Z" position of the flat-at-an-angle seats. Besides being able to offer a lie-down rest, the seats are exceedingly adjustable: Passengers will be able to readjust any component of the seat, including the seat bottom, seat back, leg rest and the leg-rest extension. (There are five motors in each seat!)

Also nifty: You can move the seat forward when it's in the upward position to create a little space and privacy. And, best of all, you don't have to worry about being bumped by passengers taking advantage of the seat's bells and whistles—since the seats will be installed in shells to protect passengers from stray feet and knees. The new seats will also have interlocking tray tables for more working or dining room.

In addition to the new lie-down seats, American is installing new lighting and new overhead bins and, last but not least, in-flight entertainment centers. Creature comforts, here you come.

SECOND PLACE: Continental
THIRD PLACE: Delta

O'Hare

It's not surprising that the nation's busiest airport (having just nosed ahead of Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson this spring) rates so high with travelers. For one, it's fun, with live entertainment throughout the year. Not surprisingly, many performances focus on Chicago's great jazz tradition, and airport gigs are pegged to events like the Chicago Blues Festival each summer. In keeping with the theme, the folks at O'Hare have been pumping jazz music, featuring local musicians, into O'Hare's five terminals for almost a decade. The same music plays on O'Hare's transit system.

That's cool. But O'Hare doesn't just have an aural fixation. It appeals to the eye as well as the ears, with exhibits of work by student artists, as well as professionals. For families, there are kid-centric displays—some fun, like "Kids on the Fly" in Terminal 2; and some serious, like "Play It Safe" (addressing child safety issues) in Terminal 5. For business travelers, O'Hare began testing "relax and recharge" stations this past spring: pods of five seats, each with a dual AC outlet, so folks can recharge two devices at once. In another innovation, O'Hare also introduced the concept of cell phone parking lots this spring: waiting areas where people with cell phones can park for free while waiting to pick up arriving passengers.

SECOND PLACE: Denver
THIRD PLACE: Tampa

Hertz

Imagine going to a restaurant and ordering your meal by size. "Oh, I'll take a compact." That's what you usually do when you rent a car, isn't it? If you're lucky, the agent will tell you what kind of car you might get. As it turns out, customers sometimes want to rent a car à la carte, a specific make for a specific need. In response to that demand, Hertz launched its Prestige Line, a fleet of high-end cars like Jaguars and Range Rovers, back in 2001. Customers can request a vehicle by location and select the make. This booking option remains an unusual perk among car rental companies.

Given the popularity of its Prestige Line, Hertz decided to carry over the option to its Fun Collection, a variety of vehicles popular with leisure travelers: Hummers, Jeep Wranglers, PT Cruisers and Miatas. The one difference: The Fun Collection is primarily concentrated in leisure destinations like Florida, California and Arizona, while à la carte Prestige Collection rentals are more widely available. In other news this year, Hertz added Audis and Infinities to its Prestige Collection.

Separately, Hertz has expanded its service by opening more off-airport locations. The number has tripled in the past four years. This means more convenience for business travelers who like to rent closer to where they're actually doing business (and avoid driving from the airport to their business base). It's also convenient for insurance replacement rentals (folks who rent a car when the car they own is in the shop due to malfunction or an accident).

SECOND PLACE: Avis
THIRD PLACE: National

Marriott

There's something comfortably reliable about Marriott hotels. For one, they don't exude the frenetic energy that some chains—the ones trying oh-so-hard to be cutting-edge—do. That's not to say Marriott is resting on its laurels or, as some have feared, growing stodgy. Last year, the property chain unveiled its Marriott Room, with quietly hip updated decor—sleek cherry veneer furniture, crisp textiles, crown molding, black-and-white photographs on the walls—and ergonomic work areas. (Visit experiencemarriott.com for a peek.) In addition, Marriott is adding a variety of features to the mix, such as wireless Internet access, iPod plugs and flat-panel TVs.

In another move, Marriott caught up with the pack on the bedding front. The chain introduced its "Revive" bedding package, new mattresses and linens that were installed at close to 2,400 hotels worldwide by this past winter. The numbers associated with the latest bedding "makeover" tell the story: approximately 628,000 new beds made up with linens that comprise 30 million yards of fabric, at a price tag approaching $190 million. The new beds, with freshly laundered duvets and feather-and-down pillows, are a big hit with guests. Marriott began selling them and other hotel wares online at shopmarriott.com.

SECOND PLACE: Hilton Group
THIRD PLACE: Starwood

Ritz-Carlton

Ritz-Carlton continues to reach new heights—literally—as the ne plus ultra luxury brand. When its new hotel opens next year in Tokyo, it will be, at 44 floors, among the tallest buildings in the Japanese metropolis. Two years later, Ritz-Carlton expects to open a new Kowloon property at a whopping 118 stories tall, with a lobby that will scale 112 of them. The two hotels are part of a global expansion, much of it in Asia, that, according to Ritz-Carlton president Simon Cooper, consists of distinctive, significant architecture that will reflect the city or resort area where it is built. Standardization, once an industry goal for economy of scale, as well for branding, is now a thing of the past for Ritz-Carlton. "Today, inconsistency in design and decor is appreciated," notes Cooper.

If authentic experiences are all the rage in the world of upscale travel, guests at the new Tokyo property are in for a treat. The private dining room consists of a 600-year-old rural teahouse, disassembled and moved piece by piece to the new hotel for painstaking reassembly. By contrast, the building itself is a modern glass structure. Meanwhile, in the leisure group category, Ritz-Carlton is making a push in the Caribbean. In 2008, look for a reserve of low-rise bungalows to open in West Turks and Caicos. The following year, the chain will open in the Bahamas, on Rose Island. Ritz-Carlton expects to open hotels in Beijing and Guangzhao and, stateside, in Denver next year. In keeping with another trend, most new Ritz-Carlton properties include residential components.

SECOND PLACE: Four Seasons
THIRD PLACE: InterContinental

Tumi

What's new with Tumi? For starters, its luggage and briefcases are softer these days, a trend that's swept the entire fashion accessory world. This past winter, Tumi opened a store in Hawaii and introduced an international travel charger kit, the Tumi USB, which includes five components: an electric adaptor with connectivity in 150 countries; a 5.0 volt output, the international standard for cell phones, PDAs and other handheld devices; a cell phone charger; a retractable cell phone charger and a connector cable.

As for briefcases and laptop cases, Generation 4.4 continues to be a huge hit with customers. Introduced in summer 2005, it's become Tumi's most popular line. One of the new items is a larger computer case for 17-inch laptop screens. On the inside, you'll find usual attention to detail and organization: separate pockets for your computer, umbrella, pens and other items. On the outside, look for more pockets, a cord port and an adjustable shoulder strap.

SECOND PLACE: Hartman (briefcase) and Travelpro (laptop case)
THIRD PLACE: Coach (briefcase) and Hartman (laptop case)

Best Carry-On Suitcase

FIRST PLACE: Travelpro
SECOND PLACE: Tumi
THIRD PLACE: Samsonite

Best PDA

FIRST PLACE: Treo
SECOND PLACE: BlackBerry
THIRD PLACE: Palm

Best Laptop

FIRST PLACE: Dell
SECOND PLACE: Sony
THIRD PLACE: Apple/Macintosh

Best Cellular Phone

FIRST PLACE: Motorola
SECOND PLACE: Nokia
THIRD PLACE: Treo

Best Cellular Phone Service

FIRST PLACE: Verizon
SECOND PLACE: Cingular
THIRD PLACE: T-Mobile

Best Car Navigation System

FIRST PLACE: Garmin
SECOND PLACE: Sony
THIRD PLACE: OnStar

Best MP3 Player

FIRST PLACE: Apple iPod
SECOND PLACE: Samsung
THIRD PLACE: Dell

Best Domestic Vehicle Brand

FIRST PLACE: Cadillac
SECOND PLACE: Ford
THIRD PLACE: Lincoln

Best Foreign Vehicle Brand

FIRST PLACE: BMW
SECOND PLACE: Mercedes-Benz
THIRD PLACE: Lexus

Best Foreign Airline

FIRST PLACE: Singapore
SECOND PLACE: British Airways
THIRD PLACE: Cathay Pacific

Best First-Class Service (Domestic)

FIRST PLACE: American
SECOND PLACE: Continental
THIRD PLACE: United

Best First-Class Service (International)

FIRST PLACE: Singapore
SECOND PLACE: British Airways
THIRD PLACE: Emirates

Best Business Class for International Flights

FIRST PLACE: British Airways
SECOND PLACE: Singapore
THIRD PLACE: United

Best Economy Class for Domestic Flights

FIRST PLACE: American
SECOND PLACE: United
THIRD PLACE: JetBlue

Best Airline for Flights to Africa

FIRST PLACE: South African
SECOND PLACE: British Airways
THIRD PLACE: Delta

Best Airline for Flights to Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand

FIRST PLACE: Qantas
SECOND PLACE: Singapore
THIRD PLACE: Cathay Pacific

Best Airline for Flights to Canada

FIRST PLACE: Air Canada
SECOND PLACE: American
THIRD PLACE: United

Best Airline for Flights to the Caribbean

FIRST PLACE: American
SECOND PLACE: US Airways
THIRD PLACE: Continental/Delta

Best Airline for Flights to Central/South America

FIRST PLACE: American
SECOND PLACE: Continental
THIRD PLACE: Delta

Best Airline for Flights to Eastern Europe

FIRST PLACE: Lufthansa
SECOND PLACE: British Airways
THIRD PLACE: Delta

Best Airline for Flights to Mexico

FIRST PLACE: American
SECOND PLACE: Continental
THIRD PLACE: AeroMexico

Best Airline for Flights to the Middle East

FIRST PLACE: Emirates
SECOND PLACE: El Al
THIRD PLACE: British Airways

Best Airline for Flights to Western Europe

FIRST PLACE: British Airways
SECOND PLACE: Air France
THIRD PLACE: Delta

Best Airline for Airport Lounges

FIRST PLACE: Delta
SECOND PLACE: American
THIRD PLACE: Continental

Best Low-Cost Carrier

FIRST PLACE: Southwest
SECOND PLACE: JetBlue
THIRD PLACE: Song

Best Airline Customer Service

FIRST PLACE: American
SECOND PLACE: Southwest
THIRD PLACE: Continental

Best Airline Alliance

FIRST PLACE: Star Alliance
SECOND PLACE: oneworld
THIRD PLACE: SkyTeam

Best In-Flight Amenities and Entertainment

FIRST PLACE: JetBlue
SECOND PLACE: Singapore
THIRD PLACE: United

Best Frequent Flier Program (Domestic)

FIRST PLACE: American
SECOND PLACE: Delta
THIRD PLACE: United

Best Frequent Flier Program (Foreign)

FIRST PLACE: British Airways
SECOND PLACE: KLM
THIRD PLACE: American

Best Private Jet Service

FIRST PLACE: NetJets
SECOND PLACE: Marquis
THIRD PLACE: FlexJet

Best International Airport

FIRST PLACE: Hong Kong
SECOND PLACE: London Heathrow
THIRD PLACE: Amsterdam

Best Car Rental Frequency Program

FIRST PLACE: Hertz
SECOND PLACE: Avis
THIRD PLACE: National

Best Business Service (In-Room or In-Center)

FIRST PLACE: Marriott
SECOND PLACE: Hilton
THIRD PLACE: Ritz-Carlton

Best Customer Service

FIRST PLACE: Marriott
SECOND PLACE: Ritz-Carlton
THIRD PLACE: Hilton

Best Hotel for Meetings

FIRST PLACE: Marriott
SECOND PLACE: Hilton
THIRD PLACE: Ritz-Carlton

Best Frequent Guest Program

FIRST PLACE: Marriott
SECOND PLACE: Hilton HHonors
THIRD PLACE: Starwood

Best Destination Club/Fractional Home Ownership/Timeshare

FIRST PLACE: Marriott
SECOND PLACE: Dream Catcher
THIRD PLACE: Hilton

Best Cruise Line

FIRST PLACE: Crystal
SECOND PLACE: Holland America
THIRD PLACE: Cunard

Best Credit-Card Rewards Program

FIRST PLACE: American Express
SECOND PLACE: American Airlines
THIRD PLACE: Chase/Marriott Visa

Best Credit Card for Business

FIRST PLACE: American Express
SECOND PLACE: Visa
THIRD PLACE: MasterCard

Best Full-Service Financial Firm

FIRST PLACE: Ameriprise
SECOND PLACE: Fidelity
THIRD PLACE: Merrill Lynch

Best Web Site for Online Investing

FIRST PLACE: TD Ameritrade
SECOND PLACE: E*Trade
THIRD PLACE: Charles Schwab

Best Golf Clubs

FIRST PLACE: Callaway
SECOND PLACE: Ping
THIRD PLACE: Taylor Made

Best Golf Resort

FIRST PLACE: The Greenbrier, N.C.
SECOND PLACE: Pebble Beach, Calif.
THIRD PLACE: Kapaluah Maui, Hawaii

Best Vodka

FIRST PLACE: Grey Goose
SECOND PLACE: Absolut
THIRD PLACE: Ketel One

Best Gin

FIRST PLACE: Bombay Sapphire
SECOND PLACE: Tanqueray
THIRD PLACE: Beefeater

Best Scotch

FIRST PLACE: Johnnie Walker
SECOND PLACE: The Glenlivet
THIRD PLACE: Dewars

Best Domestic City for a Three-Day Weekend

FIRST PLACE: San Francisco, Calif.
SECOND PLACE: New York, N.Y.
THIRD PLACE: Las Vegas, N.V.

Best International City Vacation Destination

FIRST PLACE: London, UK
SECOND PLACE: Paris, France
THIRD PLACE: Rome, Italy

Best City Destination for Families

FIRST PLACE: Orlando, Fla.
SECOND PLACE: Washington, D.C.
THIRD PLACE: San Diego, Calif.

Best City for Group Meetings

FIRST PLACE: Las Vegas, N.V.
SECOND PLACE: Chicago, Ill.
THIRD PLACE: New York, N.Y.

Best Ski Resort Destination

FIRST PLACE: Vail, Colo.
SECOND PLACE: Aspen, Colo.
THIRD PLACE: Whistler, B.C.

Best Golf Resort Destination

FIRST PLACE: Scottsdale, Ariz.
SECOND PLACE: Pebble Beach, Calif.
THIRD PLACE: Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Best Beach Resort Destination

FIRST PLACE: Maui, Hawaii
SECOND PLACE: Miami Beach, Fla.
THIRD PLACE: Honolulu, Hawaii

Best Destination for a Second Home

FIRST PLACE: Honolulu, Hawaii
SECOND PLACE: Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
THIRD PLACE: Marco Island, Fla.

Barbara Benham is a freelance writer based in Washington, D.C.