AusBT Awards 2011: Best Airport Hotels

Best Australian Airport Hotel: Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport

With a convenient location within walking distance of all Melbourne Airport's terminals, decent food and the Priority Club loyalty program, the AusBT awards panel reckoned it was hard to beat the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport.

Extra points came from several judges for the meeting-friendly suites (AusBT reviewed the suites recently), which come with their own kitchenette -- ideal for the more informal business traveller with several appointments to get through in Melbourne.

Best International Airport Hotel: Sofitel London Heathrow

Internationally, despite stiff competition from Asian airport hotels like the Novotel at BKK, Crowne Plaza at SIN and the Regal at HKG, our panel picked the Sofitel at London Heathrow's Terminal 5 as the best airport hotel for Australian business travellers.

The Sofitel had going for it a terminal-side location (at Terminal 5, home to Qantas' key European partner British Airways' short-haul connecting flights), fantastic beds, impeccable soundproofing and a top-notch French restaurant, La Belle Epoque. 

Extra points for enough space for your luggage (including a large built-in luggage rack) and a connectivity panel to hook your devices into the room's TV and sound system.

(We reviewed both the Sofitel London Heathrow and competitor the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport in 2011.)

Click here to see all winners in the Australian Business Traveller Awards 2011.

The Australian Business Traveller Awards are judged by an independent panel of business travellers and frequent flyers plus the AusBT team, and provide a uniquely Australian perspective on the best products and services for Australia's estimated 2.6 million business travellers.

John Walton

Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.