Cathay Members’ Choice Awards 2025: Selecting the winners

The Cathay Members’ Choice Awards recognise the very best in travel and hospitality in Hong Kong, Asia and beyond. But what does it take to become a winner?

Creating a definitive list of the very best in travel, lifestyle and hospitality is no easy task: it requires meticulous research and careful curation by some of the most influential and knowledgeable voices in the region.

Our expert panel 

The nomination process for the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards begins with our expert panel, comprising 16 handpicked authorities, including prominent travel journalists, tastemakers in the dining and lifestyle space, industry leaders, Cathay Diamond members, and travel and lifestyle influencers.  

These panellists are leading experts on what makes an exceptional travel experience. They’ve stayed in the best hotels, journeyed to the most exciting destinations, and have their fingers on the pulse of the latest news and trends in dining, travel and lifestyle in Asia and beyond.  

It is up to this panel to put forward their nominations in 20 categories across five pillars: Dining, Travel & Lifestyle, Hotels, Hong Kong’s Best and World’s Best. Once their recommendations are in, our team consolidates their nominations to create a definitive shortlist for members to vote on in the next round. 

Selection criteria

Our panellists use several metrics to determine their favourite brands, landmarks and experiences. These include, but are not limited to, design, service, creativity, uniqueness, facilities, innovation, popularity, and overall experience. They’re looking for incredible service, outstanding attention to detail and an unforgettable experience in every finalist they put forward. Panellists are also asked to qualify their selections by sharing specific details about what makes each nomination so special.

As Hong Kong’s flagship carrier, the focus of the Members’ Choice Awards this year is predominantly in Asia: we want to know where our members love to eat, shop, stay and play in the region. However, there are two notable exceptions: our category focusing on the ultimate Hong Kong experiences; and the World’s Best category, nominated by our panel’s Diamond members.

Cathay members vote 

Once the nominees in each category are confirmed, the wider voting stage begins. And who better to determine the most beloved brands, landmarks and experiences on our shortlist than our global community of more than 12 million Cathay members?

Using our online voting page, Cathay members can vote for their favourite travel brands and experiences in each category; the top spots are awarded to the nominees who receive the most votes. Voting runs from 26 May to 15 June, after which the results are tabulated and shared across all our platforms. Check back in August to discover our definitive list of winners.  

I’m not a Cathay member. Can I vote? 

Only Cathay members can vote in the Cathay Members’ Choice Awards. However, it’s easy to take part simply by joining our membership programme, which rewards our passengers with a wealth of benefits and privileges. Find out how to become a Cathay member.