Priority Pass™, the original and leading airport lounge and experiences program operated by Collinson International, has announced the winners of its 2025 Excellence Awards. This year’s honorees have redefined the standards of airport hospitality through outstanding service and cutting-edge innovation.
The awards span three categories—Lounge of the Year, Pioneer of the Year, and All Star of the Year, recognizing standout contributions from within the global Priority Pass network.
“The Priority Pass Excellence Awards celebrate the extraordinary efforts of our lounge and experience partners who continuously go above and beyond to make travellers’ journeys special,” says Christopher Evans, CEO of Collinson International.
“As demand for premium travel experiences continues to rise, more and more travellers are turning to airport experiences to elevate their journeys. This is testament to the many exceptional partners who are raising the bar across the airport ecosystem. Through these awards, we want to shine a light on our partners who continue to find ways to elevate customer experience. Congratulationsto this year’s winners and those that were highly commended.”
LOUNGE OF THE YEAR
This accolade goes to the highest-rated lounges across the Priority Pass global network, based on 781,000 member ratings and reviews across a wide range of criteria, including quality of facilities, customer service, food and beverage selection and overall satisfaction.
Overall Global Winner:
- Advantage VIP Lounge, Terminal 1, Belo Horizonte Tancredo Neves International Airport, Brazil
Crowned as the global winner, the Advantage VIP Lounge was praised for being a true standout, described by Priority Pass members as a lounge with exceptionally kind staff and fantastic food, which all members should visit and experience.
The Advantage VIP lounge draws architectural inspiration from Brazilian heritage and culture, such as the Pampulha Church and the natural gemstones of Minas Gerais. The culinary offering celebrates regional flavours, with dishes such as chicken with okra, vaca atolada (Brazilian short rib stew), and the classic combination of cheese with guava for an authentic taste of Brazil.
The lounge experience is enhanced with a Fast-Track service, allowing guests to pass through a dedicated x-ray area and head straight into the lounge, cutting down on wait times and maximising opportunities to relax and recharge.
Rute Scheliga, CEO of Advantage VIP Lounge, said: “Being recognised as the Global Lounge of the Year winner for the Priority Pass Excellence Awards is the fulfilment of a dream that began in 2015, when I founded Advantage. Our purpose is to transform the concept of premium lounge experiences in Brazilian airports, and to see this work recognised globally – in the very year we celebrate our 10th anniversary – is incredibly moving.
“This award belongs to every team member who dedicates themselves each day with excellence and care, and also to our customers, who believed in our vision and voted for us. Today, with great joy, we celebrate this milestone together!”
Regional Winners:
- Europe
- Winner: Vienna Lounge, Terminal 1, Vienna Airport, Austria
- Highly Commended: Marco Polo Club, Venice Marco Polo Airport, Italy
- Asia Pacific
- Winner: Kyra Lounge, Terminal 1, Hong Kong International Airport, Hong Kong (SAR)
- Highly Commended: Oriental Club Lounge, Terminal 2, Taipei Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan
- Latin America and the Caribbean
- Winner: Advantage VIP Lounge, Terminal 1, Belo Horizonte Tancredo Neves International Airport, Brazil
- Highly Commended: VIP Lounge Punta Cana, Terminal B2 Domestic, Punta Cana International Airport, Dominican Republic
- Middle East and Africa
- Winner: Primeclass Lounge, Muscat International Airport, Oman
- North America
- Winner: The Grand Lounge Elite, Terminal 1, Mexico City Benito Juárez International Airport, Mexico
- Highly Commended: Escape Lounges, Concourse A, Kansas City International Airport, United States
On winning the European Lounge of the Year, Julian Jäger, Joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport, said:“This award demonstrates that our standards of service, quality and atmosphere are also recognised internationally, and we are very pleased about that. We are thus continuing to consistently pursue our goal of becoming a 5-star airport. Our VIENNA Lounge symbolizes the modern Vienna Airport – global, comfortable and with a strong regional touch. My special thanks go to our dedicated employees and our partners DoN Group and Leopold Museum – they make this special experience possible for our guests”.
PIONEER OF THE YEAR
Nominated by Priority Pass lounge and experience partners, these winners champion unique and innovative services and solutions that help to improve the overall traveller experience.
This year, there were three winners crowned Pioneer of the Year:
- The Infinity Lounge, Terminal 2 & The Library Lounge, Terminal 1, Nice Cote d’Azur Airport, France
- These lounges have reinvented the VIP experience with a suite of smart, guest-focused innovations. A connected digital ecosystem delivers notifications and tailored offers, while “The Moment” gives travellers instant access to premium streaming and shopping content. Guests are greeted by Tony, a friendly “co-bot” who handles logistics so staff can focus on exceptional service. To top it off, a real-time vocal feedback system, powered by AI, listens and learns to anticipate needs and continuously elevate the experience.
- 080 Domestic & International Lounges, Terminal 2, Kempegowda International Airport, India
- Blending thoughtful design, curated dining, digital innovation and sustainability, the 080 Lounges elevated the guest journey in 2024–25. Through seasonal events, local sourcing and immersive guest experiences, they earned prestigious global awards, setting new standards for airport hospitality in India.
- Kepler Hotel & Lounge, Riga International Airport, Ria, Latvia and Kepler Club, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia
- These facilities offer travellers a private and tech-enabled retreat with soundproof sleeping cabins, luxury showers, and smart features like self-service kiosks, delivery robots, and other automated systems.
ALL STAR OF THE YEAR
Nominated by Priority Pass partners, these stand-out lounge and experience employees demonstrate an unwavering commitment to customer service excellence, every single day.
This year, there were three winners of the All Star of the Year category:
- Cristina Isabel Escobar Sánchez, Cumbia Lounge, Barranquilla Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport, Colombia
- Nanci Quintana, AMAE Lounge, International and Domestic Terminals, Rosario Islas Malvinas International Airport, Argentina
- Guilherme Queiroz da Silva, BRT Lounge, Porto Seguro Airport, Brazil
