British Airways scooped an impressive seven wins at the Business Traveller Awards, and Heathrow was a surprise winner in the airports category.BA’s haul included the award for best airline overall as well as awards for coming top in the shorthaul, longhaul, economy class, business class, first class and frequent flyer scheme categories. Chief executive Rod Eddington was at the ceremony to collect the awards.

The awards, which were held on Tuesday at the London Hilton on Park Lane, were well attended by leading figures from throughout the industry.

When London Heathrow was announced as winner of the best airport in Europe award, above Amsterdam Schipol, there were gasps and an audible mumbling throughout the crowd. The airport has been subject to a series of threatened and actual strikes over the past year.

Hilton scooped the most hotel awards - a total of four. Shangri-Las topped three categories including the best business hotel worldwide - the Shangri-La Singapore.

The traveller of the year award went to Chris Friend, a representative from the charity SightSavers. Chris is blind himself and travels frequently on his own to help blind people around the world.

With the exception of the traveller of the year award, the awards are voted for by readers of Business Traveller magazine
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