Plaza Premium Group Wins World’s Best Airport Lounge Group for the Tenth Consecutive Year
Plaza Premium Group has been named the World’s Best Airport Lounge Group at the World Airline Awards organised by Skytrax, marking its tenth consecutive year of recognition since 2016. The achievement highlights the company’s continued presence in the global airport hospitality sector and its focus on improving the passenger experience.
The award recognises Plaza Premium Group’s independent airport lounge network and its approach to delivering hospitality services across international airports. In addition to the group award, three of its lounges in Rome, London and Dubai secured positions among the world’s top 10 independent airport lounges in Skytrax’s rankings.
The recognition reinforces the importance of airport lounges as part of the wider travel experience, offering passengers spaces to relax, dine and access hospitality services while in transit.
Plaza Premium Group Earns Tenth Consecutive Skytrax Award
The World’s Best Airport Lounge Group award is a significant milestone for Plaza Premium Group, which pioneered the independent airport lounge concept 28 years ago.
The group’s approach centres on providing lounge access and hospitality services to travellers across different airports, rather than limiting its offering to passengers flying with a particular airline or holding a specific airline status.
Commenting on the recognition, Song Hoi See, Founder and CEO of Plaza Premium Group, described the award as an honour and a reflection of the trust travellers place in the company.
He acknowledged the contribution of the group’s teams worldwide, as well as the support of passengers, Skytrax, airport operators and business partners.
Song also highlighted the company’s long-standing ambition to improve the airport transit experience, noting that its mission remains focused on making travel better.
The recognition marks a continuation of the group’s relationship with Skytrax and highlights the role of customer feedback in assessing airport hospitality services.
Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, congratulated Plaza Premium Group on receiving the award for the tenth consecutive year. He also noted that the presence of three of its lounges in the global top 10 reflected customer recognition of their hospitality standards.
Three Plaza Premium Lounges Rank Among the World’s Best
Alongside the group award, three Plaza Premium lounges were recognised in Skytrax’s World’s Best Independent Airport Lounges rankings.
The selected locations are at Rome Fiumicino Airport, London Heathrow Airport and Dubai International Airport. Each offers a different experience shaped by its destination, combining lounge facilities with local culinary influences and hospitality.
Plaza Premium Lounge Rome – Fiumicino Airport
Located in Terminal 3 at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, Plaza Premium Lounge Rome offers travellers a lounge experience inspired by Italian culture.
The lounge has previously received significant recognition, including being named the World’s Best Independent Airport Lounge from 2023 to 2025, according to the supplied announcement.
Its positioning connects the airport experience with the destination’s broader cultural identity, offering passengers a place to unwind before departure or during transit.
Rome’s international connectivity makes the airport an important gateway for leisure and business travellers, while the lounge provides an additional hospitality option within the terminal environment.
Plaza Premium Lounge London – Heathrow Airport
At London Heathrow Airport, the Plaza Premium Lounge in Terminal 4 focuses on stylish surroundings and hospitality inspired by British dining traditions.
Passengers can enjoy classic British dishes and drinks in a setting designed to provide a comfortable break from the airport’s busy environment.
For travellers passing through Heathrow, the lounge offers a dedicated space to relax, eat and prepare for the next stage of their journey.
The recognition of the London location also contributes to Plaza Premium Group’s international presence across major aviation hubs.
Plaza Premium Lounge Dubai – Dubai International Airport
Plaza Premium Lounge Dubai combines local Emirati influences with an internationally oriented hospitality experience.
The lounge incorporates local delicacies, art and traditional experiences intended to reflect Dubai’s cultural identity while serving passengers travelling through one of the world’s major international aviation hubs.
Dubai’s position as a global transit centre makes airport hospitality an important part of the overall passenger journey. Lounge facilities provide travellers with an opportunity to take a break between flights while experiencing elements of the destination.
The inclusion of the Dubai lounge among the top 10 independent airport lounges highlights the group’s presence in the Middle East and its role in the region’s airport hospitality sector.
Independent Airport Lounges Shape the Passenger Experience
Plaza Premium Group’s recognition comes amid the broader development of airport hospitality, where passenger expectations increasingly extend beyond check-in, security and boarding.
Airport lounges offer travellers an environment to rest, enjoy refreshments and spend time away from crowded terminal areas. For passengers on long journeys or connecting flights, these facilities can form an important part of the travel experience.
Independent lounge operators also provide an alternative to airline-operated lounges, potentially serving passengers from different airlines and travel arrangements, depending on access conditions at each location.
The quality of the experience depends on several elements, including food and beverage offerings, seating, service, design and the overall environment.
Plaza Premium Group’s recognised lounges demonstrate how local cultural references can be incorporated into airport hospitality. Italian influences in Rome, classic British food in London and Emirati elements in Dubai provide destination-specific characteristics within an international lounge network.
These approaches allow airport lounges to serve as more than waiting areas, creating spaces that reflect aspects of the places in which they operate.
Plaza Premium Group’s Global Hospitality Mission
Founded around the concept of independent airport lounges, Plaza Premium Group has developed its presence in the airport hospitality sector through services designed to support travellers during their journeys.
Its continued recognition by Skytrax highlights the company’s focus on customer experience and the contribution of its international teams.
Song Hoi See thanked travellers who voted for the group, alongside employees and partners who contribute to its operations. His comments underscored the importance of consistent service delivery across different airports and markets.
The group’s tenth consecutive award also provides a milestone for its long-term development. Maintaining recognition over multiple years requires attention to service quality and the needs of passengers travelling through different airports.
The three lounge rankings in Rome, London and Dubai further demonstrate the group’s presence across Europe and the Middle East.
Together, these recognitions highlight the role of airport hospitality in shaping passenger perceptions of travel. As airports continue to serve as gateways for international tourism and business, lounge operators remain an important part of the wider aviation service ecosystem.
For Plaza Premium Group, the latest Skytrax recognition reinforces its stated commitment to its mission: making travel better through airport hospitality.
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Ahmed Abdul Wasey
Managing Editor, Eat ‘N Stays
Ahmed Abdul Wasey is the Managing Editor in Eat ‘N Stays, overseeing all editorial coverage of travel, hospitality, and food across Saudi Arabia and the wider Gulf region. He sets the publication’s editorial direction and reviews coverage across hotels, restaurants, tourism, cruise, and industry news before it publishes.
Have a story tip, correction, or question about our coverage? Reach Ahmed directly at pr@eatnstays.com.
