2026 Priority Pass Excellence Awards recognise three All Star of the Year winners for their exceptional service
Pioneer of the Year winners in Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Spain recognised for innovations spanning traveller accessibility, sustainability and the passenger experience
All Star and Pioneer of the Year winners round out the 2026 Priority Pass Excellence Awards, following the Lounge of the Year and One to Watch winners announced earlier this year
Dubai: Priority Pass, the original and market-leading airport lounge and experiences programme, has today announced the winners of the Pioneer of the Year and All Star of the Year categories in the 2026 Priority Pass Excellence Awards.
Now in their 18th year, the awards celebrate the outstanding people, lounges and travel experiences across the Priority Pass global network. Following the announcement of this year’s Lounge of the Year and One to Watch winners in May, the latest categories turn the spotlight on the people delivering exceptional service every day and the partners responding to the changing needs of travellers.
This year’s winners demonstrate how innovation in the airport experience can take many forms. Recognised initiatives range from a dedicated Calm Room designed to support neurodivergent travellers in Brazil, to more sustainable lounge operations in Saudi Arabia and the use of thousands of recycled plastic bottles in lounge design in Spain. Alongside them, three All Star winners have been recognised for the individual acts of care, problem-solving and personalised service that can make a lasting difference to a traveller’s experience. Winners for both categories are selected by a judging panel based on partner nominations, enabling deeper insight into those pioneering in the industry.
PIONEER OF THE YEAR
The Pioneer of the Year category celebrates partners that offer unique and innovative services and solutions to enhance the overall traveller experience. This year’s winners are:
- Cozaya Lounge at King Fahd International Airport, Saudi Arabia
- BRT Lounge Porto Seguro at Porto Seguro Airport, Brazil
- A Coruña Sala VIP Lounge at A Coruña Airport, Spain
At Cozaya Lounge at King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia, the team has focused on making sustainability part of its day-to-day operations, from reducing food waste and removing single-use plastics to training staff to embed more sustainable practices without compromising the guest experience.
Commenting on the Pioneer of the Year winners, one of the Priority Pass Excellence Awards judges, said: “Making sustainability work every day in a busy lounge takes discipline, and the Cozaya team has it. They cut food waste, took out single-use plastics and trained their people to make it stick on every shift. Guests still get the service they expect. That gives every lounge in our network a model it can follow.”
ALL STAR OF THE YEAR
The All Star of the Year category recognises individuals who consistently go above and beyond to deliver service excellence for Priority Pass members. This year’s winners include:
- Abdulaziz Fahad Alharbi of Cozaya Lounge at King Fahd International Airport, Saudi Arabia
- Tran Minh Quang of SH Premium Lounge Hanoi 2 at Noi Bai International Airport, Vietnam
- Miao Shu Na of Oriental Club Lounge at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taiwan
At Cozaya Lounge at King Fahd International Airport, Team Leader Abdulaziz Fahad Alharbi was praised for his proactive approach to problem-solving and service innovation. His work has introduced many improvements for guests, spanning comfort and organisation through to cultural relevance and operational reliability.
Commenting on the award, Abdulaziz Alharbi said: “I’m truly honoured to be named All Star of the Year. This recognition means everything – it’s a reward for the hard work, and it belongs to everyone who supported me.”
“The All Star of the Year and Pioneer of the Year winners are a brilliant reflection of the people and ideas shaping the airport experience today,” says Christopher Evans, CEO of Collinson International. “Whether it’s an individual making a traveller’s journey that little bit more special, or a team finding new ways to create more thoughtful and inclusive spaces, these awards recognise the care and creativity that goes into delivering a great guest experience. We’re incredibly proud to work with partners who share that commitment, and I’d like to congratulate all of this year’s winners on their achievements.”
The 2026 Priority Pass Excellence Awards have celebrated outstanding people, lounges and travel experiences from across the global Priority Pass network. Together, this year’s winners showcase the breadth of experiences being delivered across the network and the many ways Priority Pass partners are responding to the evolving needs of travellers around the world.
