Avis was honored by U.K.-based Business Traveller magazine last week, receiving awards for being the "Best Car Rental Company" worldwide and in Europe.

The magazine's Business Traveller Awards 2010 were announced Sept. 20 during a luncheon in London.

Sponsored by Heathrow Express and supported by Panasonic Avionics Corporation and Aeromobile, the Business Traveller Awards are voted for by readers of the magazine, and are widely recognized as the market's benchmark for excellence. A fixture of the business travel and hospitality calendar for more than 25 years, this year's awards produced a few surprises for the 400 industry leaders at the event.

Singapore Airlines reclaimed the title of Best Airline from British Airways, and also won Best Business Class and Best Economy Class, with Emirates taking Best First Class for the second year running and Virgin Atlantic winning Best Premium Economy Class. British Airways won Best Short-Haul Carrier and Best Frequent Flyer Programme, while easyJet took Best Low-Cost Airline.

Hilton Hotels and Resorts won Best Business Hotel Chain Worldwide, as well as Best Business Hotel Chain in the U.K. and Europe. Marriott won Best Business Hotel Chain in North-America for the fifth consecutive year, with Jumeirah winning in the Middle East for the sixth consecutive year, and Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts continuing its dominance in Asia-Pacific for an impressive 16 uninterrupted years.

The Best Airport in the World was once again awarded to Singapore's Changi Airport, which has yet to be beaten in this category. Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport won Best Airport in Europe and London Heathrow was awarded Best Airport for Tax-Free Shopping for the second year running.

For a complete list of award results, click here.