EACH YEAR WE AWARD the best of the best in travel across all of our brands. We start in spring, with Global Traveler’s Leisure Lifestyle Awards and Wines on the Wing airline wine survey. In summer, trazeetravel.com awards The Trazees, with whereverfamily.com’s Wherever Awards in fall. We wrap up each year celebrating the GT Tested Reader Survey awards in December. Last year’s Sweet 16th of them is recapped this month, beginning on page 34. However, whether or not it’s awards season, we, as travelers and journalists, are regularly reminded throughout the year why certain airlines, hotels and travel products stand out, even in the most subtle ways.

One such recent reminder for me came during a tour of Newark, New Jersey’s, Aero- Farms, a farming facility combining horticulture, engineering, data science and nutrition. The indoor vertical gardens grow safe, nutritious, delicious food year-round. Using no pesticides, it’s all locally grown and creates less food waste but 390 times more production than field farming by using special LED lighting and a recycled cloth material to replace soil. Additionally, production uses 95 percent less water. Following the facility tour, I enjoyed a plating demonstration with Antony McNeil, director of food and beverage, Singapore Airlines. McNeil plated the three business-class salads served on board and featuring greens from AeroFarms. The greens are harvested just hours before flight in a new farm-to-plane partnership. What an amazing initiative and a special touch for premium passengers — all a reminder why Singapore Airlines regularly appears on our survey as Best Airline in the World.

On a recent trip to Chicago during a conversation with United Airlines, yet another award winner, we learned it incorporates special touches for families, like passports for children, footstep patterns on the airport floor leading to family-friendly lines, redesigned wings and more. Again, special touches that keep providers top of mind for frequent travelers. What are some recent reminders you’ve had of why your favorite airlines, hotels and more remain No. 1 in your heart?

It seemed only fitting that when Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO; Richard Evans, senior vice president; and I met John Wroblewski and Lou Atsaves, our distribution specialists, for dinner in Chicago, we selected the aptly named GT Prime Steakhouse. Over delicious wood-fired steaks and lots of laughs, we also managed to capture a selfie, which I selected for this month’s letter.

On the subject of photos, I need to gush over this month’s cover. It’s one of my favorites, and it instantly transported me back to a 2015 trip to Cappadocia. While I didn’t take to the skies in a hot-air balloon, the landscape is otherworldly and stunning from any perspective. Learn more on page 72. We also float around the globe in this issue to Tel Aviv; Columbus, Ohio; Santiago; Mumbai; Lucerne; Bucharest; the Cook Islands; Tangier; and the Florida Keys.

Next month we unveil our fourth Green Issue, printed on recycled paper and highlighting sustainability around the globe. Until then, don’t forget to take a moment during your travels to spot those little reminders!