Winners of ‘Tourism Oscars’ revealed: Ireland’s Guinness Storehouse named top tourist attraction in Europe for 2023 and Miami Beach crowned the No.1 city destination in North America
- The prestigious titles were presented as part of the 2023 World Travel Awards
- Portugal dazzled as Europe’s leading destination and Air France won best airline
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The Guinness Storehouse in Dublin has been crowned Europe’s leading tourist attraction while Miami Beach has been named the leading city destination of North America in the ‘tourism Oscars’.
The accolades came courtesy of the 2023 World Travel Awards, ‘which recognise industry leaders in the tourism, airline, hotel, and hospitality sectors’.
Catherine Toolan, managing director of Diageo Irish Brand Homes, said: ‘This is fantastic recognition for Irish tourism and for everyone at Home of Guinness who creates a world-class visitor experience and a warm welcome for the thousands of people each day.’
The brewery experience, which tells the history of Ireland’s famous beer with tastings and a rooftop bar, was also voted Europe’s leading beer tour visitor experience for the second year running.
Other winners in the regional awards for Europe included Portugal, which dazzled as the leading destination for 2023 and its southernmost region – The Algarve – won leading beach destination. The country’s Madeira islands picked up the award for leading island escape.
The Guinness Storehouse in Dublin has been crowned Europe’s leading tourist attraction
The Guinness Storehouse tells the story of one of Ireland’s most loved brands
Other winners in the regional awards for Europe included Portugal (home to Lisbon, pictured) which dazzled as the leading destination for 2023
Spain’s adrenaline capital Huesca La Magia also made it onto the podium as the leading adventure tourism destination while Georgia’s second largest city, Batumi, was named as the top all-season destination.
In the hospitality sector, Ciragan Palace Kempinski hotel in Istanbul, Turkey, was voted the leading hotel on the continent while Forete Village in Sardinia, Italy, was crowned leading resort.
Air France was voted Europe’s leading airline overall, while Lufthansa collected the prize for best business class and Virgin Atlantic won best economy class.
In the regional England awards, gongs went to The Savoy in London (best hotel), The Biltmore Mayfair (best luxury hotel), Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons (best boutique hotel), and Manchester United (best stadium experience).
Welsh winners included Celtic Manor (best hotel) and Chateau Rhianfa (best boutique hotel), while Scottish award winners included Gleneagles Townhouse (best boutique hotel) and Highland Explorer Tours (best tour operator).
A separate award ceremony was held for the Caribbean and the Americas, where Miami Beach had two reasons to celebrate.
The island city, in Florida, was not only crowned best city destination, but best beach escape in North America.
Graham Cooke, founder of the World Travel Awards, commented: ‘Miami Beach is one of those unique multi-faceted city beach destinations that combines many of the attractions of an ideal city break – thriving art scene, historic districts, nightlife, museums – with those elements we might seek in a classic beach holiday, including a world-class beach lined with iconic hotels and restaurants.’
EUROPE: 2023 WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS WINNERS
EUROPE
Leading Airline 2023 – Air France
Airline – Business Class 2023 – Lufthansa
Airline – Economy Class 2023 – Virgin Atlantic Airways
Airline – First Class 2023 – Air France La Première
Airport 2023 – Zurich Airport, Switzerland
All-Inclusive Resort 2023 – Pestana Porto Santo All Inclusive, Portugal
Beach Destination 2023 – The Algarve, Portugal
Boutique Hotel 2023 – Verride Palácio Santa Catarina, Portugal
Boutique Resort 2023 – Santo Pure Oia Suites & Villas, Greece
Car Rental Company 2023 – Europcar
City Destination 2023 – Lisbon, Portugal
Cultural Destination 2023 – Spain
Destination 2023 – Portugal
Eco Resort 2023 – Arbatax Park Resort, Italy
Emerging Tourism Destination 2023 – Batumi, Georgia
Ferry Operator 2023 – DFDS
Football Stadium Tourism Experience 2023 – Real Madrid – Tour Bernabéu
Hotel 2023 – Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, Türkiye
Hotel Suite 2023 – Royal Suite @ Burgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa, Switzerland
Landmark Hotel 2023 – Bairro Alto Hotel, Portugal
Leisure Resort 2023 – Domes Zeen Chania, a Luxury Collection Resort, Greece
Lifestyle Hotel 2023 – Calilo, Greece
Luxury Hotel 2023 – Katikies Santorini, Greece
Luxury Resort 2023 – Domes Miramare, a Luxury Collection Resort, Corfu, Greece
New Tourist Attraction 2023 – Quake – Lisbon Earthquake Center, Portugal
Resort 2023 – Forte Village Resort, Italy
Tour Operator 2023 – Star Tours
Tourist Attraction 2023 – Guinness Storehouse, Ireland
Wellness Hotel 2023 – Grandhotel Lienz, Austria
ENGLAND
Leading Boutique Hotel 2023 – Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
Car Rental Company 2023 – Sixt
Country House Hotel 2023 – Cliveden House
Football Stadium Tourism Experience 2023 – Manchester United F.C. – Old Trafford Experience
Hotel 2023 – The Savoy
Hotel Suite 2023 – Royal Suite by Gucci @ The Savoy
Luxury Hotel 2023 – The Biltmore Mayfair
Online Travel Agency 2023 – Trip.com
Resort 2023 – The Belfry Hotel & Resort
Tour Operator 2023 – Star Tours
Travel Agency 2023 – Flight Centre
SCOTLAND
Leading Boutique Hotel 2023 – Gleneagles Townhouse
Car Rental Company 2023 – Sixt
Hotel 2023 – The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel
Hotel Suite 2023 – Scone & Crombie Suite @ The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel
Luxury Hotel 2023 – Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian
Resort 2023 – The Gleneagles Hotel
Tour Operator 2023 – Highland Explorer Tours
Travel Agency 2023 – Flight Centre
WALES
Leading Boutique Hotel 2023 – Chateau Rhianfa
Car Rental Company 2023 – Sixt
Hotel 2023 – Celtic Manor, The Resort Hotel
Tour Operator 2023 – Cambria Tours
Travel Agency 2023 – Miles Morgan Travel
NORTHERN IRELAND
Leading Car Rental Company 2023 – Avis
Hotel 2023 – Titanic Hotel Belfast
Tour Operator 2023 – Travel Solutions
Travel Agency 2023 – Gallagher Travel
Source: World Travel Awards
Miami Beach, above, had two reasons to celebrate. The island city, in Florida, was crowned best city destination and best beach escape in North America
Also among the winners was Canada, crowned the leading destination of North America, and Seattle, recognised as the best place for meetings and conferences.
Meanwhile, California’s Beverly Hills Hotel was voted the No.1 hotel for North America overall while The Plaza hotel in New York was crowned No.1 for the U.S specifically.
Air Canada was awarded North America’s leading airline, while United Airlines won best first class and American Airlines was voted best business and best economy class.
A third awards gala for Asia and Oceania saw Australia cement its reputation as the leading destination in Oceania, while Melbourne snared the gong for leading city destination on the continent.
The Cook Islands were voted leading island destination but when it comes to diving, the Islands of Tahiti took the top spot.
NORTH AMERICA: 2023 WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS WINNERS
NORTH AMERICA
Leading Airline 2023 – Air Canada
Airline – Business Class 2023 – American Airlines
Airline – Economy Class 2023 – American Airlines
Airline – First Class 2023 – United Airlines
Airport 2023 – Orlando International Airport, USA
Beach Destination 2023 – Miami Beach, Florida, USA
Boutique Hotel 2023 – Malibu Beach Inn Hotel & Spa, USA
Car Rental Company 2023 – Avis
Casino Resort 2023 – Caesars Palace Las Vegas, USA
City Destination 2023 – Miami Beach, Florida, USA
Cruise Line 2023 – Norwegian Cruise Line
Destination 2023 – Canada
Hotel 2023 – The Beverly Hills Hotel, California, USA
Hotel Suite 2023 – Royal Suite @ The Plaza, New York, USA
Luxury Hotel 2023 – Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, USA
Resort 2023 – The Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables, USA
Theme Park Resort 2023 – Walt Disney World, Florida
Tour Operator 2023 – Enchanting Travels
Tourist Attraction 2023 – Niagara Falls, Canada
Travel Agency 2023 – Skylux Travel
UNITED STATES
Leading Boutique Hotel 2023 – Refinery Hotel
Car Rental Company 2023 – Avis
City Hotel 2023 – The Knickerbocker Hotel, New York
Hotel 2023 – The Plaza, New York
Hotel Suite 2023 – Presidential Suite @ Bellagio Las Vegas
Online Travel Agency 2023 – Priceline.com
Resort 2023 – The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
Tour Operator 2023 – National Geographic Expeditions
Travel Agency 2023 – Liberty Travel
CANADA
Leading Boutique Hotel 2023 – The Hazelton Hotel, Toronto
Car Rental Company 2023 – Avis
Hotel 2023 – Fairmont Banff Springs
Hotel Suite 2023 – Royal Suite @ Four Seasons Hotel Toronto
Luxury Hotel 2023 – Rosewood Hotel Georgia
Online Travel Agency 2023 – Flight Centre Canada
Resort 2023 – Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler
Tour Operator 2023 – Entrée Destinations
Travel Agency 2023 – The Great Canadian Travel Group
Source: World Travel Awards
Air Canada was awarded North America’s leading airline
Air France was voted Europe’s leading airline overall, while Lufthansa collected the prize for best business class and Virgin Atlantic won best economy class
In the hospitality sector, the Millbrook Resort in New Zealand was chosen as the best hotel and the Pacific Resort Aitutaki, on the Cook Islands, won leading resort.
Taking the top spot as Oceania’s leading airline was Air New Zealand.
Awards for the Middle East as well as Africa and the Indian Ocean will be presented on October 15.
The winners of each regional event will then progress to the Grand Final 2023, which will take place at the end of the year.
Explaining the awards, Cooke added: ‘World Travel Awards aims to drive up standards in travel and hospitality by getting the public and the industry to vote for their favourite travel organisations, everything from hotels and airlines to tour operators and tourist attractions. Voting operates on a first-past-the-post basis.’
Niagara Falls (above) has been crowned North America’s best tourist attraction for 2023
Scotland’s top hotel is The Balmoral, a Rocco Forte Hotel (above), which lies in Edinburgh
Iconic London hotel The Savoy (above) takes the gong for England’s best hotel for 2023
The Plaza hotel in New York (above) reigns supreme as the best hotel in the U.S
A third awards gala for Asia and Oceania saw Australia (home to Sydney, pictured) cement its reputation as the leading destination in Oceania
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