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.’
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.
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
