'Tourism Oscars': Guinness Storehouse named Europe's top attraction

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
  • READ MORE: Travel as we know it could be on the brink of EXTINCTION by 2040

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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