World Travel Awards unveils 2026 winners at spectacular Jamaica ceremony

The finest travel brands from across the Caribbean and the Americas have been honoured at the World Travel Awards in Jamaica. The industry elite gathered at Princess Grand Jamaica for the Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony 2026 to discover who amongst them had been crowned the best of the best.

The red-carpet evening formed the flagship event of World Travel Week Jamaica, bringing together leading travel, tourism and hospitality brands from across the Caribbean, Central America, North America and South America.

Jamaica emerged triumphant as ‘Caribbean’s Leading Destination’ and ‘Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination’, with Jamaica Tourist Board named ‘Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board’. Turks & Caicos Islands was voted ‘Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination’. Anguilla claimed ‘Caribbean’s Leading Culinary Destination’ and ‘Caribbean’s Leading Luxury Island Destination’. Saint Lucia won ‘Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination’ and ‘Caribbean’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination’.

Miami Beach claimed ‘North America’s Leading Beach Destination’, whilst SUMMIT One Vanderbilt took the title of ‘North America’s Leading Tourist Attraction’.

Cancún, Mexico, celebrated a trio of victories, winning ‘Mexico & Central America’s Leading Beach Destination’, ‘Mexico & Central America’s Leading City Destination’ and ‘Mexico & Central America’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination’.

South American honours included Quito, Ecuador, named ‘South America’s Leading City Destination’, and Chile, recognised as ‘South America’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination’. SERNATUR National Tourist Board of Chile took the title of ‘South America’s Leading Tourist Board’, whilst Greater Medellín Convention & Visitors Bureau was voted ‘South America’s Leading City Tourist Board’.

Graham Cooke, Founder and President, World Travel Awards, said: “It has been a privilege to bring our Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony 2026 to Jamaica as the flagship evening of World Travel Week. Princess Grand Jamaica has provided a magnificent setting to celebrate the leading lights of travel and tourism from across the region. Our winners represent the very best of our industry, and I congratulate each and every one for their commitment to excellence and for helping to raise standards across the Caribbean and the Americas.”

Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica, said: “The World Travel Awards are a significant benchmark of excellence in global tourism, and Jamaica is proud to host this prestigious celebration. We congratulate all the winners whose achievements reflect the strength, innovation and resilience of our industry. Hosting these awards in Jamaica gives tourism leaders the opportunity to experience first-hand the warmth of our people, the quality of our hospitality and the diverse experiences that explain why Jamaica continues to earn numerous accolades at each staging.”

In the hospitality sector, Princess Grand Jamaica enjoyed a double success, collecting ‘Caribbean’s Leading Resort’ and ‘Caribbean’s Leading Conference Hotel’. Princess Senses The Mangrove was named ‘Caribbean’s Leading Adult-Only All-Inclusive Resort’.

In the newcomer categories, winners included Waldorf Astoria New York (‘North America’s Leading New Hotel’), One&Only Moonlight Basin (‘North America’s Leading New Resort’), Hotel 1829, US Virgin Islands (‘Caribbean’s Leading New Hotel’), Secrets St. Lucia Resort & Spa (‘Caribbean’s Leading New Resort’), Santa Lucia Jungle Hacienda, Autograph Collection, Costa Rica (‘Mexico & Central America’s Leading New Hotel’), Park Hyatt Cabo Del Sol, Mexico (‘Mexico & Central America’s Leading New Resort’), and Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Cartagena, Colombia (‘South America’s Leading New Hotel’).

Malibu Beach Inn was voted ‘North America’s Leading Boutique Hotel’. Gaia Hotel & Reserve, Costa Rica, took the title of ‘Mexico & Central America’s Leading Boutique Hotel’. Chile’s Hotel Las Torres Patagonia was recognised as ‘South America’s Leading Green Hotel’, whilst Treehouse Lodge, Peru, was named ‘South America’s Leading Eco-Lodge’. Centro del Vino Concha y Toro, Chile, collected ‘South America’s Leading Tourism Winery’, and Costamar Travel won ‘South America’s Leading Travel Agency’. W Premium Lounge Curitiba claimed ‘South America's Leading Airport Lounge’.

World Travel Week Jamaica’s programme of events continues with World MICE Awards, World Travel Tech Awards and World Cruise Awards on 12 October. World Social Media Awards and 10 Best follow on 13 October, with World Culinary Awards concluding the awards programme on 14 October.

The ceremony also marked the fourth leg of WTA’s Grand Tour 2026 – a global search for the finest travel and tourism organisations. Following ceremonies in Zanzibar, Dubai, the Maldives and Jamaica, the tour continues to Montenegro before culminating in the Grand Final in Tanzania.

The full list of winners can be found on the World Travel Awards website at worldtravelawards.com.

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Notes to Editors

About World Travel Awards

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, the WTA brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire. For more information visit worldtravelawards.com.