The World Travel Awards 2026 has announced its regional winners in the wake of the Caribbean and The Americas Gala Ceremony held at the Princess Grand Jamaica on October 11, recognizing outstanding destinations, hotels, resorts, tourist attractions. Travel organizations across the Caribbean, Central America, North America and South America.
The gala served as the flagship event of World Travel Week Jamaica, assembling together representatives from the international travel, tourism, and hospitality industries to celebrate the achievements across multiple tourism categories. The awards highlighted destinations and businesses that contributed to regional tourism development, destination promotion and visitor experiences.
Jamaica recorded one of the biggest wins by claiming the Caribbean’s Leading Destination and the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination. Jamaica Tourist Board also claimed the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board, and recognized for its role in promoting the country as an international travel destination. The ceremony celebrated winners from a range of categories from beach and adventure tourism to hospitality, city attractions and specialized travel services.
Jamaica and Caribbean Destinations Lead Regional Awards
Caribbean destinations recorded major wins for their unique tourism offerings. The Turks and Caicos Islands claimed the Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination, while Anguilla won the Caribbean’s Leading Culinary Destination, and the Caribbean’s Leading Luxury Island Destination. Saint Lucia recorded the awards for the Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination, and the Caribbean’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination, for its appeal to couples, and its outdoor experience.
Jamaica also delivered solid returns in terms of the hospitality sector. Princess Grand Jamaica won two awards of being the Caribbean’s Leading Resort, and the Caribbean’s Leading Conference Hotel. Meanwhile, Princess Senses The Mangrove, won the Caribbean’s Leading Adult-Only All-Inclusive Resort, for the accommodation providers that cater for leisure travellers, couples, and business-event visitors.
Cancún, Miami Beach and Quito Receive Major Tourism Recognition
In North America, Miami Beach was named the North America’s Leading Beach Destination, while SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, the award for the North America’s Leading Tourist Attraction. The recognition covered both coastal tourism and urban visitor experiences, indicating the diversity of attractions drawing passengers to the region.
Cancún, Mexico, has claimed three awards, the Mexico and Central America’s Leading Beach Destination, Leading City Destination and Meetings and Conference Destination. In South America, Quito, Ecuador claimed the South America’s Leading City Destination, while Chile, claimed the South America’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination. SERNATUR, Chile’s National Tourist Board was named South America’s Leading Tourist Board. The Greater Medellín Convention and Visitors Bureau won the South America’s Leading City Tourist Board.
Hotels, Resorts and Specialized Tourism Businesses Honored
The awards also recognized new hotels and resorts entering the tourism market. Waldorf Astoria New York was named North America’s Leading New Hotel, while One&Only Moonlight Basin, won North America’s Leading New Resort. In the Caribbean, Hotel 1829 in the US Virgin Islands, won the Leading New Hotel, and Secrets St. Lucia Resort & Spa, was named Leading New Resort.
In Mexico and Central America, Santa Lucia Jungle Hacienda, Autograph Collection, in Costa Rica won the Leading New Hotel, Park Hyatt Cabo Del Sol in Mexico won the Leading New Resort. Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Cartagena in Colombia was named South America’s Leading New Hotel.
Other winners represented boutique accommodation, environmental tourism and specialized travel services. Malibu Beach Inn won North America’s Leading Boutique Hotel, while Gaia Hotel & Reserve in Costa Rica, claimed Mexico and Central America’s Leading Boutique Hotel.
Chile’s Hotel Las Torres Patagonia was recognized as South America’s Leading Green Hotel. Treehouse Lodge in Peru was named South America’s Leading Eco Lodge. Additional honours went to Centro del Vino Concha y Toro in Chile, for South Africa’s, and South America’s Leading Tourism Winery, Costamar Travel, for South America’s Leading Travel Agency. W Premium Lounge Curitiba, for South America’s Leading Airport Lounge.
World Travel Awards Grand Tour Continues in 2026
Graham Cooke, founder and president of World Travel Awards, said hosting the event in Jamaica was an opportunity to celebrate leading tourism organizations, and recognize their contributions to raising industry standards across the Caribbean and the Americas. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, also welcomed the event, noting that it gave international tourism representatives a chance to experience the country’s hospitality and diverse visitor attractions.
The Jamaican event marked the fourth stage of the World Travel Awards Grand Tour 2026, following on the heels of previous ceremonies in Zanzibar, Dubai and the Maldives. The tour will continue to Montenegro, before culminating in the Grand Final in Tanzania. World Travel Week Jamaica’s remaining programme includes the World MICE Awards, World Travel Tech Awards. World Cruise Awards on October 12, followed by the World Social Media Awards and 10 Best on October 13. The programme will wrap up on October 14 with the World Culinary Awards. The winners list is available on the official World Travel Awards website.
