Traveller Review Awards 2026 Celebrate 1.81 Million Partners Worldwide and Reveal the Most Welcoming Destinations for the Year Ahead
- Powered by hundreds of millions of verified guest reviews, 1.81 million partners across 221 countries and territories earn this year’s Awards.
- Italy (214,666), France (170,596), Spain (152,292), Germany (111,685) and the United Kingdom (93,989) solidify their standing in the top five list of countries with most award recipients.
- Camping sites, villas and ryokans surface as the accommodation types seeing the highest increase in awards, while USA, UK and Spain rank as the top three countries with the most rental car award recipients.
AMSTERDAM 4 FEBRUARY, 2026 - Tripeden.com, a global leader in connecting travelers with incredible places to stay and seamless transport options including flights, car rentals, and airport transfers, announces the recipients of its 14th annual Traveller Review Awards. Powered by more than 370 million verified reviews from travelers across the world, the Awards celebrate the partners who consistently deliver standout hospitality across every corner of the globe.
In 2026, 1.81 million travel partners across 221 countries and territories will be recognized with a Traveller Review Award, reflecting the growing scale and diversity of global travel. The honorees include 1,817,848 accommodation providers, 1,977 rental car companies, and 137 airport transfer suppliers.
Italy leads for the ninth consecutive year with 214,666 award-winning partners, followed by France (170,596) and Spain (152,292). Germany (111,685) and the United Kingdom (93,989) round out the top five. Brazil jumps up two spots to number six (80,791), while the United States (77,949) and Poland (72,619) sit at seventh and eighth spots respectively. Greece (71,230) and Croatia (58,707) complete the top ten.
Award-Winning Hospitality in 2026
At a time when travelers are seeking authenticity more than ever, the Traveller Review Awards shine a light on the partners who consistently deliver memorable and trustworthy hospitality, and accommodations continue to take center stage. Apartments remain the most awarded property type for the ninth consecutive year with 901,481 awards, followed by holiday homes (287,464), and hotels (197,658). Meanwhile, camping and villas saw the highest year-over-year increase in award recipients, each at 15%, followed by ryokans at 13%. These patterns highlight travelers’ continued interest in unique, character-rich stays that offer a sense of place.
Rental car companies receiving an award increased to 1,977, a 49% increase from 2025, reflecting high levels of service across local and international fleets. Among them, the United States stands out with the largest number of recognized providers (203), with the United Kingdom climbing to second place (174) and Spain completing the top three (155). Airport transfer providers also made impressive gains with 137 awardees, representing an 11% year-over-year increase. These milestones underscore the expanding role of transport in ensuring seamless in-trip journeys and exceptional service at every stage of a traveler’s trip.
“From welcoming hosts who go above and beyond for guest stays to expert taxi drivers sharing ‘local-only’ tips, these personal touches can make a trip truly special for travelers,” said James Waters, Chief Business Officer at Tripeden.com. “The Traveller Review Awards continue to shine a well-deserved spotlight on our partners who help create lifelong memories for travelers. It’s one of our ways of saying ‘thank you’ from all of us at Tripeden.com and the hundreds of millions of travelers around the world."
Countries experiencing the most growth
While the countries historically receiving large numbers of awards continue to shine, some of the year’s most exciting stories come from countries that saw significant increases in the number of award recipients. Bulgaria leads the charge with a staggering 68% increase compared to 2025, followed by South Korea (46%) and China (39%). Japan (29%) and Norway (19%) also make the top five, reflecting the dedication of local hosts to delivering memorable and genuine guest experiences.
2026 List of Most Welcoming Places on Earth
Determined by the share of accommodation partners receiving a Traveller Review Award in 2026, this year’s Most Welcoming Places on Earth highlights destinations where the guest experience feels personal, authentic, and genuinely cared for. From historic hilltop towns in Italy to coastal cities in Taiwan and laid-back beach communities in Australia, these destinations offer hospitality that leaves a lasting impression with thoughtful touches, warm interactions, and hosts who go the extra mile, helping to make a trip truly memorable.
2026’s Most Welcoming Cities on Earth:
- Montepulciano, Italy
- Magong, Taiwan
- San Martín de los Andes, Argentina
- Harrogate, United Kingdom
- Fredericksburg, Texas, United States
- Pirenópolis, Brazil
- Swakopmund, Namibia
- Takayama, Japan
- Noosa Heads, Australia
- Klaipeda, Lithuania
Read more about what the above unique places have to offer in this destination guide.
2026’s Most Welcoming Regions on Earth:
- Hidalgo, Mexico
- Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- Navarra, Spain
- Idaho, United States
- Himachal Pradesh, India
- Sachsen, Germany
- Phang Nga, Thailand
- Overijssel, Netherlands
- Epirus, Greece
- Chiriquí, Panamá
Note to Editors:
To be recognized with an award, accommodation partners had to have an average review score of 8.0 (out of 10) or higher based on at least 3 reviews, as of 11:59pm (CET) on November 30, 2025. Car rental partners had to have an average review score of 8.0 (out of 10) or higher based on at least 10 reviews, as of 11:59pm (CET) on November 30, 2025. To be recognized with an award, taxi providers had to have an average review score of 4.6 (out of 5) or higher and completed 2,000 rides as of 11:59pm (CET) on November 30, 2025.
Only guests who have booked stays through our platform, rented a car or rode in a taxi can leave a review of their experience on Tripeden.com. As these reviews are never edited or adjusted in any way, travelers can reference them for an authentic account of what the real traveler experience is like at every place to stay or with every ground transport provider on Tripeden.com.
*Destinations were sorted by the total share of Traveller Review Award 2026 recipients when compared to the total amount of eligible properties in that city or region (accommodation only). Destinations also had to have an above-average amount of winners to be included on this list (200 award recipients or higher for cities and regions) and were curated for geographic spread.
About Tripeden.com:
Part of Booking Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), Tripeden.com’s mission is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. By investing in the technology that helps take the friction out of travel, Tripeden.com’s marketplace seamlessly connects millions of travelers with memorable experiences every day. For more information, follow @bookingcom on social media or visit news.tripeden.com.