Booking.com has opened its very big envelope to reveal the 2024 winners of its 12th annual Traveller Review Awards. Based on more than 309 million verified customer reviews, and in recognition of delivering consistently excellent service and hospitality, a record 1.48 million travel partners received a Booking.com Traveller Review Award 2024, including 7,725 in Canada.
Highlights of the awards include:
- Whistler awarded the ‘Most Welcoming City’ in Canada, with Canmore, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Moncton, and Toronto rounding out the top five
- Italy is home to the largest number of award recipients for the seventh year running, followed by Spain, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom
- Recognition was given to 1,484,294 accommodations, 449 rental car companies and 129 taxi providers
Read on for a deeper dive:
Most Welcoming Places in Canada
Based on each location’s share of accommodation providers receiving a Traveller Review Award 2024, this year’s list of the Most Welcoming Places in Canada includes five world class mountain sports destinations, a wine lover’s locale that places yearly, and an east coast newcomer to the list. Here are Canada’s most welcoming places for 2024.
- Whistler, BC
- Canmore, Alta.
- Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.
- Moncton, NB
- Toronto
- Québec City
- Blue Mountain, Ont.
- Victoria, BC
- Mont-Tremblant, Que
- Revelstoke, BC
Accommodation
Travellers continue to favourably review the home-away-from-home experience, with apartments claiming the top spot in Canada as the most-awarded accommodation type (1,915 awards). Hotels aren’t far behind, claiming 1,682 awards, then holiday homes with 962 awards, B&Bs earned 794, and chalets round out the top five across Canada with 482 Traveller Review Awards for 2024.
Globally, apartments are the most popular accommodation type for the 7th year running with 710,687 awards. Holiday homes (213,824) have edged out hotels (179,357) for the number two spot, while guest houses (84,715) and B&Bs (71,514) make up the top five most-awarded accommodation types.
Villas saw the greatest increase in award recipients year over year at 23%, followed by holiday homes (20%), and campsites (14%). Overall, there was a 10% increase in awards granted to vacation rentals and other unique properties that offer an alternative to the traditional hotel experience. Travellers are continuing to expand their choices on what types of properties they like to stay in, demonstrating a growing appreciation for the unique hospitality that alternative accommodations can provide.
Most Welcoming Places in the World
For the seventh year in a row, Italy is home to the largest number of Booking.com Traveller Award recipients with 181,012. Here is the complete list of the world’s most welcoming places.
- Italy
- Spain
- France
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- Poland
- Brazil
- United States
- Croatia
- Portugal
From enchanting coastal towns to alpine retreats and even rustic desert gems, here are the most welcoming cities across the world.
- Arraial d’Ajuda, Brazil
- Ermoupoli, Greece
- Viana do Castelo, Portugal
- Daylesford, Australia
- Grindelwald, Switzerland
- Moab, United States
- Uzès, France
- Mazatlán, Mexico
- Jaisalmer, India
- Fujikawaguchiko, Japan
Transportation
For the fifth year, Booking.com is recognizing its ground transportation partners. Beyond the basics of just getting around, rental cars make it easier for travellers to explore off the beaten path and taxis frequently provide visitors with their first interactions with local people and culture, often setting the tone for the rest of the trip.
This year, 449 car rental partners from 26 countries are receiving a Traveller Review Award. Spain (84) tops the list again with the most car rental companies being recognized, followed by Italy (74), Portugal (47), Greece (42) and the US (28). And 129 taxi partners are also receiving an award with Italy (17) and Spain (12) leading the pack.
“Whether it’s a personalized welcome note from an apartment owner with recommendations for the best spots in the neighbourhood to grab a bite, or a tip on hidden local gems to explore at the car rental counter, our partners make trips more memorable and enjoyable for our customers each and every day,” says Arjan Dijk, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer for Booking.com.
“The Traveller Review Awards are our way of thanking and publicly acknowledging the top-notch service our partners provide to travellers and the critical role they play in our mission of making it easier for everyone to experience the world!”