Announcing the 2026 Leisure Lifestyle Award Winners by Global Traveler
Global Traveler has unveiled the winners of its esteemed 14th Annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards. These awards honor exceptional destinations, airlines, cruise lines, hotels, and travel brands that have excelled in providing outstanding leisure travel experiences. The winners were announced in the magazine’s April Leisure Travel Issue, which was released this week.
Destination Awards
Greece maintained its reign for the Best International Historical Attractions for the fifth year in a row, earning Quint Status for this accomplishment. Aruba was recognized for having the Best Beaches for the third consecutive year. In the United States, Charleston, South Carolina, was awarded the Best Leisure Destination for the second year running.
Meanwhile, in Europe, Kraków, Poland, was named the Best Leisure Destination. Seoul, South Korea, earned the same honor for Asia.
Hospitality and Airline Awards
In the hospitality sector, Meliá Hotels International was named Best Luxury Leisure Hotel Group. InterContinental Hotels & Resorts secured the title of Best Hotel Chain Resorts for the third consecutive year.
For airlines, Air Tahiti Nui won Best Leisure Airline, while United Airlines received the Outstanding Eco-Friendly Airline award for the fifth year. Qatar Airways claimed Best Onboard Entertainment, and Korean Air was honored for the Best In-Flight Menu.
Cruise Line and Special Achievement Awards
Explora Journeys was named Cruise Line of the Year. Special Achievement Awards were given to VisitMalta for Outstanding Social Responsibility, Alaska Airlines for Outstanding Innovations, Red Sea Global for Outstanding Environmental Initiatives, and Kerzner International for Outstanding Customized Services.
The awards were based on reader surveys collected from August 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026. Winners will be celebrated at a gala event on April 20, 2026, at the InterContinental Miami hotel.
Source: Travel and Tour World