There’s no doubt 2020 has been an unprecedented year for the travel industry. As borders begin to reopen and destinations, hotels and airlines around the world prepare to welcome travelers once again, we’re celebrating travel and looking to the future as we congratulate the winners of our eighth annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards. This annual survey honors the best in the world of leisure and lifestyle travel, awarding goods, services, destinations, hotels, airlines and cruises.

Join us as we celebrate travel, the world’s greatest unifier, and consider the following winners as you prepare to come back to the world of leisure travel.

We begin our global celebration with our destination winners, some of the best cities, islands and towns around the world offering the ultimate in leisure travel. Kick back in any of these exceptional, award-winning spots, starting with Spain, Best Historical Attractions, International, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Best Historical Attractions, Domestic (and the hometown city of Global Traveler!).

If it’s more rest and relaxation you seek, Costa Rica takes the top spot for Best Beaches for the third year running. The U.S. Virgin Islands are Best Caribbean Island, while Santoríni retains its Best Island in Europe title for the seventh consecutive year. Cook Islands, another fan favorite, wins Best Island Pacific Rim for the fifth year in a row, also earning it Quint Status, a recognition won when a company or destination receives the same award for five consecutive years.

Maybe you prefer powdery white snow to soft white sand? Telluride, Colorado, is Best North American Ski Destination for the second year in a row, while Lech, Austria, reigns as Best International Ski Destination.

Consider these other award-winning respites for your next jaunt: Charleston, South Carolina, Best Leisure Destination in the United States; South Africa, Best Leisure Destination in Africa; Seville, Spain, Best Leisure Destination in Europe; Taipei, Taiwan, three-time Best Leisure Destination in Asia; Panama City, Panama, Best Leisure Destination in Latin/SouthAmerica;Puerto Vallarta, Best Leisure Destination in Mexico; and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Best Leisure Destination for Groups. South Africa appears on the survey twice, also winning Best Adventure Destination, International. Its domestic counterpart is Albuquerque, New Mexico, as Best Adventure Destination, Domestic. For a quicker leisure trip, Savannah, Georgia, wins Best Weekend Destination in North America, and Bermuda is Best Weekend Destination in the World.

Set sail with us as we celebrate our cruise line winners, starting with Celebrity Cruises, Best Family Cruise Line for the second consecutive year. Silversea Cruises takes its third win as Best Cruise Line Suites for its Owner’s Suite. Regent Seven Seas is Best Luxury Cruise Line, while Royal Caribbean International is the inaugural winner of Best Value Cruise Line.

Find adventure on the high seas with Hurtigruten, Best Adventure Cruise Line. Or take to a smaller body of water with Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, Best River Cruise Line for the third consecutive year.

PHOTO: © PRINCESS CRUISES

Our readers recommend Paul Gauguin Cruises, the five-time winner of Best Small-Ship Cruise Line. Its fifth win earns it a place among Quint Status winners, as does Cunard’s fifth win for Best Large-Ship Cruise Line. Princess Cruises joins them with its fifth win for Best Cruise Ship Excursions. The line also nabs Best Cruise Line Entertainment for the second year in a row.

Seabourn Cruise Line takes its second nod as Best Cruise Line Spas. For dining, the accolades go to Azamara Club Cruises, Best Cruise Line Dining. Oceania Club by Oceania Cruises earns Best Cruise Line Rewards Program. Rounding out the cruise category, Port of Miami and Port Everglades tie for Best Cruise Port.

The party continues with our hotel winners. Meliá Hotels International is a six-time winner for Best Luxury Leisure Hotel Group in the World. For the first time, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts snags the Best Pet-Friendly Hotel award. Best Hotel Chain Resorts goes to The Ritz-Carlton for the second time in a row, and Westin Hotels & Resorts grabs its fourth Best Family Resort Chain in the World. And last but certainly not least, Sandals Resorts International earns its third win for Best All-Inclusive Resorts.

Keep the fete up at these airports and with these winning airlines. Miami International Airport welcomes travelers to one of the premier U.S. leisure destinations as Best Airport for Layovers. Another spot welcoming plenty of leisure-seekers, Colorado’s Denver International Airport is Best Airport for Recreation.

Three airlines earn their second consecutive nods: TAP Air Portugal, Best Stopover Program; Air Tahiti Nui, Best Leisure Airline; and Air Canada, Best Airline for Onboard Entertainment and Best Premium-Economy Class. Air Canada’s business class also wins Best Airline Onboard Menu. Alaska Airlines is Best Pet-Friendly Airline.

Before we turn the lights up and end the party, we recognize Abercrombie & Kent, Best Tour Operator for the second consecutive year; Volvo, Best Luxury Vehicle, second year in a row; Patek Philippe, Favorite Luxury Watch Brand, two years running; Hertz, Best Leisure Car Rental for the third year; Na Hoku, inaugural winner for Best Vacation Jewelry Brand; and Johnnie Walker Blue, Favorite Liquor Brand for the third consecutive year.

Congratulations to the 2020 Leisure Lifestyle Awards winners! We can’t wait to celebrate travel together, around the world, once again.

WINNERS’ CIRCLE

Cruise Line of the Year 2020
Cunard Line

Best Historical Attractions, Domestic
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Best Historical Attractions, International
Spain

Best Beaches
Costa Rica

Best Adventure Destination, Domestic
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Best Adventure Destination, International
South Africa

Best Leisure Destination in the United States
Charleston, South Carolina

Best Leisure Destination in Africa
South Africa

Best Leisure Destination in Europe
Seville, Spain

Best Leisure Destination in Asia
Taipei, Taiwan

Best Leisure Destination in Latin/South America
Panama City, Panama

Best Leisure Destination in Mexico
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Best Leisure Destination for Groups (four or more)
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Best Weekend Destination in North America
Savannah, Georgia

Best Weekend Destination in the World
Bermuda

Best North American Ski Destination
Telluride, Colorado

Best International Ski Destination
Lech, Austria

Best Caribbean Island
U.S. Virgin Islands

Best Island in Europe
Santoríni

Best Island in the Pacific Rim
Cook Islands

Best Family Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises

Best Luxury Cruise Line
Regent Seven Seas

Best Value Cruise Line
Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

Best Cruise Line Suites
Owner’s Suite, Silversea Cruises

Best Adventure Cruise Line
Hurtigruten

Best Small-Ship Cruise Line
Paul Gauguin Cruises

Best Large-Ship Cruise Line
Cunard Line

Best River Cruise Line
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Best Cruise Line Entertainment
Princess Cruises

Best Cruise Line Dining
Azamara Club Cruises

Best Cruise Line Spas
Seabourn Cruise Line

Best Cruise Ship Excursions
Princess Cruises

Best Cruise Line Rewards Program
Oceania Club, Oceania Cruises

Best Cruise Port (tie)
Port of Miami, Florida Port Everglades, Florida

Best Luxury Leisure Hotel Group in the World
Meliá Hotels International

Best Hotel Chain Resorts
The Ritz-Carlton

Best Pet-Friendly Hotel
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts

Best Family Resort Chain in the World
Westin Hotels & Resorts

Best All-Inclusive Resorts
Sandals Resorts International

Best Tour Operator
Abercrombie & Kent

Best Airport for Layovers
Miami International Airport

Best Airport for Recreation
Denver International Airport

Best Stopover Program
TAP Air Portugal

Best Leisure Airline
Air Tahiti Nui

Best Airline for Onboard Entertainment
Air Canada

Best Airline Onboard Menu
Air Canada Business Class

Best Premium-Economy Class
Air Canada

Best Pet-Friendly Airline
Alaska Airlines

Best Luxury Vehicle
Volvo

Favorite Luxury Watch Brand
Patek Philippe

Best Leisure Car Rental
Hertz

Best Vacation Jewelry Brand
Na Hoku

Favorite Liquor Brand
Johnnie Walker Blue

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Outstanding Social Responsibility
The Ritz-Carlton

Outstanding Customized Services
Tahiti Tourisme

Outstanding Environmental Initiatives
Oceania Cruises

Outstanding Innovations
Qatar Airways