Jamaica Wins Multiple Caribbean Tourism Awards

Jamaica secured top honors at the 2026 World Travel Awards ceremony on 11 October, claiming Caribbean’s Leading Destination and Leading Cruise Destination, while the Jamaica Tourist Board was named the region’s Leading Tourist Board. The awards were presented at the Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony held at Princess Grand Jamaica in Green Island, Hanover, as part of World Travel Week Jamaica.

The host country’s victories highlighted its prominence in the Caribbean tourism sector. The event gathered representatives from destinations, hotels and tourism businesses across North, Central and South America and the Caribbean, with regional results published the following day.

Caribbean destinations received recognition for diverse travel experiences. The Turks & Caicos Islands won Leading Beach Destination, while Anguilla was honoured in both culinary and luxury island destination categories. Saint Lucia captured awards for honeymoon and adventure tourism, showing the region’s varied offerings.

In Mexico & Central America, Cancún secured three distinctions: Leading Beach Destination, Leading City Destination and Leading Meetings & Conference Destination. The combination reflects the resort city’s dual focus on leisure and business tourism. Miami Beach was named Leading Beach Destination in North America, and New York’s SUMMIT One Vanderbilt earned Leading Tourist Attraction.

South America’s destination awards extended beyond major hubs. Quito, Ecuador, was selected as Leading City Destination, while Chile received the Leading Adventure Tourism Destination title. Chile’s SERNATUR National Tourist Board also won Leading Tourist Board, and the Greater Medellín Convention & Visitors Bureau earned Leading City Tourist Board.

Hotel and Resort Awards Celebrate New Openings and Excellence

Princess Grand Jamaica, the ceremony’s host venue, was named Caribbean’s Leading Resort and Leading Conference Hotel. Nearby Princess Senses The Mangrove won Leading Adult-Only All-Inclusive Resort. The property is situated on Green Island’s coast, between Negril and Montego Bay.

Newly opened properties across the Americas received regional recognition. Waldorf Astoria New York claimed Leading New Hotel in North America, while One&Only Moonlight Basin won Leading New Resort. In the Caribbean, Hotel 1829 in the US Virgin Islands was named Leading New Hotel, and Secrets St. Lucia Resort & Spa took Leading New Resort.

Mexico & Central America’s new-property awards went to Santa Lucia Jungle Hacienda, Autograph Collection in Costa Rica, and Park Hyatt Cabo Del Sol in Mexico. Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Cartagena in Colombia won South America’s Leading New Hotel.

Boutique and eco-conscious accommodations were also honoured. Malibu Beach Inn was North America’s Leading Boutique Hotel, and Gaia Hotel & Reserve in Costa Rica won the equivalent Mexico & Central America title. Chile’s Hotel Las Torres Patagonia received Leading Green Hotel, and Peru’s Treehouse Lodge was named Leading Eco-Lodge.

Additional recognitions included Chile’s Centro del Vino Concha y Toro as South America’s Leading Tourism Winery and Costamar Travel as the region’s Leading Travel Agency. W Premium Lounge Curitiba took Leading Airport Lounge.

Graham Cooke, Founder and President of World Travel Awards, praised the Jamaica event as the week’s flagship ceremony. Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett highlighted the opportunity for visitors to experience the island’s hospitality firsthand.

The World Travel Week schedule continued with the World MICE Awards, World Travel Tech Awards and World Cruise Awards on 12 October, followed by the World Social Media Awards and 10 Best on 13 October, concluding with the World Culinary Awards on 14 October. The Grand Tour 2026 will next visit Montenegro before its Grand Final in Tanzania.

Global Recognition Tours Continue

The 11 October gala marked the fourth stop on the 2026 World Travel Awards Grand Tour, following celebrations in Zanzibar, Dubai and the Maldives. Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards organises these annual recognitions to provide destinations and travel brands with high-profile visibility in key markets.