Exceptional guest experiences are the cornerstone of the travel industry, something that Booking.com’s Traveller Review Award winners exemplify. This year, the eighth edition of our annual partner recognition awards (formerly known as Guest Review Awards) recognised more providers than ever, with 986,449 Booking.com partners - including accommodation and transport - across 220 countries and territories awarded for their dedication to superior travel experiences.
With many destinations continuing to deliver amazing service year after year, the countries with the most winners in 2020 include Italy (130,253), Spain (66,755), France (61,492), Germany (49,777), Croatia (42,763), United States of America (42,112), United Kingdom (41,848), Poland (36,793), the Russian Federation (36,296) and Greece (33,259).
“With nearly one million awards given across accommodation and transport providers, I am thrilled to announce this year’s Traveller Review Award winners, who are helping us deliver seamless trip experiences,” said Arjan Dijk, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer for Booking.com. “On our mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, we are proud to have a record number of our partners across the travel industry receiving consistently great reviews and representing the best of the best in hospitality around the globe.”
Apartments continue to exceed guest expectations
Apartments came out on top as the accommodation type to scoop the most accolades, making up nearly 40% of the award-winning properties globally. Similarly, for a third consecutive year, four out of the five top-awarded property types were alternative accommodations: apartments (380,936), hotels (179,869), guesthouses (94,162), holiday homes (82,241) and B&Bs (75,875).
“Review scores are so much more than a number: they represent your dedication to creating incredible guest experiences. Seeing alternative accommodation options continuing to thrive - with 75% of all the winning properties being homes, apartments and other uncommon places to stay - shows the further professionalisation of the sector and a continued appetite for unique, unforgettable experiences across all regions,” says Pepiijn Rijvers, Senior Vice President of Accommodations at Booking.com.
From Guest Review Awards to Traveller Review Awards
Creating a seamless accommodation experience for travellers has been our core focus for many years, but there is much more to travellers’ trips than where they stay. Whether they want to explore the country, get out to the beach or move around the city, ground transport offerings help make that happen. That’s why this year the awards have been extended to car rental and airport tax partners.
“Behind every score are real guest experiences, real connections and real moments that our partners should be incredibly proud of,” says Dijk. “As we continue on the path of the ’connected trip’, we want to recognise our transport provider partners, alongside our accommodation partners, who also play a vital role in delivering a great experience for travellers.”
Kick-starting this addition, 2,931 pick-up locations from Booking.com’s car rental offering, which spans 160 countries and territories, have also been awarded. The top rental car pick-up locations globally include Alghero Airport, Italy; Menorca Airport, Spain; Krakow Airport, Poland; Adelaide Airport, Australia; Christchurch Airport, New Zealand; Stuttgart Airport, Germany; Paphos Airport, Cyprus; Cairns Airport, Australia; Budapest Airport, Hungary; and Coolangatta Gold Coast Airport, Australia.
As for airport taxis, which are available in over 750 destinations globally, 2,114 drivers across 27 providers won Traveller Review Awards.
- Over 986,000 Booking.com partners across 220 countries and territories were recognised in 2020 Traveller Review Awards
- Alongside accommodations, car rental and airport taxi partners were awarded for their outstanding service for the first time
- Italy secured the top spot as the country with the most winners, followed by Spain and France
- For a third consecutive year, four out of the five top-awarded accommodation types were alternative accommodation options such as guesthouses and holiday homes
