Travel + Leisure released their 2023 World’s Best Awards last week and Georgia had a strong showing. In the 28th edition of the awards, hundreds of thousands of votes were cast over three months last winter. The awards are incredibly comprehensive, comprising 122 lists of Travel + Leisure reader favorites from cities in the United States to three favorite trains of 2023. It can be easy to forget just how awesome our local natural wonders are but seeing them on the list with Travel + Leisure can be a good reminder of Georgia’s beauty and tourism potential.
“Hundreds of thousands of Travel + Leisure readers have voted on the best travel experiences, and it’s clear that Georgia ranks among the top tourism destinations in the world,” said Georgia Department of Economic Development Chief Marketing Officer Mark Jaronski. “This recognition is a testament to the hardworking Georgians of our travel industry and only reinforces the impact that tourism makes on our state’s economy and way of life as a growing number of travelers add our destinations, including the Golden Isles and Savannah, as well as Georgia-based travel brands like Delta Air Lines and IHG Hotels & Resorts, to their list of favorites.”
Perhaps the most prestigious of the awards was the Golden Isles taking the top spot for islands in the continental United States (hard to compete against Hawaii in that islands category). The ranking noted the beaches, shops and landmarks for visitors, in addition to the food. “And the Peach State’s beach destinations serve their own spin on beloved southern cuisine: coastal favorites like oysters and wild Georgia shrimp are aplenty. A visit to this Georgian gem is sure to give travelers a good dose of sun and sand — with a side of southern charm, of course.”
The Golden Isles was one of only two islands in the U.S. to make the top 25 islands in the world list, along with Mackinac Island. Georgia’s coast was ranked just behind Fiji and ahead of Moorea in French Polynesia. Savannah was ranked as the 4th top city in the U.S., right behind New Orleans and ahead of Chicago.
In the favorite hotels category, the cities included are a who’s who of global tourism like Vienna, London and Singapore – but also included in the list are Savannah and Atlanta. Atlanta’s top hotel as rated by readers was the InterContinental in Buckhead, followed by The St. Regis Atlanta; Loews Atlanta Hotel; Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead; and Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta. In Savannah, the top choice was the Perry Lane Hotel, followed by The Alida, JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District, Bohemian Hotel Savannah Riverfront, and Mansion on Forsyth Park. Scores for the Savannah hotel selections were outstanding, with all five scoring higher than Atlanta’s top the Intercontinental.
Georgia’s inclusion on the list is not unusual but the outlook for tourism over the next year is strong. Complete results and information can be found in the August issue of Travel + Leisure.
