Booking.com has announced the latest winners of its Traveller Review Awards for 2025, honoring an impressive 1.71 million travel partners spanning 212 countries worldwide. This marks the 13th consecutive year of the awards, dedicated to showcasing exceptional hospitality and service quality, following the aggregation of over 360 million genuine customer reviews on the platform.
For the year 2025, Thailand saw significant recognition, with 14,710 local service providers awarded for their outstanding experiences and warm welcomes. This number signifies more than a 20% increase from the previous year, underscoring the country’s commitment to excellence in the travel sector.
The Traveller Review Awards provide insight not only to visitors but also to the businesses themselves, illustrating where to focus efforts and improve. With travelers contributing more than 3.2 million reviews, the average rating across all Thai award recipients was 8.8, showcasing the high standards maintained throughout the nation's service providers.
This year, the competition for the best welcoming cities drew significant interest, with traditional tourist hotspots such as Krabi and Phang Nga maintaining their prominence. Interestingly, both Nan and Sukhothai emerged as rising stars; Nan scored high for the second consecutive year, and Sukhothai made its debut on the awards list, known for its historical sites and rich cultural heritage.
The awarding categories included various types of lodging, with hotels remaining the favorite among Thai travelers. Despite apartments taking the lead overall with 847,627 awards distributed, hotels secured the most recognition within Thailand's hospitality sector, totaling 3,833 awards. Apartments followed closely, with 2,457 awards, showing their growing popularity. Resorts, villas, and guesthouses were also recognized, indicating diverse preferences among travelers.
Since its inception, Booking.com has served over 4.5 billion guests, showcasing increasing choices for accommodations, surpassing 30 types, from cozy city apartments to luxurious villas and unique stays, including treehouses and ice cabins. The diverse options cater to all preferences, enriching the travel experience.
Booking.com has also recognized the importance of transportation services to enhancing travel experiences. This year's Traveller Review Awards included 1,329 car rental companies and 124 airport taxi services, reflecting their contributions to making travel easier and more enjoyable. The amount of awarded companies grew by 196%, indicating the increasing quality and accessibility of transport services.
The awards ceremony is not just about recognition; it’s about gratitude from Booking.com on behalf of millions of travelers. Michelle Gao, Booking.com's Regional Manager for the Mekong and China regions, emphasized this sentiment saying, "The Traveller Review Awards are not only thanks from Booking.com but also from the hundreds of millions of travelers worldwide who appreciate the commitment of our partners to deliver pleasurable experiences."
Overall, the Booking.com Traveller Review Awards 2025 stands as a commendation for the travel industry, encouraging continued dedication to providing excellent service and memorable experiences for travelers everywhere.