Booking.com Spotlights the Best in Travel With Its Traveller Review Awards 2020

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AMSTERDAM, Jan. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

- From transport to accommodations, ranging from riads to rental cars and

everything in between, the Awards recognize partners delivering amazing service

and highlight the Most Welcoming Places on Earth

Today, Booking.com, the platform making it easier for everyone to experience

the world, announced the winners of the Traveller Review Awards 2020

[https://partner.booking.com/review-awards], with nearly one million (986,449)

awards given across 220 countries and territories. Alongside a wide range of

accommodation partners, in the eighth edition of its annual partner recognition

awards, Booking.com awarded transport partners for the first time ever. The

awards recognize these partners for their incredible hospitality, giving

travelers an exceptional experience when booking an accommodation, rental car

or airport taxi.

With many top countries and destinations continuing to deliver amazing service

year after year, in 2020 the countries with the most winners 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 Awardees, 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."

2020's Most Welcoming Places on Earth

From a rural Irish town that is the gateway to the Aran Islands to a vast

network of ancient caves in Southeast Asia, the Most Welcoming Places on Earth*

are leading the way in providing amazing experiences for their visitors.

Notably for the second year in a row, Goreme (Turkey) retains its place as the

Most Welcoming Place on Earth, followed by Tatranska Lomnica (Slovakia), Phong

Nha (Vietnam), Kobarid (Slovenia), Cochem (Germany), Doolin (Ireland), Taitung

City (Taiwan), Schenna (Italy), Monte Verde (Brazil), and Lake Tekapo (New

Zealand) - another 2018 winner.

To discover more about these amazing destinations, click here

[https://globalnews.booking.com/2020-travelgoals-discover-the-top-10-most-welcom

ing-places-on-earth/].

Apartments Continue to Satisfy and Exceed Guest Expectations

Spectacular growth in the number of Awardees continued this year in apartments,

with this accommodation type topping the list yet again, making up nearly 40%

of the award-winning properties globally in 2020. Similarly, for a third

consecutive year, four out of the five top-awarded accommodation types are

alternative accommodation options: Apartments (380,936), hotels (179,869),

guest houses (94,162), holiday homes (82,241), and B&Bs (75,875).

While hotels came in as the second most-awarded accommodation type yet again,

three quarters (75%) of all the winning properties are homes, apartments and

other unique places to stay, including everything from boats and igloos to

homestays and country houses. With recent research by Booking.com surveying

over 22,000 travelers revealing that nearly two fifths (39%) of global

travelers would prefer to stay in a holiday home or apartment over a hotel,

Booking.com is proud to offer so many unique places to stay that provide

superior hospitality.

For First Time, Transport Providers Honored with Traveller Review Awards

Creating a seamless accommodation experience for travelers has been

Booking.com's core focus for many years, but there is much more to your trip

than where you stay. Whether travelers want to explore the country, get out to

the beach, move around the city or just get home, Booking.com's ground

transport offering is helping travelers make it happen. That's why this year,

for the first time ever, Booking.com is bringing Traveller Review Awards to car

rental and airport taxi partners to ensure that travelers can have the best

experience possible, whatever their transportation needs may be.

This year, 2,931 pick-up locations of Booking.com's car rental offering, which

spans 160 countries and territories, have been awarded. The top awarded rental

car pick-up locations globally include Alghero Airport, Italy (13); Menorca

Airport, Spain (12); Krakow Airport, Poland (12); Adelaide Airport, Australia

(12); Christchurch Airport, New Zealand (12); Stuttgart Airport, Germany (11);

Paphos Airport, Cyprus (11); Cairns Airport, Australia (11); Budapest Airport,

Hungary (11); and Coolangatta Gold Coast Airport, Australia (11).

Airport taxis, which are available in over 750 destinations globally, are being

recognized for their outstanding service for the first time ever as well, with

2,114 drivers across 27 providers winning Traveller Review Awards. As 2020

approaches, travelers can look to these airport taxi providers to keep them

moving on their next trip.

Note to Editors:

To be recognized with an Award, accommodation properties and car rental had to

have an average review score of 8.0 (out of 10) or higher based on at least 5

reviews as of 11:59pm (CET) on October 31, 2019. To be recognized for an Award,

airport taxis had to have an average review score of 4.5 (out of 5) or higher

and completed 2,000 rides as of 11:59pm (CET) on October 31, 2019. Only

customers that have actually stayed at an accommodation or rented a car can

leave a review of their experience on Booking.com. As these reviews are never

edited or adjusted in any way, travelers can reference them for an authentic

account of what the real traveler experience is like at every place to stay or

with every ground transport provider on Booking.com.

*Destinations were sorted by the total share of Traveller Review Award 2020

winners when compared to the total amount of eligible properties in that city

(accommodation only). Cities also had to have an above average amount of

winners to be included on this list (90 award recipients or higher) and were

curated for geographic spread.

About Booking.com:

Founded in 1996 in Amsterdam, Booking.com has grown from a small Dutch startup

to one of the world's leading digital travel companies. Part of Booking

Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), Booking.com invests in technology that helps take

the friction out of travel. With a mission to make it easier for everyone to

experience the world, Booking.com seamlessly connects millions of travelers

with memorable experiences, convenient transportation options and incredible

places to stay - from homes to hotels and much, much more. Booking.com also

provides a marketplace for entrepreneurs of all sizes in the travel and

experiences industries to reach a global audience and grow their businesses.

Booking.com is available in 43 languages and offers more than 29 million total

reported accommodation listings, including more than 6.2 million listings alone

of homes, apartments and other unique places to stay. With everything from

convenient rides and great places to eat, as well as attractions, tours, events

and activities across the globe, no matter where you want to go or what you

want to do, Booking.com makes it easy and backs it all up with 24/7 customer

support.

Follow us on Twitter [https://twitter.com/bookingcom] and Instagram

[https://www.instagram.com/bookingcom/], like us on Facebook

[https://www.facebook.com/bookingcom], and for the latest news, data and

insights, please visit our global media room [https://globalnews.booking.com/].

CONTACT DETAILS

For further information, contact the Booking.com Global Press Office:

mediarelations@booking.com

Source: Booking.com