Booking.com has announced the recipients of its 12th annual Traveller Review Awards for 2024, with Otago securing a spot in the top 10 ‘Most Welcoming Regions on Earth’. Booking.com’s Traveller Reviews Awards are based on more than 309 million verified customer reviews with 1.48 million accommodations, 449 rental car companies and 129 taxi providers receiving an award, including over 7,300 in New Zealand
Identified based on the share of accommodation providers receiving a Traveller Review Award 2024, this year’s lists of the Most Welcoming Places on Earth showcase a vast range of destinations from across the globe. From enchanting coastal towns to alpine retreats and even rustic desert gems, all of these locations are sure to ignite a sense of wanderlust for the year ahead.
Otago, with award-winning wineries, sprawling mountain ranges, rich history and dramatic coastlines, sits alongside iconic global destinations like Boyaća in Colombia, Trentino - Alto Adige in Italy and Lapland in Finland.
2024’s Most Welcoming Regions on Earth
- Perthshire, United Kingdom
- Penghu, Taiwan
- Boyacá, Colombia
- Trentino - Alto Adige, Italy
- Los Lagos, Chile
- Erongo, Namibia
- Otago, New Zealand
- Lapland, Finland
- Asturias, Spain
- Friesland, Netherlands
2024’s Most Welcoming Towns in New Zealand:
- Havelock North, Hawke’s Bay
- Whitianga, Coromandel
- Lake Tekapo, Canterbury
- Kaikoura, Canterbury
- Kerikeri, Northland
- Cambridge, Waikato
- Cromwell, Otago
- Wanaka, Otago
- Raglan, Waikato
- New Plymouth, Taranaki
"Booking.com believes that the best traveller experiences shouldn’t be kept a secret, and we want to take the time to recognise our Kiwi partners who deliver the very best experiences in the eyes of customers. Behind each score or certificate is a whole year filled with real travellers, real experiences and real reviews, which is a core differentiator for providers to attract their next customers," commented Todd Lacey, Booking.com Regional Manager for Oceania.
"The Traveller Review Awards are our way of thanking and publicly acknowledging the top-notch service our Kiwi partners provide to travellers and the critical role they play in our mission of making it easier for everyone to experience the world. This year, we’re proud to see Otago featured on our global list as one of the Most Welcoming Regions on Earth."
Travellers continue to favourably review the home-away-from-home experience, with apartments dominating as the most-awarded accommodation type (710,687) for the seventh year running. For the second year in a row, holiday homes (213,824) have edged out hotels (179,357) for the number two spot, while guest houses (84,715) and B&Bs (71,514) round out the top five most-awarded accommodation types globally. In New Zealand, homes (holiday homes, apartments, apart-hotels) received the most awards (5,800).
For the fifth year, Booking.com has recognised its ground transportation partners for their consistently great service and hospitality. Beyond the basics of just getting around, rental cars make it easier for travellers to explore off the beaten path, and taxis frequently provide visitors with their first interactions with local people and culture. These welcoming first impressions often set the tone for the rest of the trip. This year, 449 car rental partners from 26 countries, including New Zealand, are receiving a Traveller Review Award.
