Spain secures 11 European awards
The European ceremony of the World Travel Awards 2026, held at the Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay Resort in Montenegro, recognised tourism, hospitality and travel businesses across numerous categories.
Spain received 11 European awards, confirming its presence across several segments of international tourism.
Madrid retained the title of Europe’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination for the ninth consecutive year, ahead of competitors including London, Paris, Berlin and Barcelona.
In hospitality, Gran Hotel Inglés in Madrid was named Europe’s Leading Luxury Boutique Hotel.
Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona received the title of Europe’s Leading Luxury Hotel & Spa, while SO/ Sotogrande Spa & Golf Resort in Andalusia won Europe’s Leading Lifestyle Resort.
On the Costa Dorada, Infinitum Beach Club retained its European distinction for the fifth consecutive year.
The awards also recognised Kaizen Hoteles, named Europe’s Leading Independent Hotel Group for the fourth consecutive year.
These results illustrate the diversity of Spain’s hospitality offering, encompassing independent properties, resorts, urban hotels and leisure destinations.
France: The Peninsula Paris and La Clef Champs-Élysées among the European winners
France received several awards in European categories directly related to accommodation.
In Paris, The Peninsula Paris was named Europe’s Leading Luxury City Hotel 2026.
The property was therefore recognised in a category dedicated to luxury urban hospitality, distinct from the award for Europe’s leading luxury hotel, which went this year to Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul.
Also in the French capital, La Clef Champs-Élysées Paris won Europe’s Leading Serviced Apartments 2026.
This award concerns the serviced accommodation segment, which sits between traditional hospitality and residential accommodation.
In Lyon, NH Lyon Airport was named Europe’s Leading Airport Hotel 2026.
This result highlights another specialised hospitality segment: hotels located within airport environments, whose business combines corporate, transit and leisure guests.
These three awards cover different operational positions: an urban luxury palace hotel, serviced apartments and an airport hotel.
Disneyland Paris, Cannes and Château La Coste also recognised
Beyond hotels, several French destinations and tourism businesses featured among the European winners.
Disneyland Paris received the title of Europe’s Leading Theme Park Resort 2026, a category combining leisure experiences with an integrated accommodation and services offering.
Cannes was named Europe’s Leading Festival & Event Destination 2026.
This recognition concerns a strategic segment for the Cannes hotel market, where business activity is closely linked to the calendar of congresses, festivals and international events.
In Provence, Château La Coste received the title of Europe’s Leading Tourism Winery 2026.
The awards also recognised Martell in the category dedicated to cognac house visitor experiences, as well as the Semaines du Tourisme Économique et des Savoir-Faire, recognised as a European tourism development project.
Finally, Air France won Europe’s Leading Airline – First Class 2026.
These distinctions demonstrate the breadth of French activities recognised, from hospitality to events, cultural and experiential tourism.
France’s national awards: Lyon, Paris, Biarritz and Provence
Alongside these European distinctions are the awards presented in France’s national categories.
InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu received the title of France’s Leading Hotel 2026.
In Paris, InterContinental Paris Le Grand secured several national distinctions: leading business hotel, leading conference hotel and leading luxury hotel.
Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel was recognised in the heritage hotel category, while Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris received the national award for leading luxury city hotel.
In the hotel residences category, La Réserve Hotel & Spa, Paris also featured among the winners.
Outside the capital, Capelongue in Bonnieux was recognised in the boutique hotel category, while Château Saint-Martin & Spa won the country house hotel award.
In Biarritz, Le Talaia Hôtel & Spa Biarritz – MGallery Collection was recognised in the lifestyle category and Hôtel du Palais Biarritz in the resort category.
Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa received the title of France’s Leading Wine Region Hotel 2026.
These national awards highlight several components of France’s hospitality offering: heritage hotels, luxury properties, business tourism, resorts and experiential accommodation.
Spain: a particularly diverse range of national winners
Spain also presented a broad selection of winners across its national categories.
Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa in Finestrat was named Spain’s Leading Hotel 2026.
Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor won the luxury resort award, while Mandarin Oriental Ritz, Madrid was recognised as the country’s leading luxury hotel.
In the Canary Islands, Las Terrazas de Abama Suites received the leading resort award, Bahía del Duque the beach resort award and Paradisus by Meliá Gran Canaria the all-inclusive resort award.
In Barcelona, Borneta was recognised as a leading city hotel.
The winners also included Six Senses Ibiza in the lifestyle category and Hotel Marqués de Riscal in the wine tourism category.
Finally, Citadines Ramblas Barcelona was recognised in the serviced apartments category, while Stay U-nique received the national award for a serviced apartment brand.
Portugal, Italy and Greece: other prominent European markets
The awards extended well beyond France and Spain.
Portugal received the title of Europe’s Leading Destination 2026, while Lisbon was named Europe’s leading city destination.
In hospitality, Estoril Vintage Hotel won Europe’s Leading Hotel, while Renaissance Porto Lapa Hotel was named Europe’s leading business hotel.
Italy was represented by several properties, including Forte Village Resort, recognised in the European resort category, and Palazzo Fiuggi, which received an award in the wellness hotel category.
Almar Timi Ama Villasimius also secured two European distinctions, in the hotel and spa category and the family and wellness resort category.
In Greece, several resorts featured among the winners, including Domes Miramare, recognised in the luxury segment, and Sani Resort, distinguished in the family category.
These results illustrate the segmentation of the European market across urban hotels, leisure resorts, specialised properties and wellness concepts.
LTH Analysis | Awards reflecting the diversity of hotel operating models
Comparing the French and Spanish results reveals several differences in market positioning.
In Spain, the European awards notably recognised lifestyle resorts, boutique hotels, independent hotel groups and business tourism destinations.
In France, this year’s European hotel awards placed greater emphasis on luxury urban hospitality, serviced apartments and airport hotels.
However, this distribution does not constitute a measure of the respective performance of the two markets.
The World Travel Awards operate through a system of nominations and voting. They recognise properties, destinations and companies within predefined categories but do not constitute an independent financial ranking.
For owners and operators, these awards can nevertheless serve as tools for visibility and commercial differentiation.
They can also contribute to a property’s international positioning, particularly in luxury and experiential tourism markets.
The comparison between the two countries highlights another characteristic: the proliferation of specialised segments.
Airport hotels, serviced apartments, lifestyle resorts, heritage properties, wellness hotels and integrated resorts now have distinct award categories.
This specialisation reflects evolving operating models and guest expectations.
For investors, however, the challenge is to distinguish commercial recognition from economic performance.
An award does not directly indicate RevPAR, GOP, distribution costs or the return generated by the underlying asset.
The World Travel Awards 2026 therefore provide a snapshot of the international visibility of properties and destinations, without establishing an economic ranking of European hotel markets.
The next stage will be the competition’s World Grand Final, scheduled for 12 December 2026 in Tanzania.
At a Glance
Event: World Travel Awards Europe 2026, held in Montenegro.
Spain: 11 Europe-wide awards, including Madrid, Gran Hotel Inglés, Majestic Hotel & Spa Barcelona, SO/ Sotogrande and Kaizen Hoteles.
France, European hotel awards: The Peninsula Paris, La Clef Champs-Élysées Paris and NH Lyon Airport.
Other French winners: Disneyland Paris, Cannes, Château La Coste and Martell.
France, national hotel winners: InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu, InterContinental Paris Le Grand, Hôtel de Crillon, Hôtel du Palais Biarritz and others.
European context: Portugal, Italy and Greece also feature prominently in the awards.
Next event: World Grand Final scheduled for 12 December 2026 in Tanzania.
LTH perspective: Awards highlight hospitality positioning and brand visibility but do not measure operating performance or investment returns.
