15 January, 2013 - TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel site*, unveils the winners of its 2013 Travellers’ Choice® Hotels Awards, often dubbed the ‘Oscars of the hotel world’. 

Now in its 11th year, it is TripAdvisor’s biggest-ever Travellers’ Choice campaign with the awards identifying the most outstanding properties worldwide, in the categories of Top Hotels, Luxury, Bargain, Service, Small Hotels and B&Bs. Unlike any other hotel honours, TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice winners are based on millions of reviews and opinions covering more than 650,000 hotels collected in a single year from travellers around the world. 

The UK has serious cause to celebrate – with a £35 a night Welsh hotel crowned best in the world for service. Britain’s B&Bs reign supreme laying claim to four of the world’s top 10 B&Bs, and Yorkshire comes up trumps with winners in multiple categories including being home to the Top hotel in the UK and the eighth best bargain hotel in the world.

“For the eleventh year running, these awards recognise the cream of the crop when it comes to hotels across the globe, according to those that really matter - travellers themselves,” commented TripAdvisor spokesperson, Emma Shaw. “Yet again, Britain’s B&Bs continue to be celebrated as some of the very best in the world, and for a British hotel to beat over 650,000 others to be named number one in the world for service really is something to be proud of.”

Welsh hotel best in world for service

The UK has not always been renowned for world-class hospitality, but the Lauriston Court Hotel in Llandudno, North Wales has been crowned the number one hotel for service in the world. 

The hotel also scooped sixth place in the best bargain hotel in the world category. And with a stay at the Lauriston Court Hotel costing from just £35 per night, it’s proof that great service doesn’t have to come with an eye-watering price tag. 

Carol-Lynn and Ian Robbins, owners of the Lauriston Court Hotel said, “We’re thrilled to be recognised as the world’s best hotel for service by TripAdvisor’s travellers. Providing our guests with the best service possible is so important to us, and so it’s heart-warming to be recognised by our guests for the work we do to make their stay special.”

UK’s B&B’s still reigning supreme

The B&B has long been considered a British institution and the results of this year’s Travellers’ Choice Hotels Awards prove that the UK is still home to some of the finest B&Bs in the world. Britain lays claim to seven of the top 10 B&Bs in Europe and even takes second and third place in the best B&Bs in the world category. 

Despite narrowly missing out on the honour of world’s best B&B to a property in Italy, Athole Guest House in Bath takes second place, while No1 in St Ives, Cornwall comes in third. All Seasons Guest House in Filey and St Michael's Guest House in Scarborough rank in sixth and seventh places respectively.

The UK’s Top Performers

The UK’s number one Top Hotel is Harrogate’s Rudding Park which also celebrates fourth place in the world. Edinburgh property, The Chester Residence, takes the award for best Small Hotel in the UK. This new category recognises hotels with less than 30 rooms. 

Disappointment for the Capital in Jubilympic Year

With the 2012 Olympics and Jubilee celebrations, London hotels have been under intense scrutiny over the past year but the results of this year’s awards are somewhat disappointing for the capital. While London performed well in the UK categories with five winners in the top 10 Luxury hotel list, the city fails against hotels in Europe or globally with only one win outside of the UK in the top 10 – the Milestone Hotel taking 9^th place in the European Top hotels list.

Yorkshire shines

Yorkshire performed remarkably well in this year’s Travellers’ Choice Hotels Awards with wins in multiple categories including Harrogate’s Rudding Park taking the coveted Top UK hotel award. The Caribbean hotel in Doncaster has been crowned 8^th best bargain hotel in the world. The county also lays claim to two of the world’s top 10 best B&Bs - All Seasons Guest House in Filey and St Michael's Guest House in Scarborough in sixth and seventh places respectively.

For the complete 2012 Travellers’ Choice Hotels list and more reviews, opinions and candid holiday photographs, go tohttp://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/TravellersChoice. 

-Ends- 

For more information please contact Hayley Coleman: 077 398 27951 / hcoleman@tripadvisor.com 

2013 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards Highlights:

World’s Best Hotels for Service

1. Lauriston Court Hotel, Llandudno - Wales

2.  Hotel California, Palm Springs – United States      

3.  Riad Kniza, Marrakech - Morocco 

4.  Anastasis Apartments, Santorini - Greece

5.  Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort, Stan Creek – Belize

6.  SeaCoast Inn, Cape Cod – United States

7.  Jade Hotel, Thua Thien, Hue Province – Vietnam

8.  Aparthotel City 5, Prague - Czech Republic

9.  Hotel General, Prague - Czech Republic

10. Albergaria do Calvario, Alentejo - Portugal 

World’s Top 10 B&Bs

1. Casa Portagioia, Bed and Breakfast, Castiglion Fiorentino – Italy

2. Athole Guest House, Bath – Somerset – England

3. No1, St Ives – Cornwall - England

4. Chambres d'hotes Saint Emilion Bordeaux: Beau Sejour, Naujan-et-Postiac – France

5. Point Clear Cottages, Fairhope – United States

6. All Seasons Guest House, Filey – North Yorkshire - England

7. St Michael's Guest House, Scarborough – North Yorkshire - England

8. Baan Malinee Bed and Breakfast, Phuket – Thailand

9. The Welsh Hills Inn, Granville – United States

10. Loire Valley Retreat, Chinon - France

UK’s Top Hotels

1. Rudding Park Hotel, Harrogate – North Yorkshire  - England

2. The Milestone Hotel, London  - England

3. Ellenborough Park, Cheltenham – Gloucestershire - England

4. Casa Hotel, Chesterfield – Derbyshire  - England

5. Corinthia Hotel, London - England

6. 51 Buckingham Gate, Taj Suites and Residences, London - England

7. Swinton Park, Masham – North Yorkshire - England

8. Potters Leisure Resort, Hopton-on-Sea, Norfolk - England

9. The Green Park Hotel – Pitlochry – Scotland

10. Staybridge Suites London-Stratford City, London - England

World’s Top 10 Bargain Hotels

1. SeaCoast Inn, Cape Cod – United States

2. Aparthotel City 5, Prague – Czech Republic

3. Jade Hotel, Thua Thien, Hue Province – Vietnam

4. The Blue Beetroot, Boleslawiec – Poland

5. Pri Lenart Hotel, Skofja Loka – Slovenia

6. Lauriston Court Hotel, Llandudno – North Wales

7. Caribbe Inn, North Carolina Coast – United States

8. The Caribbean, Doncaster, South Yorkshire - England

9. Clark’s Sunny Isle Motel, Summerside – Canada

10. Hotel Villa Janto, Casamicciola Terme – Italy                                  

UK’s Best Small Hotels

1. The Chester Residence, Edinburgh – Scotland

2. Boskerris Hotel, St Ives – Cornwall - England

3. Ardeonaig Hotel, Ardeonaig, Scotland

4. Can-y-Bae, Llandudno – North Wales

5. Hotel 41, London - England

6. The Old Rectory Hotel, Martinhoe – Devon - England

7. The Clontarf Hotel, Llandudno – North Wales

8. Apsley House Hotel, Bath – Somerset - England

9. Egerton House Hotel, London - England

10. Peak Edge Hotel, Stonedge – Derbyshire - England

Notes to Editors

TripAdvisor has named 6,297 award-winning properties around the world this year, with dedicated lists now covering 82 countries and 9 regions worldwide.