Booking.com awards nearly 10,000 Canadian partners

Booking.com has announced the global recipients of its 14th annual Traveller Review Awards, saying nearly 10,000 travel partners in Canada* will receive an award in 2026 — a 24 per cent increase in Canadian award recipients over the last two years.

The awards are based on more than 370 million verified traveller reviews and recognize partners for consistently strong hospitality and service.

“From welcoming hosts who go above and beyond for guest stays to expert taxi drivers sharing ‘local-only’ tips, these personal touches can make a trip truly special for travellers,” said James Waters, chief business officer at Booking.com. 

“The Traveller Review Awards continue to shine a well-deserved spotlight on our partners who help create lifelong memories for travellers. It’s one of our ways of saying ‘thank you’ from all of us at Booking.com and the hundreds of millions of travellers around the world."

2026’s most welcoming places on Earth

Booking.com said its research found that 43 per cent of Canadian travellers consider friendly locals a major draw when choosing where to go.

Based on the share of accommodation partners receiving a Traveller Review Award in 2026, Booking.com’s Most Welcoming Places on Earth list spotlights destinations where guest experiences feel personal and well looked after.

Newfoundland and Labrador made its debut on the list. 

Booking.com pointed to the region’s humpback whale population, UNESCO-designated sites, and reputation for warm hospitality.

Here are Booking.com’s most welcoming regions for 2026:

• Hidalgo, Mexico
• Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
• Navarra, Spain
• Idaho, United States
• Himachal Pradesh, India
• Sachsen, Germany
• Phang Nga, Thailand
• Overijssel, Netherlands
• Epirus, Greece
• Chiriquí, Panamá

Canada’s most welcoming places for 2026

Booking.com also highlighted Canadian destinations it says stand out for hospitality — from Niagara-on-the-Lake’s wineries and theatre productions to Winnipeg’s naturally frozen skating trail.

Here are Canada’s most welcoming places for 2026:

• Canmore, Alberta
• Revelstoke, British Columbia
• Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Moncton, New Brunswick
• St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
• Halifax, Nova Scotia
• Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
• Lac-Superieur, Quebec

Award-winning hospitality grows in 2026

Booking.com said that as travellers increasingly look for authenticity, accommodations continue to lead the awards in Canada.

In Canada, apartments were the most-awarded accommodation type for the third straight year, followed by hotels, then holiday homes, B&Bs, and chalets rounding out the top five.

On the transport side, Canadian rental car companies had the 12th highest volume of recognized providers. 

Globally, the company said the number of rental car partners receiving an award rose 49 per cent from 2025, pointing to a growing focus on seamless in-trip travel.

*9,765 total Traveller Review Award 2026 recipients in Canada.

 Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.