Independent luxury, apartment hotels and unique stays shine in Tripadvisor’s 2026 awards
Tripadvisor's 2026 Travellers' Choice Best of the Best Awards have been revealed. Who topped the rankings in Australia and New Zealand, and which hotels, apartment operators and unique stays impressed travellers the most?
An independently owned Brisbane luxury hotel, a standout performance from Quest Apartment Hotels and global recognition for a New Zealand glamping retreat have emerged as some of the key stories from Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards.
Announced on June 9, the annual awards recognise the top one percent of accommodation providers worldwide based on the quality and quantity of traveller reviews received throughout 2025.
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Leading Australia’s results was Emporium Hotel South Bank, which was named both Australia’s top hotel and Australia’s top luxury hotel. The Brisbane property also finished No. 21 in Tripadvisor’s global hotel rankings, narrowly missing a place in the world’s Top 20 hotels.
The achievement is particularly noteworthy given that Emporium Hotel South Bank is not part of an international hotel chain. The hotel is independently owned and operated by Brisbane-based Anthony John Group, founded by architect and designer Anthony John and his wife Francine.
The Emporium story began more than two decades ago with the development of the original Emporium precinct in Fortitude Valley, helping transform the area into one of Brisbane’s most vibrant mixed-use destinations. Today, the South Bank property forms part of the group’s landmark Southpoint development and has built a reputation around design, service and creating a destination experience rather than simply providing accommodation.
In rankings driven entirely by guest reviews rather than industry judging panels, Emporium’s success demonstrates that independent operators can compete successfully against some of the world’s biggest luxury hotel brands by delivering a distinctive and memorable guest experience.
Read: Quest Orange crowned Australia’s top hotel in Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travellers’ Choice Awards
While Emporium topped the Australian rankings, Quest Apartment Hotels emerged as the country’s standout accommodation brand according to travellers.
Quest Orange led a remarkable showing for the group, with six Quest properties securing positions in Australia’s Top 10 Hotels rankings. Quest Robina, Quest Docklands, Quest Perth Ascot, Quest St Kilda Road and Quest Singleton also featured among the nation’s highest-rated accommodation providers.
Furthermore, Quest Ballarat Station earned a place in Australia’s Top 10 Small & Boutique Hotels category, while Quest South Perth Foreshore and Quest Collingwood both made the Top 10 list for Best B&Bs and Inns – Australia.
The results highlights the enduring appeal of apartment-style accommodation, with travellers continuing to value space, flexibility and residential-style experiences alongside traditional hotel services.
David Mansfield, Managing Director, The Ascott Limited Australasia told AccomNews the result is a credit to Quest’s franchisees and teams
“To have six of Australia’s top ten hotels on Tripadvisor’s Best of the Best list come from the one brand is a remarkable result – and credit belongs entirely to the franchisees and their teams who show up for guests every single day.
“This award is driven by real guests leaving real reviews, which makes it one of the most meaningful endorsements in our industry.
“What’s also striking is the geographic spread – it demonstrates that the Quest model excels not just in major CBDs, but in the regional and suburban communities where we’ve always believed there is genuine demand for quality apartment-style accommodation.”
Beyond the headline winners, the rankings highlighted a broader trend across Australia and New Zealand. Travellers are increasingly rewarding regional destinations, boutique operators and accommodation providers delivering distinctive guest experiences.
Many of Australia’s highest-ranked properties were located outside the major capital cities, with The Reef House Boutique Hotel & Spa in Palm Cove placing second in Australia’s Top Hotels list and destinations including Hobart, Lord Howe Island, Daylesford, the Sunshine Coast, the Blue Mountains and the Adelaide Hills featuring prominently across the various categories.
What stands out is that many of these properties are not the largest hotels in the market. Instead, they are businesses that have built strong reputations through personalised service, attention to detail, local character and a genuine sense of place.
New Zealand also achieved a standout global result through its growing experiential accommodation sector. Valley Views Glamping in Kurow was ranked second in the world in Tripadvisor’s One of a Kind category, highlighting the increasing appeal of immersive, nature-based accommodation experiences.
The recognition demonstrates how smaller, independently operated properties can successfully compete on the global stage by offering guests an experience that stands apart from the competition.
For accommodation operators, the results are a reminder that travellers notice the details.
Whether it is personalised service, a unique setting, extra space or a genuine connection to a destination, the highest-ranked properties in this year’s awards all delivered something guests were motivated to talk about afterwards.
In a marketplace shaped by online reputation, that remains one of the industry’s most valuable advantages.
