Travel in 2020 isn't what it was last year, but the hospitality and tourism industry is bracing for what they hope is an inevitable bounce-back. And there are still carry-overs from pre-pandemic times, like annual lists ranking destinations across the globe.
One such annual list - or rather set of lists - is the Travel + Leisure World Travel Awards. The publication surveys readers about travel experiences in the past year to create a multitude of rankings for destinations.
For 2020, the T+L World Travel Awards note that all the voting took place before cities went into "lockdown" or similar mode: "This year’s World’s Best Awards survey closed on March 2, just before widespread stay-at-home orders were implemented as a result of COVID-19. The results, therefore, reflect our readers’ experiences before the pandemic."
While one B.C. property made the list of the world's Top 100 hotels - that's Tofino's Wickaninnish Inn on Vancouver Island at no. 80 - the list of the Top 10 Canada City Hotels features four Vancouver spots, including the top two spots: Loden Hotel and the Rosewood Hotel Georgia.
Rounding out the Vancouver representation are the Wedgewood Hotel & Spa in seventh position, and The Fairmont Waterfront in a tie for 10th place.
Here's how the Loden, a boutique Coal Harbour property, got to the top spot, according to T+L:
"This hotel in Vancouver’s scenic Coal Harbour neighborhood keeps climbing the rankings. Last year, the Loden was ranked second, after coming in 10th in 2018. As in previous years, our readers applauded the hotel’s legendary, thoughtful service. 'The staff are amazing,' wrote one respondent, also praising its waterfront location and stylish, comfortable interiors, which feature floor-to-ceiling windows and Philippe Starck light fixtures. Don’t miss a meal at the Tableau Bar Bistro, beloved by travelers and locals alike, as well as a spin around nearby Stanley Park, a 1,000-acre rain forest surrounded by water, on one of the Loden’s cruiser bikes."
"We hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your trips to come — whenever they may be," adds Travel + Leisure of this year's rankings. If you're sticking in Canada, plotting a Vancouver staycation, or are just continuing to add to your bucket list, consider this some fuel.
Top 10 Canada City Hotels 2020
1. Loden Hotel, Vancouver
2. Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver
3. The Ritz-Carlton, Montreal
4. Hôtel Nelligan, Montreal
5. Auberge Saint-Antoine, Quebec City
6. The Drake, Toronto
7. Wedgewood Hotel & Spa, Vancouver
8. The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
9. Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City
10. (tie) The Fairmont Royal York, Toronto
10. (tie) The Fairmont Waterfront, Vancouver
