This was the biggest and brightest TPG Awards ever, celebrating the airlines, hotels and loyalty programs our readers and staff loved most this year.
The Points Guy has something to celebrate, with nearly 56 million unique visitors so far this year, 1 million newsletter subscribers in March, and 1 million Instagram followers in July. There were a lot of them.
But the TPG Awards aren’t really just about TPG. These are about the travel industry as a whole: where travelers are going, what trends are they seeing, and what products and services are most helpful as they move around the world.
This year, the method for determining the winner was also innovative. There are no longer separate reader-selected and editor-selected lists. Instead, a new methodology was created that brings together the voices of TPG readers, TPG editors, and some outside travel experts into his one cohesive list of winners across 22 voted categories.
So while there were some new winners, there were also some old favorites that had fallen a bit in the eyes of travelers. Several brands and products continue to win awards, some even winning in the categories they award each year.
Check out some of the highlights from the 2023 TPG Awards, including all 22 winners and this year’s special Spotlight Moments where TPG recognizes a variety of trends, brands, and people making a huge impact on the travel industry.
Related: Best travel rewards credit cards
best first class
When it comes to ultra-luxury goods, it doesn’t get any better than this. The innovative first class cabin of the Emirates Boeing 777. That’s why we won the top award for Best First Class.
best business class
At TPG, we love the business class cabin, especially when booked with airline miles. this year, The top award for Best Business Class went to Qatar Airways’ Qsuite.
daily newsletter
Get rewarded in your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers and get breaking news, in-depth guides, and exclusive deals from TPG experts.
Best Premium Economy Class
TPG’s awards didn’t stop at first and business class. The next award was for Best Premium Economy Class, which went to Emirates again this year.
Best Economy Class (US only)
JetBlue once again won Best Economy Class (U.S. only) this year. This is the fourth official win in this category for JetBlue, a perennial favorite at the TPG Awards. In fact, the airline has won this award every time it has been presented.
Best US Airline Loyalty Program
Delta Air Lines came out on top in the early voting results, but things started to fade after announcing major changes to the program, sparking backlash from many Elite Medallion members. As the voting results changed, American Airlines’ program emerged victorious, taking the top spot in only his second time since the TPG Awards were created in 2018. The program’s previous award was in 2021.
Best Hotel Loyalty Program
A slight change is occurring in the hotel space. The Best Hotel Loyalty Program award has been awarded to Marriott Bonvoy for several years, but this year marks the first time Hyatt has won the award for the World of Hyatt program. Hyatt also achieved the highest hotel elite status. Hyatt Globalist elite status earns major accolades.
best travel rewards credit cards
Best Airline Credit Cards
The benefits of airline-affiliated credit cards seem to vary depending on the popularity of the perks and accompanying programs. Until then, TPG’s winner had changed every year, with the exception of his one time, when Delta Air Lines won the top award two years in a row. Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (including last year).
This year, however, we have a new winner. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card won the award for Best Airline Partner Credit Card.
best premium credit cards
Best Premium Credit Card is one of TPG’s high-profile awards, and we’ve had some notable winners in the past. This year marks Capital One Card’s first big win in the voting category, and that’s a good thing.
Best credit cards with no annual fee
Finally, the winners of the best no annual fee credit cards have historically been Chase unlimited freedom. This card won every year until Bilt introduced his Bilt Mastercard®.
Built Mastercard has been the best in this category since 2022 and has done the same this year. This card allows you to earn points when you pay your rent, and it is very popular with TPG readers and TPG staff alike.
2023 TPG Award Winners
2023 TPG Awards Notable Moments
In addition to the voted awards, TPG celebrated the positive impact travel has on the world and the people making a difference with our Changemaker Awards and Spotlight Moments.
Impact Award: Make-A-Wish Foundation
Make-A-Wish received the Impact Award from Wells Fargo for helping bring happy surprises and make wishes come true for children and their families facing serious illnesses.
Hero Award: José Andres’ World Central Kitchen
Jose Andres’ World Central Kitchen receives Capital One’s Hero Award for its continued and relentless support of people living in areas facing disasters and conflicts of all kinds. did.
Travel Influencer of the Year: Jeff Jenkins
To honor individuals who are determined to make a difference, TPG awarded Jeff Jenkins the title of Travel Influencer of the Year.He runs an Instagram account Chubby diary National Geographic’s new program “never say never” embraces body positivity in travel.
2023 TPG Spotlight Moment and Changemaker Award Winners
The event will feature an interactive lounge for guests, sponsored by American Express, Expedia Group, Capital One, Wells Fargo, Uber, Marriott Bonvoy, Lonely Planet, Croatian Tourism Board, and Tuscan Tourism Promotions. A photo booth and immersive activations were also featured.
Related books:
View Bilt Mastercard rates and fees here.
Check out Bilt Mastercard benefits and benefits here.