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Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Hyatt, American Airlines, JetBlue, Emirates and Qatar Airways among the big winners at the 2023 TPG Awards
Clint Henderson is a managing editor at TPG who has worked in the journalism industry for more than 25 years. He is obsessed with travel and has used points and miles to explore the world.
November 7, 2023 • 9 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
The 2023 TPG Awards recognized top airlines, hotels, loyalty programs and travel products as voted by readers, editors and industry experts.
This year introduced a new unified voting methodology, combining input from TPG readers, staff and external travel professionals across 22 categories.
Several perennial favorites retained their titles, while some categories saw new winners reflecting shifts in traveler preferences and industry trends.
Special spotlight and changemaker awards highlighted positive impacts, innovation and influential individuals within the travel sector.
What to consider
Some offers and products highlighted in the awards may no longer be available as noted in the article.
Award categories included both travel experiences and credit products, with winners changing in some categories due to evolving benefits and consumer sentiment.
Spotlight moments recognized not only brands but also social impact initiatives and improvements in travel technology and airport experiences.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of all 22 award winners, special recognitions and the trends shaping this year's top travel choices.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
It was the biggest and brightest TPG Awards yet as we celebrated the airline, hotel and loyalty programs our readers and staff loved the best this year.
The Points Guy had much to celebrate, including some 56 million unique visitors so far this year, plus 1 million newsletter subscribers in March and 1 million Instagram followers in July.
But the TPG Awards aren't really just about TPG. They're about the travel industry as a whole: where we're going, trends we're seeing and what products and services are helping travelers the most as they navigate the world.
The way that the winners were determined this year was also new. Gone are the separate readers' choice and editors' choice lists. Instead, a new methodology was created that combines the voices of TPG readers, TPG editors and some external travel experts into one cohesive list of award winners across 22 voting-eligible categories.
With that, there were some new winners and some old favorites that had fallen a bit in the eyes of travelers. Some brands and products just kept on winning, including a few that have won their category every single year we've handed out awards.
Read on for a few of the highlights of the 2023 TPG Awards, including all 22 award winners and some special spotlight moments of the year where TPG recognizes various trends, brands and people having an outsize impact on the travel industry.
Emirates' top-notch first-class cabin on its Boeing 777s. EMIRATES/FACEBOOK
Best Business Class
At TPG, we love our business-class cabins, especially when booked with airline miles. This year, Qatar Airways' Qsuite took the top prize for Best Business Class.
QATAR AIRWAYS/FACEBOOK
Best Premium Economy Class
TPG's awards didn't stop with first and business class. Next up in the awards was Best Premium Economy Class, which Emirates also won this year.
BEN SMITHSON/THE POINTS GUY
Best Economy Class (US Only)
JetBlue won Best Economy Class (U.S. Only) again this year — the fourth official win in this category for JetBlue, which has been a perennial favorite at the TPG Awards. In fact, the carrier has won every year this award has been handed out.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Best US Airline Loyalty Program
American Airlines AAdvantage scored a huge victory this year, knocking out reigning champion Delta SkyMiles to win the award for Best U.S. Airline Loyalty Program.
Delta Air Lines led the early voting results, but it began to fade after announcing drastic changes to its program that elicited an outcry from many of its elite Medallion members. As the voting shifted, American Airlines' program emerged victorious, taking the top spot for only the second time since the TPG Awards debuted in 2018. The program's previous win was in 2021.
CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
Best Hotel Loyalty Program
There's been a bit of a shake-up in the hotel space. After a few years of the Best Hotel Loyalty Program going to Marriott Bonvoy, Hyatt won for the first time this year with its World of Hyatt program. Hyatt also won Best Hotel Elite Status, with its top-tier Hyatt Globalist elite status taking the big honors.
Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in the Bahamas. CLINT HENDERSON/THE POINTS GUY
Best Travel Rewards Credit Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card won the award for the Best Travel Rewards Credit Card, an honor it has claimed for six straight years (including when the category was previously called Best Mid-Tier Card). It’s the only credit card to win its category every single year since the TPG Awards began.
Best Airline Cobranded Credit Card
The benefits of airline cobranded credit cards seem to change with the benefits and the popularity of the programs they are attached to. To that point, the TPG winner has changed every year except one — when Delta Air Lines took the top prize in two separate years for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, including last year.
But this year, we crown a new winner: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card takes the prize as Best Airline Cobranded Credit Card.
Best Premium Credit Card
Best Premium Credit Card is one of TPG's high-profile awards, with some big-name winners in years past. This year is the first major win in a voting category for a Capital One card, and it's a good one.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card took our top prize for the category this year. With its growing network of high-quality lounges and simple but rewarding perks, it's a fan favorite.
CAPITAL ONE
Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Card
Finally, the winner for the Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Card has historically been the Chase Freedom Unlimited. That card won every year until Bilt came on the scene with the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees).
The Bilt Mastercard took the top prize in this category beginning in 2022 and is repeating its win again this year. It's the card that gives you points for paying your rent, and it has been a big hit with both TPG readers and TPG staff.
Best Destination in a TV Show/Film: Sicily, Italy, from HBO's "The White Lotus"
Spotlight Moments in the 2023 TPG Awards
Outside of the above awards that were voted on, TPG also celebrated travel's positive impact on the world and those shaking things up with its Changemaker Awards and Spotlight Moments.
Impact Award: Make-A-Wish Foundation
Make-A-Wish was given the Impact Award presented by Wells Fargo for its help in bringing happy surprises and granting wishes for children and their families facing critical illnesses.
In conjunction with our partners, TPG hosted the "Best Flight Ever," earlier in 2023, taking 26 Make-A-Wish children and their families on a special chartered American Airlines flight to Orlando, where they spent a week visiting Walt Disney World Resort and many of Orlando's best theme parks.
WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY
Hero Award: José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen
José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen was honored with the Hero Award presented by Capital One for its continued, relentless support of people living in areas facing all kinds of disasters and conflict.
Travel Influencer of the Year: Jeff Jenkins
To celebrate the individuals who are determined to inspire change, TPG awarded the Travel Influencer of the Year title to Jeff Jenkins. He runs the Instagram account chubbydiaries and hosts National Geographic's new show "Never Say Never," which embraces body positivity in travel.
JEFF JENKINS
2023 TPG Spotlight Moments and Changemaker Awards winners
Next Gen Influencer of the Year: Vivian Tu for teaching financial literacy in a fun, easy-to-understand way on Your Rich BFF
Travel Influencer of the Year: Jeff Jenkins, founder of Chubby Diaries and co-founder of Black Travel Alliance
The event also featured interactive lounges, photo booths and immersive activations for guests sponsored by American Express, Expedia Group, Capital One, Wells Fargo, Uber, Marriott Bonvoy, Lonely Planet, the Croatian National Tourist Board and Tuscany Tourism Promotion.
See Bilt Mastercard rates and fees here. See Bilt Mastercard rewards and benefits here.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
