MEDIA RELEASE
Amelia Island Convention Visitors Bureau
July 19, 2018 1:00 p.m.
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. (July 17, 2018) – Northeast Florida’s Amelia Island has placed among the Top 10 Islands in the U.S. in Travel + Leisure’s 2018 World’s Best Awards. Amelia Island finished in the #6 spot, making it the highest-rated Florida island in the publication’s annual competition, voted on by readers. In the Top 10 Resort Hotels in Florida category, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island was ranked #7. The recognition from Travel + Leisure adds to an impressive list of recent accolades for the destination.
Travel + Leisure announced the results of its 2018 World’s Best Awards on July 10, ranking the best islands, cities, hotels, cruise lines and airports in the world. The World’s Best is a travel awards program run by Travel + Leisure and based on an annual reader survey allowing readers to rate airlines, airports, car-rental agencies, cities, cruise ships, destination spas, hotels, hotel brands, islands, tour operators, and safari outfitters, ranking the best travel experiences in the world.
The 2018 World’s Best Awards will be in the August issue of Travel + Leisure, on newsstands nationwide on July 27. The full list is published exclusively online at TravelandLeisure.com/Worlds-Best.
“Amelia Island continues to enchant visitors, resulting in a growing list of accolades and recognitions,” said Gil Langley, president and CEO of the Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We’re honored our island continues to be recognized among the travel industry’s best, and to offer world-class events and experiences for visitors and locals alike.”
Earlier this summer, Amelia Island was named the #4 Most Blissful Destination for Wellness Travel by TripAdvisor, the travel planning and booking site. Based on related search terms, TripAdvisor identified “zen” destinations in the U.S. and around the globe where travelers can retreat to focus on well-being, yoga, meditation and self-care. Amelia Island is the only Florida destination featured on the top ten list, which included world-renowned wellness destinations like Sedona, Arizona and Ojai and Palm Springs in California.
Amelia Island also received recent recognition from the Southeast Tourism Society (STS) for two of the destination’s signature events – Dickens on Centre and the Pétanque Amelia Island Open. Both events were named among the Top 20 Events in the Southeast. The STS Top 20 Festival and Event Awards have highlighted programs around the Southeast since 1985. STS, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting tourism to and within southeastern states.