The 2023 TPG Awards were a celebration of the best in the travel industry, recognizing the airlines, hotels, loyalty programs, and influencers that have made a significant impact on the industry. This year’s awards were particularly special, as The Points Guy (TPG) saw record-breaking numbers in terms of visitors, newsletter subscribers, and Instagram followers.
One of the notable changes in this year’s awards was the new methodology used to determine the winners. Instead of separate readers’ choice and editors’ choice lists, the awards combined the voices of TPG readers, TPG editors, and external travel experts to create a cohesive list of winners across 22 categories.
In terms of airline awards, Emirates took home the top prize for Best First Class with its game-changing first-class cabin on its Boeing 777s. Qatar Airways’ Qsuite won Best Business Class, while Emirates also won Best Premium Economy Class. JetBlue once again won Best Economy Class (U.S. Only), maintaining its position as a perennial favorite at the TPG Awards.
In the loyalty program categories, American Airlines AAdvantage scored a big victory over reigning champion Delta SkyMiles to win Best U.S. Airline Loyalty Program. In the hotel loyalty program category, Hyatt’s World of Hyatt program emerged as the winner, breaking Marriott Bonvoy’s winning streak in previous years.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card continued its dominance in the Best Travel Rewards Credit Card category, winning the award for the sixth consecutive year. The Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card took home the prize for Best Airline Cobranded Credit Card, while the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card won Best Premium Credit Card. The Bilt Mastercard maintained its position as the Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Card for the second year in a row.
Aside from the awards, the event also recognized individuals and organizations making a positive impact on the travel industry. The Make-A-Wish Foundation received the Impact Award for its work in granting wishes for children and families facing critical illnesses. José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen was honored with the Hero Award for its support in disaster-stricken areas. Jeff Jenkins, known for his Instagram account chubbydiaries and his work promoting body positivity in travel, was awarded Travel Influencer of the Year.
The 2023 TPG Awards were a testament to the resilience and innovation of the travel industry, highlighting the brands, programs, and individuals that have made a lasting impact. With a record-breaking year for TPG and a new methodology for determining winners, these awards continue to be a reflection of the evolving landscape of travel.