The awards evening, graciously sponsored by industry-leading hospitality technology providers Cendyn and Hop, was an extraordinary celebration of these exceptional achievers. It served as a testament to the dedication and hard work of hoteliers who continuously strive to offer the very best to their guests.

The GREAT Awards, known for their unique approach to recognising outstanding hospitality, stand apart by relying solely on genuine guest feedback rather than conventional judging panels. With a mission to spotlight exceptional guest experiences, these awards consider the opinions shared on top review platforms like Google Reviews, Booking.com, and Tripadvisor.

After meticulous analysis of over 60,000 reviews spanning hundreds of hotels across 37 countries, the GREAT Awards unveiled the champions in twelve categories:

2023 GREAT Awards Winners

GREATest Cleanliness: Hotel Verde Cape Town Airport
GREATest Room Quality: Uga Jungle Beach
GREATest Service: Highcliffe House
GREATest Sleep Quality: Kruger Gate Hotel
GREATest <20 ROOMS: Highcliffe House
GREATest 20-49 ROOMS: The Plettenberg Hotel
GREATest 50-99 ROOMS: Kapama River Lodge
GREATest 100+ ROOMS: LUX* South Ari Atoll
GREATest GROUP: The Liz McGrath Collection
GREATest in Africa: The Whale on Main B&B
GREATest in Europe: Highcliffe House

Find out who made the shortlist in each category

These esteemed winners have gone above and beyond to elevate guest experiences, setting a benchmark for excellence in the industry. The overall calibre of contestants in the awards was impressive, with an average overall satisfaction score of 88% for hotels that qualified to compete, and scores in the high 90s for most shortlisted hotels.

The data showed that smaller hotels tend to have better overall guest satisfaction scores, based on online reviews, and that hotels need to work hard to get a sufficient proportion of their guests to write online reviews.

These points were discussed at the event by a panel that included Chris Alexandre, CEO and Founder of GuestRevu, Niels Mekenkamp, Director of Business Solutions, EMEA at Cendyn, and Sharon Smith, Chief Operating Officer at Hop.

The GuestRevu GREAT Awards not only celebrate accomplishments but also inspire the industry to reach for new heights of excellence. It’s a platform that acknowledges the efforts of those who go the extra mile, setting a shining example for others in the hospitality industry.

As we conclude this remarkable event, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and express our gratitude to everyone who made the GREAT Awards a resounding success!