World Villa Awards unveils inaugural nominations as voting opens worldwide

Voting has opened for the inaugural World Villa Awards, with nearly 2,000 nominations across more than 400 categories showcasing the breadth of villa hospitality around the world.

Spanning 10 regions, the nominations bring together private island retreats, beachfront homes, safari villas, Mediterranean estates and overwater escapes, alongside villa resorts, destinations and specialist rental companies.

The first winners will be unveiled on 15 October 2026 at Princess Grand Jamaica as part of World Travel Week Jamaica.

The inaugural field includes some of the most distinctive names in villa travel. In the Indian Ocean, nominees include North Island in Seychelles and Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in the Maldives. Europe’s nominations include Amanzoe and its Villa 20 in Greece, while Bawah Reserve in Indonesia features in Asia and &Beyond Phinda Homestead in South Africa.

The Caribbean is strongly represented, with nominees including Round Hill Hotel and Villas, GoldenEye and The Tryall Club in Jamaica, alongside The Villa at Sandy Lane in Barbados.

The range extends beyond location and luxury. Categories recognise family holidays, romantic stays, wellness, golf, architecture and exclusive-use experiences, acknowledging that different travellers seek different qualities from a villa stay. Individual properties may be nominated in more than one category.

The awards arrive within a substantial international holiday rental economy. Grand View Research estimates that the global vacation rental market, which includes villas alongside other holiday accommodation, was worth US$101.7 billion in 2025. Within that wider market, villas offer a distinctive combination of privacy, space and personal service, from independent holiday homes to fully staffed estates.

Graham Cooke, Founder, World Travel Awards, said: “These nominations show just how much the villa sector has to offer. There are extraordinary places to stay across every region, supported by teams who turn a beautiful property into an unforgettable experience.

“Opening the vote gives travellers and the travel industry the opportunity to recognise the villas, resorts and specialists they believe deserve to lead the way. We look forward to revealing the inaugural winners in Jamaica on 15 October.”

Part of the World Travel Awards family, World Villa Awards provides dedicated recognition for excellence across individual villas, resort accommodation, destinations and specialist businesses.

Travellers and travel professionals are invited to explore the nominees and cast their votes at www.worldvillaawards.com.

ENDS