TripAdvisor
Travelers’ Choice Award
TripAdvisor began recognizing the best hotels in 2002, which evolved into the Travelers’ Choice Awards. Now given once a year, this sticker / award “indicates a property is among the best in the world”. All recipients are determined using a proprietary algorithm; alas, there are no sticker judges. Travelers’ Choice Awards winners must maintain an overall “bubble rating,” as the site calls its summary of ratings, of at least four out of a possible five from users over a 12-month period. (A minimum number of reviews is also required, but TripAdvisor declined to share that number.) Recent reviews, traveler opinions, and a consistent track record of quality are all major factors, so this is the sticker to watch out for if you expect—and require—top-notch quality and service.