HOTELS
July 2026
and North Africa, while safely securing the number one spot as the absolute best hotel in Israel for 2026. These rankings carry immense weight in the international travel community, representing one of the most respected and authoritative benchmarks for hospitality excellence worldwide. Celebrating its thirty-first year, the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards are entirely reader-driven, based on a massive survey that drew over 661,000 votes from more than 207,000 passionate travelers. Voters evaluated everything from global city destinations and pristine islands to airlines, safari outfitters, and luxury hotels, making the double victory for Jerusalem and its flagship luxury property a powerful testament to the enduring allure of the Israeli capital on the global stage. The back-to-back accolades serve as a powerful
invitation to international tourists planning their next unforgettable getaway. Facing a dynamic and ever- changing global travel landscape, Jerusalem’s top- tier ranking proves that the ancient city continues to captivate the hearts of international visitors through its unmatched fusion of living history, diverse cultural tapestry, world-class culinary scenes, and unparalleled hospitality. Hotel management noted that this international recognition is a profound vote of confidence from global travelers in the uncompromising level of personal service and exceptional experiences provided in the capital, reaffirming their commitment to acting as proud ambassadors for Jerusalem and Israel to guests arriving from every corner of the world.
Capital Luxury: Jerusalem Voted Best MENA City as Waldorf Astoria Claims Top Honors in 2026 Global Travel Awards
Global travelers have spoken in the prestigious 2026 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, ranking Jerusalem as the number one city destination in the Middle East and North Africa and seventh globally, while the iconic Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem was crowned the best hotel in Israel and third overall in the region J erusalem has solidified its status as a premier global destination for luxury
destination in the Middle East and North Africa, while also earning a coveted spot as the seventh best city to visit anywhere in the world. Matching the city’s historic achievement, the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem achieved a major international milestone by ranking third among all hotels across the Middle East
and culture, sweeping top honors in the newly released 2026 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. In a spectacular showing voted on by international globetrotters, Jerusalem was named the number one city
The Princess Awakens: Iconic Eilat Resort to Reopen After a Decade in the Dark
A n iconic chapter in Israel’s tourism history is being rewritten as the legendary Princess Hotel in Eilat prepares to welcome guests once again, roughly ten years after it closed its doors. This highly anticipated revival comes as the real estate giant Airport City Group officially enters the hospitality management sector. Joining forces with Avia Magen, the highly regarded former CEO of Fattal Israel, the group has established a brand-new hotel management joint venture, owned in equal parts, to spearhead this ambitious national expansion. Magen will lead the establishment of the chain, acting as the operational and strategic hospitality arm
for Airport City Group. Currently finalizing its branding and operational frameworks, the new management chain is preparing to debut with an impressive initial portfolio of approximately 1,100 luxury rooms and suites across the country. The company is actively aiming to incorporate even more properties to expand its reach in the future. All the initial hotels are currently in the final stages of construction and are being meticulously tailored to meet premium international standards, perfectly aligning with the gradual return of inbound tourism to Israel.
A powerful new luxury hotel management chain is set to revitalize Israel’s premium hospitality scene, starting with the legendary Eilat property and expanding nationwide
14 • www.itn.co.il
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