RUNNERS-UP

CELEBRITY CRUISES, PRINCESS CRUISES

The number of ocean cruises taken by UK and Irish passengers in 2018 passed the two million mark for the first time, a significant milestone for an industry that is fast becoming a mainstream holiday option. Every year sees the launch of a raft of ships, with innovative features to tempt new cruisers, technological wizardry to help the cruise experience become more seamless, and quality dining options, masterminded by some of the best chefs in the business. Destination remains a primary motivation for booking, and cruisers are spoilt for choice with the global mix on offer.

Cunard shoots to the top of the pile when it comes to Best Large-Ship Ocean Cruise Line. While the line’s loyal followers wait with anticipation for the launch of a new ship in 2022, the company’s first in 12 years, the Three Queens continue to impress with their happy marriage of timeless heritage and luxury service. The traditions of afternoon tea and dressing up for dinner endure, while special event cruises, such as Transatlantic Fashion Week and the Journey of Genealogy, keep the brand fresh and relevant.

Runner-up Celebrity Cruises had a big year, with the launch of Celebrity Edge in December, a ground-breaking new class of ship that introduced the Magic Carpet, a cantilevered multi-use floating platform, and private plunge pools with new Edge Villas among other talking points. Third-placed Princess Cruises has been pioneering new technology on board with the Ocean Medallion experience, a wearable device that can be used to order food and drinks, customise entertainment and navigate around the ship. KL

BEST HOTEL GROUP OBEROI HOTELS & RESORTS

unparalleled service or a benchmark for luxury across the world. For Telegraph readers, the best in class is Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, which has been voted the best hotel group in the world for the third year running. The group, founded in India in 1934 by Mohan Singh Oberoi, has remained in the family, and their mantra “the guest is everything” still stands.

The portfolio ranges from a palace, rising like a mirage from the western shores of Lake Pichola in Udaipur, to a property whose guest rooms have direct views of the Taj Mahal. There are even luxurious rattan-trimmed motor launches that drift around Kerala’s backwaters. The group’s next hotel will open in December in Marrakech.

Red Carnation comes in second place. The family-run group of 19 boutique hotels counts in its portfolio the Oyster Box, an institution in Durban, South Africa; the Twentiesstyle Milestone Hotel on the edge of Hyde Park; and one of the greatest hotels in Ireland, Ashford Castle.

Anantara Hotels has moved up to third place this year. A relative newcomer, it was founded in 2001 in Thailand’s Hua Hin and has since grown to more than 35 properties worldwide, spanning cosmopolitan cities (such as a riverside resort in Bangkok), deserts (including a hotel in Abu Dhabi’s Empty Quarter, the largest uninterrupted body of sand in the world), and islands (such as the Maldives, where it has five properties). Jade Conroy

BEST COTTAGE OPERATOR NATIONAL TRUST

modern interiors, welcome goodies and plenty of information about the local area. Increasingly, the luxury providers also include a concierge service to arrange weird and wonderful local activities, such as hat making and archery.

The first winner of this title goes to the National Trust, which goes a step beyond many of its competitors by offering a stay in history. Creating a new way in which enthusiasts can experience the nation’s fascinating past, the trust has a range of properties that includes lighthouse-keeper’s lodgings, grand halls, gatehouses and small beamed cottages. Each, without exception, has something special about it and all come with free entry to National Trust properties for the duration of the stay.

Following closely are Sykes Holiday Cottages, which has more than 12,000 self-catering properties across the UK and Ireland. In third place is Rural Retreats. The majority of its 500 or so properties sit either on the coast or within Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or national parks. Penny Walker

BEST VILLA OPERATOR VINTAGE TRAVEL

SIMPSON TRAVEL, THE THINKING TRAVELLER

Villa stays are on the up as more of us head off on multi-generational holidays, with grandparents and grandchildren in tow. Not only do these villas provide an environment that makes it easy to cater for fussy eaters, they also offer a sense of privacy that is hard to find at a hotel. The best will take you to the heart of a destination, while in-house concierge services will show you the region’s soul – from truffle hunting in Italy to wine tasting in France.

Leading the pack this year is Vintage Travel, which has leapt up two places from 2018’s awards. Catering to a wide range of travellers, Vintage offers everything from villas with children’s pools to those designed with a digital detox in mind. They all have private pools and can be found in quiet rural locations around the Mediterranean, Canary Islands and United Kingdom.

First runner-up is Simpson Travel, last year’s winner, with high-end self-catering in Corsica, Mallorca, France, Italy, Turkey and the Greek islands. Intimate honeymoon hideaways and family villas are popular favourites, with a range of activities – from sailing lessons to horse riding – on offer.

Following closely behind is The Thinking Traveller, purveyor of beautiful properties in equally beautiful locations: Puglia, Sicily, Corsica and the Ionian and Sporades islands. Its experiential offerings include yacht charters and private guided tours of Unesco World

Heritage Sites. PW