Nominations for 2025/2026 have commenced!

Nominations for the 2025/2026 IGC Hotel Award have commenced. Recommend a hotel with outstanding hospitality to receive the recognition it deserves – your recommendation remains completely anonymous.

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est. 2004

The International Guest Certified Hotel Award

Do they love it?

Make your hospitality visible and show that your hotel is among the most guest-friendly in your region.

Powered by AI, decided by genuine guest feedback—celebrating hotels that go beyond expectations in guest satisfaction.

Over 80% of guests prefer hotels with an official quality seal. In a world where many hotels offer similar amenities, true hospitality is what makes the difference. With the IGC Hotel Award, you show your guests at first glance that your hotel stands for exceptional service and outstanding guest satisfaction – based on genuine guest reviews. This award builds trust and strengthens your credibility, directly improving your booking numbers. Awarded hotels receive up to 30% more direct bookings on average.

The IGC Hotel Award is only given to hotels that deliver outstanding guest service – making it an exclusive mark of quality that sets you apart from the competition. At the same time, the award creates new marketing opportunities. Show your guests that your hotel is among the most guest-friendly in your region – and let your award speak for itself.

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Meliá Jardines del Teide

belongs to the world’s most guest-friendly hotels in Tenerife, Spain.

Discover why
2025 IGC Certified

Featured Hotels

Each property has earned its place by exceeding guest expectations and embodying the highest standards of hospitality. Explore these celebrated destinations, renowned for their commitment to excellence and recognized with the prestigious International Guest Certified Hotel Award. Whether you’re planning a luxurious getaway or a business trip, our featured hotels promise an unforgettable stay, marked by unparalleled service and refined comfort.

Burg Hotel

Lech, Austria

Riu Bravo

Mallorca, Spain

Grand Hyatt

Shenzhen, China

CPH Pevero

Porto Cervo, Italy

Celebrating Global Hospitality Excellence

The symbol of great hospitality​

The official symbol of the IGC Hotel Award is the IGC Hotel Award Trophy, representing the pinnacle of guest satisfaction and hospitality excellence in the global hotel industry. This distinguished emblem of achievement, recognized worldwide, serves as a testament to a hotel’s exceptional dedication to creating unforgettable guest experiences and maintaining the highest standards of service.The IGC Trophy is a prestigious accolade, affirming the recipient’s unwavering commitment to hospitality excellence and their success in setting benchmarks that inspire confidence and trust among guests around the world.

Unlock the Power of the ICG Hotel Award

The International Guest Certified Hotel Award is your premier opportunity to showcase and elevate your exceptional hospitality. With this certification, you gain access to exclusive benefits that amplify your brand and connect with what matters most—your guests.

Make guest's trust visible worldwide ​

Increase
bookings

Global
Promotion

Stand out from other hotels

Exclusivity and Recognition

Latest Awards

Meliá Jardines del Teide

One of the world’s most guest-friendly hotels in 2025

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FAQs

What is the International Guest Certified Hotel Award?
The International Guest Certified Hotel Award is a prestigious accolade that honors outstanding hotels for their exceptional guest satisfaction. Founded in 2004 in Austria, this award is based solely on authentic guest feedback, analyzed using state-of-the-art AI technology. Unlike traditional awards decided by panels or juries, the IGC Award focuses entirely on the real experiences of guests. This makes it a transparent and trustworthy recognition for hotels that go beyond simply meeting expectations—they exceed them. The IGC Award is more than just recognition—it’s a symbol of excellence, trust, and unwavering dedication to creating unforgettable experiences for guests.
Certification is where your hotel’s excellence is officially recognized, turning your nomination into a powerful mark of distinction. After being nominated based on the genuine voices of your guests, certification allows you to showcase this achievement to the world and unlock exclusive benefits that elevate your reputation in the hospitality industry. The process is straightforward. By confirming your participation and paying the certification fee, your hotel earns the prestigious IGC certificate—a symbol of trust and quality that future guests can rely on. The fee not only secures your official recognition but also provides access to exclusive marketing materials, including badges and promotional tools, that let you proudly display your achievement and attract more guests. Beyond recognition, certification includes access to an AI-powered feedback dashboard, offering invaluable insights into what your guests love most. This helps you continuously refine your services, ensuring your hotel stays ahead in delivering exceptional guest satisfaction. Certification is more than just a formal step—it’s a declaration of your unwavering dedication to hospitality. It transforms your hard work into a beacon of excellence, giving guests confidence that your hotel is a place where unforgettable moments await. This is your chance to stand out, inspire loyalty, and set a new standard in the industry—all while celebrating the heart of what you do best.

Certification is more than just an accolade—it’s a comprehensive package designed to elevate your hotel and make your achievements shine.

Once certification is completed, you’ll receive:

  • The official IGC certificate, which formally recognizes your exceptional hospitality and guest satisfaction. This quality seal sets your hotel apart from competitors and builds trust with future guests.
  • Access to exclusive marketing materials, including award badges and promotional tools, that you can use to highlight your recognition in your communication and attract more bookings.
  • Access to an AI-powered feedback dashboard, offering valuable insights into guest feedback. You’ll discover what your guests love most and refine your services to exceed future expectations.

Beyond recognizing your excellence, certification positions your hotel as a leader in the industry. It lays the foundation for long-term success and guest trust, sending a clear message to the world that your hotel is a place where extraordinary experiences are guaranteed

Certification offers a range of powerful benefits that enhance your hotel’s reputation, visibility, and connection with guests. By completing the certification process, you:

  1. Build Trust with Guests: The official IGC certificate serves as a mark of quality that reassures potential guests they’re choosing a hotel with proven excellence in hospitality.
  2. Stand Out in a Competitive Market: Certification distinguishes your hotel as one of the most guest-friendly in your region, giving you an edge over competitors and making your property more appealing to travelers.
  3. Marketing Tools: Access to exclusive promotional materials, such as award badges and seals, helps you showcase your achievement across various channels, boosting your visibility and brand recognition.
  4. Access to Actionable Insights: The AI-powered feedback dashboard consolidates guest reviews across multiple platforms into one place and provides AI powered insights, allowing you to understand their needs better and improve your services to exceed expectations.
  5. Enhance Your Global Reputation: Certification aligns your hotel with an internationally recognized standard of excellence, helping you attract more discerning travelers and build long-term loyalty.

Certification is not just an honor—it’s an investment in your hotel’s success, creating opportunities for growth, trust, and a lasting connection with your guests.

Yes, a participation fee of €1,250 applies for certification. This fee not only covers the official recognition of your hotel’s excellence but also secures your place in the running for the prestigious Awarded distinction.

By completing the certification, you gain access to:

  • The official IGC certificate, highlighting your hotel as one of the most guest-friendly in your region.
  • Exclusive marketing materials, such as award badges and promotional tools, to showcase your achievement and attract future guests.
  • An AI-powered feedback dashboard, providing a consolidated view of guest reviews across platforms and AI insights to help you continually enhance your service.

In addition to these benefits, certification is your gateway to competing for the Awarded title, which crowns your hotel as the most guest-friendly in your region. This €1,250 investment elevates your reputation, sets your hotel apart in the market, and builds lasting trust with future guests.

Each year, the Awarded hotels are chosen based on authentic guest reviews. These reviews reflect the genuine experiences of real guests, ensuring that the selection process is fair and transparent. The hotels with the highest levels of guest satisfaction in their respective regions receive this prestigious title. It’s a recognition of their exceptional commitment to hospitality, highlighting the hotels that consistently go above and beyond to create unforgettable guest experiences.

The certification is valid for one year. During this time, your hotel can proudly display the IGC certificate and use the exclusive marketing materials to highlight your achievement. After one year, the certification can be renewed, allowing you to maintain your status as one of the most guest-friendly hotels in your region. This ensures that your recognition remains current and continues to reflect your commitment to exceptional guest satisfaction.

If your hotel’s guest satisfaction rating falls below the required 80%, you’ll be notified and given the opportunity to address any areas for improvement. Certification may be temporarily paused, giving your hotel the chance to refocus and enhance the guest experience. This is not the end of your journey—it’s a chance to grow and refine your services. By analyzing guest feedback and making thoughtful adjustments, your hotel can regain its position as a leader in guest satisfaction. The IGC Award celebrates continuous improvement, supporting hotels in their commitment to delivering exceptional hospitality.
Yes, certified hotels have the option to purchase a physical trophy or certificate from our online shop. These beautifully designed items are perfect for displaying your achievement at your hotel. The digital certificate, however, is provided free of charge and can be used immediately to showcase your recognition across your online platforms and marketing materials.

Yes, absolutely! Once your hotel is certified, you’ll receive exclusive marketing materials, including the official IGC Certified seal. This seal can be proudly displayed in your marketing campaigns, on your website, social media, and other promotional channels.

Using the seal highlights your hotel’s achievement as one of the most guest-friendly in your region, building trust with potential guests and setting your brand apart from competitors. 

Any hotel that achieves a guest satisfaction rating of at least 80% is eligible to participate in the IGC Award. No application is required, as nominations are based solely on authentic guest feedback.
The best way to improve your rating is by actively gathering guest feedback and addressing their needs and expectations. With the AI-powered dashboard provided during certification, you can plan targeted improvements to enhance guest satisfaction.
No, your hotel’s specific satisfaction ratings are not publicly disclosed. However, your participation and certification signal your exceptional guest satisfaction, and using the IGC seal demonstrates your commitment to hospitality excellence.
The IGC Award stands out because it is entirely based on authentic guest feedback. No jury, no applications—only the voices of your guests determine your eligibility. Using advanced AI technology ensures that the award reflects genuine guest satisfaction.
Absolutely! The IGC seal builds trust with potential guests, which can directly impact booking decisions. Certification highlights your hotel as a reliable and guest-friendly option, strengthening your position in a competitive market.