2025 Readers’ Choice Awards
The 2025 Readers' Choice Awards recognize who you, our readers, have said are the best in the group travel market! Keep reading to see which destinations, experiences, hotels, attractions, shopping, and more made the list this year!
CVB or DMO: City/Region
Visit Orlando
Visit Orlando is The Official Tourism Association® for Orlando, the most visited destination in the U.S., Theme Park Capital of the World® and the country’s no. 1 meeting destination. Home to eight of the world’s top theme parks, a dynamic dining scene with Michelin-recognized restaurants, and a robust calendar of entertainment and sports events, Orlando is the perfect group destination!
HONORABLE MENTION: Experience Grand Rapids | Explore St. Louis | Travel Dubuque | Visit Anchorage
CVB or DMO: State/Province
Circle Michigan
With over 40 years’ experience, Circle Michigan helps tour planners create memorable group tours. Michigan’s identity is shaped by four Great Lakes, and two peninsulas full of natural wonders. Each region is distinctive and offers hidden gems, world-class attractions, museums, festivals, orchards, and stunning shorelines ready for groups to explore.
HONORABLE MENTION: Explore Louisiana | Visit Missouri | Visit North Carolina | Visit Virginia
Accommodations
Gaylord Hotels
Gaylord Hotels brings people together in extraordinary ways across its six destination resorts. Purpose-built to host exceptional meetings and events of all sizes, Gaylord Hotels offers a unique, all-under-one-roof experience with more than 3.2 million square feet of meeting space, expansive atriums, five water parks and a wide range of dining and shopping outlets.
HONORABLE MENTION: The Broadmoor | Drury Hotels | Helios Hotel at EPIC Universe | Sonesta Resorts St. Maarten
Beer, Wine or Spirit Trail/Scene
Kentucky Bourbon Trail
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour invites visitors to explore America’s signature spirit across over 60 iconic distillery experiences in the scenic Bluegrass State. Celebrated as the world’s most revered spirits tourism experience, it offers immersive tours, tastings, and unforgettable stories behind the heritage, craftsmanship, and culture of Kentucky Bourbon.
HONORABLE MENTION: Asheville, North Carolina | Finger Lakes Region, New York | Grand Rapids, Michigan | Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dining Experience
Mellow Mushroom
Since 1974, Mellow Mushroom has been slinging pizzas with personality, whether you’re into the Mighty Meaty, the Veg Out, the Kosmic Karma or the Pacific Rim. Groups love the establishment’s ’70s-inspired trippy vibes that remain masterfully paired with deliciously hand-crafted stone-baked pizzas. And with over 160 locations across 17 states, it fits into almost any itinerary.
HONORABLE MENTION: Buca di Beppo | Carmine’s | Golden Corral | Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
Hands-On Experience
Inside Tracks at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
A true day in the life of a musician—from songwriting and performing to professionalism in the music industry—this program covers it all. Groups will co-write and produce a song from scratch with Nashville recording artist Meghan Linsey and record producer Tyler Cain, who help groups compose a beat and write accompanying parts to their own original track.
HONORABLE MENTION: Anheuser-Busch Brewery Experience | Corning Museum of Glass | The Garage at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame | Musical Instrument Museum
Sightseeing Tour
Old Town Trolley Tours of Savannah
Old Town Trolley Tours® of Savannah offers engaging, fully narrated sightseeing tours highlighting the city’s charm, history, and landmarks. Guests can hop-on, hop-off at multiple stops, exploring at their own pace. Friendly conductors share legends and lore, making it a fun and informative way to experience Savannah. Don’t just visit Savannah … Relive it!
HONORABLE MENTION: City Cruises by Hornblower | Ghost City Tours | Go Rio River Boat Tours San Antonio | John Hall’s Alaska
Festival/Special Event
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a celebration of music, culture, and tradition. Thousands of people flock to the city every year for the Carnival season to indulge in the unique experience. With parades, costumes, beads, and jazz music filling the streets, Mardi Gras is a festival like no other!
HONORABLE MENTION: Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta | DC Cherry Blossom Festival | Tulip Time | Virginia Arts Festival
View
Grand Canyon National Park
Home to the majority of the immense Grand Canyon, Arizona’s Grand Canyon National Park stuns travelers year after year. Ninety percent of the park’s visitors venture to the South Rim, where views of the Colorado River, red rock canyons and millions of years of geological history are on display.
HONORABLE MENTION: The EDGE at Hudson Yards | Gateway Arch Tram Ride | The National Mall | Niagara Falls, Canada
Garden, Conservatory or Botanical Garden
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan is a premier cultural destination blending world-class sculpture with rich horticultural displays. Since opening in 1995, it has welcomed over 16 million guests to explore expansive outdoor gardens, indoor conservatories, sculpture galleries, nature trails, a café, gift shop, and more—all celebrating the harmony of art, culture, and nature.
HONORABLE MENTION: Biltmore Estate | Garden of the Gods National Park | Longwood Gardens | New York Botanical Garden
Live Performance
Wicked on Broadway
Defying gravity at the Gershwin Theatre in New York City for over 20 years, Wicked, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz … but from a different angle. For years, groups have been seeing it live— and remembering it forever.
HONORABLE MENTION: Chicago Symphony Orchestra | Cirque Du Soleil | New York City Ballet | Radio City Rockettes
Performance or Entertainment Venue/District
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is celebrating its 100th birthday through September 2026, featuring bigger shows and unforgettable moments as the next era of country music takes center stage. It’s here that groups can experience the longest running live radio show or walk in the footsteps of country music's brightest stars by taking a backstage tour!
HONORABLE MENTION: Beale Street, Memphis | Judson’s Live at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts | Red Rocks Amphitheater | Sphere
Museum
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. See 16 Van Gogh masterpieces, walk through an Egyptian temple from 15 BC, and more. With 17 collection areas, The Met offers unforgettable experiences, endless discoveries, and private tours for every passion.
HONORABLE MENTION: The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation | Museum of Broadway | National WWII Museum | Penn Museum
Adventure Attraction
Pink Jeep Tours
Pink Jeep Tours has reinvented adventure with its unique adventure tours, industry leading guides, and cutting-edge vehicles. With locations in Sedona, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Pigeon Forge, and Branson, Pink Jeep Tours specializes in adding a little adventure to any corporate retreat or group outing!
HONORABLE MENTION: Bungee America | Captain Jack’s Airboat Tours | City Climb at Edge NYC | CLIMB Works Zipline Destinations
Casino
Gun Lake Casino Resort
Gun Lake Casino Resort recently opened a magnificent 16-story luxury hotel and spa, and the stunning Wawyé Oasis, a tropical glass atrium with live palm trees, swimming pools, and concert space featuring nationally renowned entertainers. Dining options abound with six restaurants, from gourmet fine dining to casual classics. Groups love this luxury retreat and exhilarating casino gaming destination.
HONORABLE MENTION: MGM Grand Hotel & Casino | Mohegan Sun | Resorts Atlantic City | Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood
Amusement Park
Dollywood
Consistently recognized as one of the world’s best theme parks, Dollywood celebrates 40 seasons in 2025. Spanning 165 acres in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood offers groups over 50 rides and attractions, quality entertainment and concerts, daily demonstrations by master craftsmen, mouth-watering, Southern-style food, and more.
HONORABLE MENTION: Hersheypark | Six Flags | Universal EPIC Universe | Walt Disney World Resort
Shopping/Shopping District
Mall of America
Mall of America®, located in Bloomington, Minnesota, is North America’s largest shopping and entertainment complex. With over 500 world-class stores, endless dining, and attractions like Nickelodeon Universe and SEA LIFE Aquarium, it’s the ultimate blend of fun, fashion, and flavor all under one roof and just minutes from MSP Airport.
HONORABLE MENTION: Disney Springs | Shipshewana Stores & Shops | Simon Properties | Tanger Outlets
Beach Destination
Ludington, Michigan
Located on the shores of Lake Michigan with 28 miles of sugar-sand beaches, two lighthouses and a stunning state park, Ludington delivers as a beach town. Favorites include amenity-rich Stearns Park Beach with concessions, bathhouse, picnic area and shuffleboard courts; Ludington State Park Beach with seven miles of unspoiled, dune-lined coastline; and dog-friendly Buttersville Beach.
HONORABLE MENTION: Daytona, Florida | Outer Banks, North Carolina | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
U.S. Main Street/Downtown District
Lower Broadway, Nashville
Lower Broadway is home to Nashville's famous Honky Tonks, delivering world-class live music daily, alongside diverse music attractions, boutique hotels, art galleries, and chef-driven restaurants. Groups can enjoy a cultural immersion, culinary delights, and vibrant entertainment, creating unforgettable shared memories in the heart of Music City.
HONORABLE MENTION: Bourbon Street, New Orleans | Frankenmuth, Michigan | Savannah, Georgia | Winter Garden, Florida
Destination of the Year: United States
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Named “Most Walkable City to Visit” by USA Today three years running, Philadelphia’s central location on the East Coast makes it a top pick for groups. Visitors can explore America’s most historic square mile at Independence National Historical Park, marvel at Philadelphia’s unparalleled public art, experience local flavors at Reading Terminal Market, and more.
HONORABLE MENTION: Chicago, Illinois | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Nashville, Tennessee | Washington, DC
Destination of the Year: Canada
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Overlooking the legendary Canadian Horseshoe, American and Bridal Veil waterfalls, Niagara Falls, Ontario is a four-season group destination renowned for its awe-inspiring natural wonders combined with world-class accommodation, thrilling entertainment and a burgeoning culinary scene. Four unique nearby neighborhoods, which include Clifton Hill (the “Street of Fun”), round out the experience.
HONORABLE MENTION: Ottawa, Ontario | Toronto, Ontario | Vancouver, British Columbia | Winnipeg, Manitoba
Destination of the Year: International
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona blends together a vibrant culture, stunning architecture, and a lively Mediterranean spirit. From Gaudí’s masterpieces and historic Gothic Quarter to bustling markets and beachfront promenades, the city offers something for everyone. Its walkability, diverse dining, and group-friendly attractions make Barcelona an unforgettable destination for shared adventure.
HONORABLE MENTION: Edinburgh, Scotland | London, England | Paris, France | Rome, Italy
Emerging Destination
El Paso, Texas
Quickly becoming one of the nation’s most exciting emerging destinations for group travelers, El Paso blends rich culture, natural beauty, and warm hospitality into a one-of-a-kind experience. Known as the Sun City, El Paso invites groups in with its vibrant spirit, at the core of which is strong American, Indigenous, and Mexican influences. Whether through its art-filled streets, diverse culinary scene or otherwise, this destination truly shines. While the city’s legendary tacos and margaritas remain a draw, groups will also discover a blossoming food landscape that spans global flavors, from Vietnamese to Jamaican.
Adventure seekers can explore nearby wonders like White Sands, Big Bend, and Hueco Tanks, or take in the panoramic views from Scenic Drive Overlook, where both El Paso and neighboring Ciudad Juárez can be admired. History enthusiasts can walk the El Paso Mission Trail, step inside the newly opened Mexican American Cultural Center, or ride the restored El Paso Streetcar through downtown. Hidden gems such as La Casa De Azucar, the Ho Baron Sculpture Garden, and Bodega Loya add a sense of discovery to any itinerary.
Recently named the official Boot Capital of Texas, the city celebrates a craft passed down through generations. Pair this with signature events like the Plaza Classic Film Festival or Winterfest, and it’s clear why El Paso deserves a spot on the radar of every group. Affordable, friendly, and endlessly dynamic, El Paso offers groups a destination that feels both timeless and refreshingly new.
HONORABLE MENTION: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin | Merrimack Valley, Massachusetts | Phoenix, Arizona | St. Louis, Missouri
Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for Groups Today.
This article originally appeared in the Nov/Dec ’25 issue of Groups Today.
