It was the biggest and brightest TPG Awards yet, celebrating the airline, hotel and loyalty programs our readers and employees enjoyed most this year.
The Points Guy had a lot to celebrate, including some 56 million unique visitors so far this year, plus 1 million newsletter subscribers in March and 1 million Instagram followers in July.
But the TPG Awards are not just about TPG. They’re about the travel industry as a whole: where we’re going, trends we’re seeing, and what products and services help travelers most as they navigate the world.
The way the winners were determined this year was also new. Gone are the separate choice lists of readers and editors. Instead, a new methodology was created that combines the votes of TPG readers, TPG editors and some third-party travel experts into one cohesive list of award winners in 22 voting categories.
With that, there were some new winners and some old favorites that had fallen a bit in the eyes of travelers. Some brands and products just kept winning, including a few that won their categories every year we presented awards.
Read on for some highlights from the 2023 TPG Awards, including all 22 award winners and some special spotlight moments from the year as TPG recognizes several trends, brands and people having an outsized impact on the travel industry.
Related: Best Credit Cards for Travel Rewards
Dear first class
When it comes to ultra-luxury products, you can’t get much better than Emirates’ groundbreaking first-class cabin on its Boeing 777s. That’s why he took home the top prize for Best First Class.
Best business class
At TPG we love our business class cabins, especially when booked with airline miles. This year, Qatar Airways’ Qsuite won the top prize for Best Business Class.
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Best Premium Economy Class
TPG’s accolades didn’t stop at First Class and Business Class. The next winner in the awards was Best Premium Economy Class, which Emirates also won this year.
Best Economy Class (US Only)
JetBlue won Best Economy Class (US only) again this year – the fourth official win in this category for JetBlue, a perennial favorite at the TPG Awards. In fact, the carrier has won this award every year it has been presented.
Best loyalty program for US airlines
American Airlines AAdvantage scored a huge win this year, knocking out reigning champion Delta SkyMiles to win the award for Best US Airline Loyalty Program.
Delta Air Lines led the early voting results but began to fade after announcing drastic changes to its program, which sparked outrage among many of its elite Medallion members. As the mood shifted, the American Airlines program emerged victorious, taking first place for only the second time since the TPG Awards debuted in 2018. The program’s previous win was in 2021.
Best hotel loyalty program
There has been some commotion in the hotel space. After the Best Hotel Loyalty Program went to Marriott Bonvoy for a few years, Hyatt won for the first time this year with its World of Hyatt program. Hyatt also won Best Hotel Elite status, with the top tier Hyatt Globalist elite status taking top honors.
Best Travel Rewards Credit Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card won the award for Best Travel Rewards Credit Card, an honor it has claimed for six years in a row (even when the category was previously called Best Mid-Tier Card). It is the only credit card to win in this category every year since the TPG Awards began.
Best airline cobranded credit card
The benefits of cobranded airline credit cards appear to change depending on the benefits and popularity of the programs they are associated with. To date, the TPG winner has changed every year except once: when Delta Air Lines won the top prize for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in two separate years, including last year.
But this year we’re crowning a new winner: the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card wins the award as Best Airline Cobranded Credit Card.
Best premium credit card
Best Premium Credit Card is one of TPG’s highest-profile awards, with some big winners in recent years. This year marks the first big win in any voting category for a Capital One card, and it’s a good one.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card won our top prize in the category this year. With its growing network of high-quality lounges and simple yet rewarding benefits, it is a fan favorite.
Best credit card with no annual fees
Finally, the winner for the best credit card with no annual fees historically has been the Chase Freedom Unlimited. That card won every year until Bilt arrived on the scene with the Bilt Mastercard®.
De Bilt Mastercard took the top prize in this category from 2022 and will repeat its victory again this year. It’s the card that gives you points for paying your rent, and it’s a big hit with TPG readers and TPG staff alike.
Winners of the TPG Awards 2023
Spotlight moments at the 2023 TPG Awards
In addition to the aforementioned awards that were voted on, TPG also celebrated the positive impact of travel on the world and those who are shaking things up with the Changemaker Awards and Spotlight Moments.
Impact Award: Make-A-Wish Foundation
Make-A-Wish received Wells Fargo’s Impact Award for helping bring happy surprises and granting wishes to children and their families dealing with serious illnesses.
Working with our partners, TPG hosted “Best Flight Ever” earlier in 2023, taking 26 Make-A-Wish children and their families on a special chartered American Airlines flight to Orlando, where they spent a week at the Walt Disney Visited World Resort. and many of Orlando’s best theme parks.
Hero Award: José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen
José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen was honored with Capital One’s Hero Award for its continued, relentless support of people living in areas experiencing disasters and conflict of all kinds.
Travel Influencer of the Year: Jeff Jenkins
To honor the individuals determined to create change, TPG has awarded Jeff Jenkins the title of Travel Influencer of the Year. He runs the Instagram account chubbydiaries and hosts National Geographic’s new show ‘Never Say Never’, which embraces body positivity in travel.
Winners of the 2023 TPG Spotlight Moments and Changemaker Awards
The event also included interactive lounges, photo booths and immersive activations for guests, sponsored by American Express, Expedia Group, Capital One, Wells Fargo, Uber, Marriott Bonvoy, Lonely Planet, the Croatian National Tourist Board and Tuscany Tourism Promotion.
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View the Bilt Mastercard rates and fees here.
View the rewards and benefits of Bilt Mastercard here.