Preferred Hotels and Resorts Announces 2026 Awards of Excellence, GIFTTS Pineapple Awards, and Legacy Leadership Awards

Preferred Hotels & Resorts has announced the winners of its 2026 Awards of Excellence, GIFTTS Pineapple Awards, and inaugural Legacy Leadership Award, which celebrates the 20th anniversary of the GIFTTS, at the 2026 Global Conference in Charleston, South Carolina

GIFTTS Legacy Leadership Award
- Inaugural honor (20th anniversary of GIFTTS)
- Recognizes enduring commitment to community, philanthropy, and responsibility.
- Winner: Wynn Resorts

GIFTTS Pineapple Awards 2026
Celebrating hotels that extend hospitality into philanthropy, sustainability, and social responsibility:
- Philanthropy: The Alfond Inn (Winter Park, Florida, USA)
- Sustainability (Preferred Hotels): President Hotel (Cape Town, South Africa)
- Sustainability (Dual Members – Preferred + Beyond Green): Post Ranch Inn (Big Sur, California, USA)

Overall Hotel:
- Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin (Noordwijk aan Zee, Netherlands)
- Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort (Monte-Carlo, Monaco)

Corporate Social Responsibility:
- Hotel Xcaret Arte (Playa del Carmen, Mexico)
- Hotel Xcaret Mexico (Playa del Carmen, Mexico)

Awards of Excellence 2026
Recognizing standout independent luxury properties across regions:
- Hotel Partner of the Year – Overall: Shutters on the Beach (Santa Monica, USA)
- Asia & Pacific: Hotel New Otani Tokyo “The Main” (L.V.X.) & EXECUTIVE HOUSE ZEN (Legend)
- Europe: The Grand York (UK)
- India, Middle East, Africa: The Leela Palace Jaipur (India)
- Mexico, Central & South America: Entre Cielos Wine & Wellness Hotel (Argentina)
- United States & Canada: Brenton Hotel (Rhode Island, USA)
- New Hotel Partner – City: Al Habtoor Palace Budapest (Hungary) & The Newman (London, UK)
- New Hotel Partner – Resort: Das Edelweiss Salzburg Mountain Resort (Austria)
- I Prefer Hotel Partner of the Year: The Londoner (London, UK)
- Online Reputation Excellence (Shiji ReviewPro): XV Beacon (Boston, USA)

Event Context
- Held at The Cooper (Charleston, South Carolina), a new Legend Collection property.
- Attended by 560+ hospitality leaders, with keynote speakers Jan Freitag (CoStar Group) and Sophie Morgan (on inclusivity in travel).
- Hosted by CEO Lindsey Ueberroth and President Michelle Woodley.

This ceremony underscores how independent luxury hotels are redefining excellence—not just through guest experience, but also through sustainability, philanthropy, and cultural impact.