Fort Worth wins big in Travel + Leisure’s 2024 World’s Best Awards

Fort Worth and its acclaimed Hotel Drover are shining stars in the travel world, according to Travel + Leisure’s 2024 World’s Best Awards. Fort Worth ranked No. 7 among the best U.S. cities, as determined by the publication’s readers. Hotel Drover was deemed the No. 1 hotel in all of DFW.

The annual World’s Best Awards asks Travel + Leisure readers to determine the ultimate travel experiences around the world, which include the top hotels, resorts, cities, and more. The 2024 survey had more than 186,000 responses from T+L readers with over 700,000 votes across 8,700 destinations and accommodations.

Fort Worth was one of just two Texas cities to make the list of top 10 best cities in the U.S., ranking No. 7 just behind San Antonio (No. 6). The best U.S. cities list are all bucket list-worthy destinations with “palpable history, walkable downtowns, regional cuisine, and robust cultural and artistic institutions,” according to Travel + Leisure.

In the report, one reader described Fort Worth as a city where “cosmopolitan meets ranch.” But it’s the city’s thriving arts scene – including the vast number of theater, ballet, opera, and symphony orchestra performances – that keeps visitors coming back for more.

“Though Fort Worth retains its cowboy image with one of the country’s best rodeos and a daily cattle drive through the streets of the [Stockyards] district, it’s not all ten-gallon hats — the cultural institutions, such as The Kimbell Art Museum, are world-class,” the report said.

Hotel Drover is No. 1
When weary travelers are finished exploring the city, they can rest up at the rustic-luxe Hotel Drover, which was ranked the No. 1 best hotel in all of Dallas-Fort Worth in 2024. A lot of snaps and claps are in order for a hotel that’s only been open since 2021.

Each standout hotel in T+L’s best hotel rankings is critiqued based on its rooms and facilities, location, guest services, food, and overall value. This is the second year Hotel Drover was crowned No. 1, after it won the designation in 2022. The hotel ranked No. 4 in Dallas-Fort Worth in 2023.

We could use a dip in the pool.Photo courtesy of Hotel Drover

Many readers lauded Hotel Drover’s top-notch guest service, as well as the hotel’s attention to detail with its decor.

“Felt like the team invited me into their home and they took excellent care of everything we needed,” a reader said.

In a press release, Stockyards Heritage Development Co. managing partner Craig Cavileer shared his appreciation for the achievement.

“Hotel Drover’s arrival in the Fort Worth Stockyards marked a pivotal moment, acting as a catalyst for the positive transformation this historic district has experienced,” Cavileer said. “We’re proud to have played a role in revitalizing this iconic destination, and this award simply fuels our enthusiasm for the upcoming second phase of development.”

The full list of Dallas-Fort Worth winning hotels, in order, are:

• No. 1 – Hotel Drover, Autograph Collection, Fort Worth
• No. 2 – Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas
• No. 3 – Hotel Crescent Court, Dallas
• No. 4 – The Joule, Dallas
• No. 5 – The Adolphus, Dallas

“For nearly three decades, our World’s Best Awards have set the standard for excellence in travel, as chosen by our dedicated and discerning readers,” said Jacqui Gifford, Editor in Chief of Travel + Leisure, in a release. “The 2024 results highlight a blend of time-honored favorites and emerging destinations, reflecting the diverse interests of today’s travelers. We’re delighted to honor these exceptional places and experiences that inspire our audience to explore the world.”

More North Texas accolades
In T+L’s ranking of “Readers’ 5 Favorite Resorts in Texas of 2024,” two North Texas resorts came out on top: Omni PGA Frisco Resort (No. 1) and The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas (No. 3) in Irving.

The Omni PGA has only been open since May 2023, making this a major accomplishment for the resort. What makes this resort stand out above the rest in Texas is its 18-hole championship courses, a 10-hole short course, four swimming pools, and (for the non-golfing foodies) more than a dozen restaurants.

Omni PGA Frisco Resort has two championship courses.
Photo courtesy of Visit Frisco

“One reader described the property as a ‘definite must see for golfers,’ but non-golfers will find plenty to do off the course, too,” the report’s author wrote. “Options include eating your way through the 13 on-site dining destinations, indulging in a rejuvenating treatment at Mokara Spa, or gawking at the lush fairways from your suite’s outdoor balcony — ranch water in hand, of course.”

Much like the Hotel Drover, T+L readers commended the Omni PGA’s comfortable accommodations, exemplary guest services, and an overall attention to detail.

The full list of top Texas resorts, in order, are:

• No. 1 – Omni PGA Frisco Resort, Frisco
• No. 2 – The Woodlands Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton, The Woodlands
• No. 3 – The Ritz-Carlton Dallas, Las Colinas, Irving
• No. 4 – The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, Houston
• No. 5 – Commodore Perry Estate, Auberge Resorts Collection, Austin