Best of the Best in Group Tour and Travel for 2025
Featuring some past awardees as well as new recipients in group tour experiences.
The American Bus Association is pleased to announce this year’s Best of the Best award recipients. The Destinations Best of the Best honors outstanding travel industry members who go above and beyond for the group travel industry. Categories include Adventure, Culture, Entertainment, Festivals & Events, Food & Beverage, Lodging, and Shopping.
“At the American Bus Association, we are proud to honor organizations that consistently go above and beyond to deliver exceptional service and unforgettable experiences,” said Fred Ferguson, ABA President and CEO. “The deserving companies who earned recognition in the 2025 Destinations Best of the Best issue underscore their commitment to excellence and highlight their vital role in connecting people with places and positively shaping our $90 billion industry. The recipients are truly the very best in group travel, and we are thrilled to see their passion and performance celebrated.”
The Best of the Best for 2025 are:
Adventure (Adventure Tour, Amusement/Theme/Water Park, Cavern/Cave, Floating/Boating/Cruise Line/Rail, Zoo/Animal Park)
Ark Encounter, BB Riverboats, Global Wildlife Center, Pigeon Forge Snow and Zip NOLA.
Culture (Aquarium, Garden/Arboretum (nature), Museum, Historic Attraction/landmarks)
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), Benson’s Pond Cranberries, Biltmore Estate, Cape May MAC (Museums+Art+Culture), Casa Loma, Chicago Architecture Center, Chick-Fil-A College Football Hall of Fame, City of St. Robert Route 66 Neon Park, Eastern State Penitentiary, Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Ernest Warther Museum & Gardens, Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, Museum of the American Revolution, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, National Comedy Center, National Museum of the United States Army, The East Texas Oil Museum, and Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.
Entertainment (Entertainment Complex, Sports Activity/Event, Theater, Casino (no lodging), Agricultural/Farm Attraction)
Blue Gate Theatre, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and Kreider Farms Farm Tour.
Food & Beverage (Restaurant, Brewery/Distillery/Winery, Other)
DC’s Wine Country®, Magill’s Meals/Freshology Plus, Miller’s Smorgasbord, and Mount Hope Estate & Winery.
Lodging
AmishView Inn and Suites, Gaylord Opryland Resort, Hilton Garden Inn Lafayette Hotel UMASS, Myrtle Beach Seaside Resorts “Avista Resort”, and The Hotel Monroe Tapestry Collection by Hilton.
Shopping (Outlets, Malls, Villages, Specialty Shops)
Len Libby Candies, Peddler’s Village, and Shipshewana Trading Place Auction & Flea Market.
Festivals & Events (Seasonal/Holiday, Wine/Beer, Arts/Crafts, Food, Music, Other)
Artisan Market (Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library), Billy Graham Library, Dublin Irish Festival, Elkhart County, IN CVB, Grapevine, Christmas Capital of Texas, Hastings Cabbage, Potato and Bacon Festival, Lowell Folk Festival, Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights, PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, and The Big Top Parade.
About Destinations
Destinations, an American Bus Association publication, is the definitive guide to North America’s best group travel destinations, state-by-state itineraries, planning calendars, and strategic insights. Published bi-monthly, Destinations is available in print and online. Read the latest issue and search our archive of Destinations online.
