West End places No. 8 among top festive destinations worldwide
LAS VEGAS (Aug. 13, 2026) — Anguilla has been ranked the No. 1 Caribbean destination and No. 3 country worldwide for festive (holiday season) travel by Virtuoso, the leading global network of agencies specializing in luxury and experiential travel, according to data presented this week at Virtuoso Travel Week 2026 in Las Vegas.
Virtuoso connects more than 20,000 leading travel advisors with over 2,200 of the world’s best companies such as hotels, cruise lines and tour operators. Bookings made through Virtuoso advisors deliver exclusive client benefits and represent a significant share of high-value luxury travel.
The ranking places Anguilla immediately behind the United States and Mexico in Virtuoso’s Festive Travel Top 10 Countries list, ahead of other highly-ranked Caribbean destinations including Turks & Caicos, St. Barts, Antigua & Barbuda, and the Cayman Islands.
West End, Anguilla, also secured the No. 8 position among the network’s top individual festive destinations worldwide.
Virtuoso defines the festive period as Dec. 15 through Jan. 7. Overall festive sales for 2026 are pacing 56% ahead of the comparable period in 2025, with bookings up 65%, according to the network’s intelligence presented during the annual event.
“This ranking is a powerful validation of Anguilla’s position as a premier luxury destination,” said Jameel Rochester, Director of Tourism of the Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB). “To place first among Caribbean destinations and third globally for festive travel among Virtuoso’s preferred partners speaks to the strength of our product, the excellence of our resorts and villas, and the genuine hospitality that defines the Anguilla experience. We are especially proud that West End continues to stand out as a world-class destination within our island.”
The Anguilla Tourist Board is represented at Virtuoso Travel Week 2026 in Las Vegas by Chantelle Richardson, Deputy Director of Tourism; Merla Smith-Halley, Board Director; and Vivian Chambers, ATB USA Sales Representative. The delegation is participating in the industry’s premier luxury travel marketplace, which brings together thousands of leading luxury travel professionals and providers from more than 100 countries.
The findings form part of Virtuoso’s broader 2026 State of Travel presentation, which reported overall network sales growth of 20.8% year over year (excluding air) across its preferred-partner network as of June 2026.
Anguilla’s strong showing aligns with continued growth in demand for exclusive, high-end Caribbean experiences during the holiday season, when the island’s breathtaking beaches, world-class resorts, villas and refined culinary scene draw discerning travelers seeking an intimate escape.
