(NEW YORK, NY, NOVEMBER 14, 2016)—Time Inc.’s (NYSE: TIME) Travel + Leisure announced today that Portugal is the 2016 Destination of the Year, as selected from among 17 finalists by T+L editors. The announcement was made on Facebook Live on-location from the town of Óbidos in Portugal. The Travel + Leisure Destination of the Year is the place that the editors believe best captures the travel zeitgeist of the moment and, for that reason, is trending among travelers. “Portugal is hotter than ever,” according to T+L editors. “Portugal is the place that has stolen our hearts with its creativity, variety, and increasing ease for travelers.” This year’s winner follows past honorees Cuba, named 2015 Destination of the Year, and Myanmar, named 2014 Destination of the Year.

Travel + Leisure editors are in Portugal now covering the country in real time on social media with live videos, photos and reports from the field. Portugal is also the subject of a Travel + Leisure 360-degree video experience debuting today on travelandleisure.com and will also be available on LIFE VR, Time Inc.’s dedicated virtual reality platform, starting November 16. The 360 video experience showcases Óbidos, the walled town in central Portugal known for its rich history and breathtaking views of the surrounding region. Travel + Leisure also presents a guide to the best of Portugal now in the December issue—on newsstands November 25—as well as on travelandleisure.com.

Travel + Leisure Editor-in-Chief Nathan Lump said, “While Portugal is hardly a ‘new’ destination, it is exhibiting a dynamism that feels fresh and distinctive. You may well have been there before, but return now and we guarantee you will feel the energy and discover some exciting things. It’s an affordable destination with an easy-going atmosphere, year-round warm weather, and great food and wine, all of which make it even more of a draw.”

Travel + Leisure readers also voted online to select their choice for 2016 Destination of the Year from among the 17 finalists. The T+L Readers’ Choice 2016 Destination of the Year is Croatia. “A Mediterranean favorite, Croatia is a jewel in the crown of the Adriatic,” according to T+L’s report on Croatia’s win. “The arguably biggest draw of Croatia in 2016? The success of HBO's Game of Thrones series. Tourism has boomed in recent years as fans of the show have sought out its stunning landscapes and well-preserved historical architecture.”

For more about the Travel + Leisure 2016 Destination of the Year, the 2016 Readers’ Choice 2016 Destination of the Year, and all 17 finalists, visit: www.travelandleisure.com/destination-of-the-year

Travel + Leisure 2016 Destination of the Year finalists (in alphabetical order, not ranked) are as follows:

1. America’s National Parks 
2. Canada 
3. Croatia 
4. Hawaii 
5. Iceland 
6. Ischia 
7. Korea 
8. Mallorca 
9. Mexico City 
10. New Zealand 
11. Orlando 
12. Paris 
13. Pittsburgh 
14. Portugal 
15. Rio de Janerio 
16. Singapore 
17. Washington, D.C. 

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About Travel + Leisure 
Travel + Leisure is the preeminent voice for the sophisticated, insatiable traveler, serving up expert intelligence and the most immersive, inspiring travel lifestyle content anywhere. Travel + Leisure captures the pure joy of discovering the pleasures the world has to offer—from art and design to shopping and style to food and wine. Whether the experience is in print or digital, T+L offers compelling reasons to get up and go. With a total global audience of more than 9 million, the Travel + Leisure portfolio includes the U.S. flagship and five international editions in Mexico, Turkey, China, India/South Asia and Southeast Asia. The U.S. edition of T+L, which launched in 1971, has an authoritative website, TravelandLeisure.com, and an extensive social media following of more than 8.5 million. Travel + Leisure, a Time Inc. brand, also encompasses newsletters, clubs, retail stores, and media collaborations. 

 

About Time Inc. 
Time Inc. (NYSE:TIME) is a leading content company that engages over 150 million consumers every month through our portfolio of premium brands across platforms. By combining our distinctive content with our proprietary data and people-based targeting, we offer highly differentiated end-to-end solutions to marketers across the multi-media landscape. Our influential brands include People, Time, Fortune, Sports Illustrated, InStyle, Real Simple and Southern Living, as well as more than 50 diverse titles in the United Kingdom. Time Inc. has been extending the power of our brands through various acquisitions and investments, including Viant, an advertising technology firm with a specialized people-based marketing platform, The Foundry, Time Inc.’s creative lab and content studio, and the People Entertainment Weekly Network (PEN). The company is also home to celebrated franchises and events, such as the Time 100, Fortune Most Powerful Women, People’s Sexiest Man Alive, Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year, the Essence Festival and the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. 

 

CONTACT: 

Tess Povar 
212-522-4585 
Tess.Povar@timeinc.com 

Liz Marsh 
212-522-0941 
Elizabeth.Marsh@timeinc.com