Finalists Announced: Arival TourReview Spotlight Awards

The finalists are in for the first Arival TourReview Spotlight Awards. Learn more about the awards and see the complete list of finalists in each category here!

by | 14 September 2023

The results are in for the Arival TourReview Spotlight Awards, and we’re excited to announce the top 10 finalists for each category. 

These North American finalists were chosen through a data-driven, independent and impartial analysis of customer reviews across multiple major review sites, online travel agencies (OTAs) and millions of customer reviews, powered by review management platform TourReview. This process enabled us to identify the tour, activity and attraction operators consistently going above and beyond for their customers. 

(Note: these awards are separate from the Arival Spotlight Awards, for which anyone can apply or nominate a company. The winners will be selected by a panel of experienced and impartial judges. Nominations for these awards are open until Friday, September 15, 2023: apply/nominate here.)

We will be announcing the winners for each category at Arival 360 | Orlando, on Tuesday, October 10th, 2023. 

Congratulations to all the finalists!

Arival TourReview Spotlight Awards: Finalists

All finalists are listed by category and company size in alphabetical order. Companies were grouped into five categories: 

  1. Sightseeing Tours,
  2. Culinary Tours & Experiences,
  3. Adventure Tours & Activities,
  4. Visitor Attractions, and
  5. Day Tours & Excursions.

Company size was determined by number of reviews during the one-year period from August 1, 2022 to July 31, 2023:

  • Small: 250-1,000 reviews 
  • Medium: 1,001-5,000 reviews
  • Large: more than 5,000 reviews

Learn more about the methodology here.

Sightseeing Tours Award Finalists

This category includes companies that run tours within a city or destination with a primary emphasis on sightseeing, such as walking tours, urban cycling and hiking tours, segway tours, local driving or bus tours and city cruises or boat tours where the primary purpose is sightseeing.

Small OperatorsMedium OperatorsLarge Operators
Astroville ToursAbsolutely Chicago Segway Tours9/11 Ground Zero Tour
At Your Service ToursAdventure Tours in MotionAmerican Legacy Tours
CDMX Electric Bike ToursHollywood HikesATL-Cruzers Electric Car & Segway Tours
Grand Canyon JourneysHub Town ToursAustin Detours
Hidden Key West Walking ToursK2 AviationBikes And Hikes LA Tours
KactusManhattan Walking TourCycle City Tours + Rentals
New York Historical ToursSee DC TodayExperienceFirst
SF ExcursionsTop Dog Tours NYCGrim Philly Twilight Tours
Tours of Cleveland, LLCUnexpected Atlanta Walking ToursLucky Bean Tours
Vail SegwayWeVenture PhiladelphiaNYC Horse Carriage Rides

Culinary Tours & Experiences Award Finalists

This category includes companies offering experiences with a primary focus on food and/or beverages, such as food tours, tasting experiences, brewery tours, winery tours and cooking experiences. 

Small OperatorsMedium OperatorsLarge Operators
Arizona Winery ToursCharleston Culinary ToursDoctor Gumbo Tours
Casa Crespo Cooking ClassDelicious Denver Food ToursFoods of New York Tours
Cincy Brew BusEat SeattleMiami Culinary Tours
Hawaii Free ToursGrape Escape Wine ToursNapa Valley Wine Train
Kona Sea Salt – The FarmKey West Food ToursNew Orleans School of Cooking
Local Roots Food ToursLocal Tastes of the City ToursPlatypus Wine Tours
Sedona Vineyard ToursMaui Chocolate Tour*Savannah Taste Experience
Taste It ToursPainted Ladies Tour CompanyShow Me Seattle Food Tours
Taste San Diego Food ToursVallarta Eats Food ToursVallarta Food Tours
Wander New MexicoVancouver Foodie Tours

*Note: Maui Chocolate Tour is closed indefinitely due to the recent Maui wildfire. In the meantime they have spearheaded a community effort to support local small businesses including tour operators: Lahaina Strong Global Marketplace.

Adventure Tours & Activities Award Finalists

This category includes companies offering experiences with a focus on active outdoor adventure activities. This includes water sports and rentals,  hiking, kayaking, rafting, off-roading, whale watching, hot air ballooning, and a range of water- and land-based adventure tours.

Small OperatorsMedium OperatorsLarge Operators
A Walk In The WoodsBlazin’ PaddlesAlaska Tales
Canyon Dave Tours Grand CanyonHike MauiCharleston Outdoor Adventures
Colorado Jeep ToursJackson Hole Eco Tour AdventuresCLIMB Works Keana Farms
Estes Park Guided ToursKanab Tour CompanyEvolution Expeditions
Keko Adventure ToursPirates of Hilton HeadJuneau Tours & Whale Watch
Ketchikan AdventureVueRafting in the SmokiesMoab Tourism Center
Laguna Adventures BacalarRainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon RideOver The Falls Tours
Mad Desert TrekkingSail San DiegoRed Rock Scooter Tours
Miami Everglades ConnectionScenic Helicopter ToursRiver Dogz
Trail Lovers ExcursionsXtreme 4×4 ToursScottsdale Adventure Tours

Visitor Attraction Award Finalists

This category is for ticketed attractions both private and public, including amusement parks, museums, observation decks, landmarks and monuments, zoos and aquariums.

Small AttractionsMedium AttractionsLarge Attractions
Bachelor Syracuse Mine TourAnthony Chapel / Garvin Woodland GardensAlcatraz Island
Capital Prize Gold Mine ToursFlyOver Las VegasCountry Music Hall of Fame & Museum
Farm Tours of OcalaFortress of the BearEmpire State Building
Historic RailPark & Train MuseumMemphis Rock ‘n’ Soul MuseumStatue of Liberty
Kona Coffee Living History FarmSafari Zoological ParkSUMMIT One Vanderbilt
Naples Historical Society’s Historic Palm CottageShriver House MuseumThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
Phelps Mansion MuseumThe Submarine Force MuseumThe National 9/11 Memorial & Museum
Turquoise MuseumTitanic: The Artifact ExhibitionTop of the Rock
Ulysses S. Grant Cottage National Historic LandmarkVegas Indoor SkydivingXcaret
Webb Military Museum

Day Tours & Excursions Award Finalists

This category is for companies offering day tours & excursions which include transportation to destinations primarily outside of the city, such as by bus or boat.

Small OperatorsMedium OperatorsLarge Operators
Beyond Skagway Tours – Private ToursAmerica’s Hub World ToursBrushBuck Wildlife Tours
First Class Charter & ToursBest Bay Area ToursComedy on Deck Tours
Greatland AdventuresDynamic Tour MauiDanger Charters
Grizzly County Wildlife AdventuresEdge of the World ToursDylan’s Tours
Halifax Titanic Historical ToursKailani Tours HawaiiGrand Adventures Tours
Hawaii Geo ToursKapohoKine AdventuresMaxTour
Mint Julep ExperiencesNiagara Day TourNorth Shore Beach Bus
Olympic Hiking Co.Oahu Nature ToursReal Florida Adventures
Sunseeker ToursPicTours AlaskaRoyal Star Hawaii Deluxe Tours
Yellowstone Adventure ToursPink Jeep Tours Las VegasWasabi Tours Hawaii

Arival TourReview Spotlight Awards: Methodology

The Arival TourReview Spotlight Awards are based on careful analysis of 32,000 tour, activity and attraction product listings for North America.*

The award criteria are based on statistical analysis of the volume of reviews and aggregate customer rating (average review score on a scale of 1 to 5). TourReview compiled comprehensive review data on all 32,000 product listings between August 1, 2022 and July 31, 2023, from seven major online travel agencies and review websites. 

Because of the significant differences in review volume and ratings for small and large operators, Arival and TourReview developed three segments based on review volume:

  • Small: 250-1,000 reviews during the one-year period
  • Medium: 1,001-5,000 reviews
  • Large: more than 5,000 reviews

Learn more about the methodology for the award selection process here. 

*While the awards presented in Orlando will be based on North American customer data (including Canada, U.S. and Mexico), we plan to present awards for other regional markets as well, starting with Europe at Arival 360 | Berlin in March 2024.

The Arival & TourReview Awards at Arival 360 | Orlando 

All finalists will be contacted by Arival—and we’ll be unveiling the winners at the upcoming Arival 360 | Orlando event during the Arival TourReview Spotlight Awards Ceremony, on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. While you do not have to be present to receive an award, we hope to see you there!

Arival 360 | Washington, DC / National Harbor 2025

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Header Photo: Anna Tarazevich / Pexels

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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARIVAL | ACTIVATE EDINBURGH AND ARIVAL 360 | VALENCIA AND WHICH SHOULD I ATTEND?

Since 2019, Arival has hosted one major event in Europe each year. For 2024-2025, we’re thrilled to offer two exciting events: Arival 360 | Valencia and Arival | Activate Edinburgh. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide which event to attend—or why you might want to come to both:

Arival 360 | Valencia (28-30 April 2025)
  • Scope: Flagship European Event with a global reach; up to 30% of attendees from outside Europe, including the U.S., Middle East, LATAM, and APAC.
  • Audience: Experience creators, tech and distribution companies, and industry professionals from around the world.
  • Arival Theater Content: Global topics including: over-tourism and sustainability, technology, distribution, European consumer and operator trends.
  • Breakout Sessions: In-depth workshops on operational best practices, product expansion, AI, channel management, marketing tech, a Spain-specific track and an Innovation Showcase highlighting the most tech-savvy companies in our industry.
  • Networking: Connect with leading OTAs and distribution companies, and build valuable partnerships.
  • Location: Valencia, a stunning coastal city offering rich cultural experiences.
  • Attendees: Approximately 800, providing extensive networking opportunities.
Arival | Activate Edinburgh (23-25 November 2024)
  • Scope: Regional focus on the UK, Ireland, and the Nordic regions.
  • Audience: Operators and industry professionals from the region.
  • Content: Gain insights on regional topics like technology, distribution strategies, and hear from top regional tourism leaders.
  • Breakout Sessions: Experience hands-on learning at Edinburgh’s top attractions and tours, with sessions on visitor experience, digital journeys and innovative tour development. In-depth sessions for companies at the beginning of their digital journey and more advanced sessions for people and companies looking to elevate their experience.
  • Networking: With a more intimate setting. you’ll have more time to build deeper connections and create more meaningful interactions with your current and future partners including distributors, tech companies, DMOs and more.
  • Location: Edinburgh, known for its stunning architecture and historic charm
  • Attendees: Approximately 400, fostering an intimate peer-to-peer learning and networking environment.
Key Differences:
  • Global vs. Regional Focus: Valencia is a global event with an international audience, while Edinburgh is a regional event focused on the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions.
  • Event Size: Valencia hosts about 800 attendees, providing broad networking opportunities, whereas Edinburgh’s 400 attendees create a more intimate, focused environment.
  • Content and Sessions: Valencia features global themes and advanced topics, whereas Edinburgh provides region-specific insights and hands-on experiential learning.
  • Location Experience: Valencia providing a coastal escape and Edinburgh offering historic and iconic attractions.
  • Who Will Be There: The most valuable part of Arival Events is the connections you make and the partnerships you build to grow your business. At Arival | Activate Edinburgh, you’ll engage with key industry players in the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions. If your business focus is on these areas, Edinburgh is where you need to be. For those targeting broader European or global markets, Arival 360 | Valencia offers the ideal platform to network with international leaders and innovators. 
Why attend both?

With limited opportunities for business development, learning, and networking in our industry, attending both events is a strategic move. By participating in both Edinburgh and Valencia, you maximize your exposure to diverse markets and influential contacts. 

However, if budget constraints or a specific regional focus dictate your decisions, choose the event that best aligns with your primary business goals. Join us in Edinburgh for regional insights or Valencia for global perspectives—or better yet, attend both to fully leverage the potential of Arival’s expansive network.

For service providers such as a restech or ticketing platform, distribution company, or other services including marketing, AI tools, etc., attending both gives you access to attendees from both markets to connect with your current customers and to meet new ones!

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