Koh Samui is the World's Best Island for 2026 in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards, announced on 7 July 2026, with a reader score of 95.64 against 95.38 for the Maldives in second place. The Galápagos Islands came third, Bali fourth and Phuket fifth, so Thailand has two islands in the top five, and it is the first time Samui has taken the top spot. Our Thailand team covers the island itself in its briefing on Koh Samui's award. Here we look at how to use an award like this in a group proposal, wherever the island is.
What the Award Is, and What It Is Not
The World's Best Awards are a reader survey. Travel + Leisure says more than 207,000 readers took part in 2026. That makes the title a useful line for a client choosing between islands, because it reflects what travellers say about a place. It is not an inspection, a capacity figure or a statement about any hotel, and a proposal should not present it as one.
Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports said it would use the recognition to improve visitor safety, upgrade infrastructure and act against illegal businesses on the island. Those are stated plans, not finished work, so quote them as plans.
An Award Adds Interest, Not Capacity
Islands are limited by the seats and boats that reach them. Samui's airport is run by Bangkok Airways, and the alternative is a flight to Surat Thani followed by a ferry. When a title draws more interest, the first things to sell out in the peak weeks are flights, villas and the best beachfront rooms. For a group, that means:
- Hold air early. A group block on a small island route is harder to find than rooms.
- Price the ferry route as a real option. It adds time, so build it into the day rather than treating it as a fallback.
- Check room inventory before the proposal goes out. An award can fill the villas a group needs in the weeks clients most want.
The same logic applies to any island a client asks for because of a list, in Thailand, Japan, Korea or New Zealand: confirm how the group gets there and where it sleeps before the title goes on the cover.
Mind the Season Behind the Title
An award does not change the weather. Samui follows the Gulf of Thailand's calendar, not the Andaman's: its wettest weeks usually fall from about October to December, just as Phuket and Krabi enter their dry season, and it is at its best from roughly January to August. A group set on Samui over the year-end should hear about the weather risk and have flexible days for boat trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which island is the World's Best Island for 2026?
Koh Samui, in Travel + Leisure's 2026 World's Best Awards, with a reader score of 95.64. The Maldives came second and Phuket fifth.
Does an award mean an island can take more groups?
No. It is a reader award, so it can raise interest without adding flights, boats or rooms. Book air and accommodation early for the peak weeks.
How should a proposal use a destination award?
As a line that supports the choice of island, stated accurately as a reader award, alongside the access, season and capacity facts the group needs.
Where Explera Fits
We plan group and incentive programmes across our destinations: Thailand, Japan, Korea and New Zealand. Our ground teams in Thailand, Japan and Korea handle air and boat access, transfers and the programme on the island.
Write to b2b@expleradmc.com or message +66 93 656 8090 on WhatsApp. Explera Thailand holds TAT licence No. 14/05119. Explera DMC is IATA TIDS-registered (96215733) and an ASTA member (900408341).
