The competition is fierce and worldwide -- from places as obscure as Bhutan, Uganda and Indonesia and as well-known as the US, the UK and France.
It's the 2023 Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards that 13 resorts and ski mountains from the Thompson Okanagan have been nominated for.
Yes, Conde Nast is a world-leading, glossy, New York-based travel magazine with nine other international editions.
But it's also so much more.
It has 16 million monthly unique visitors to its website and 16 million social media followers.
As such, it's a global travel powerhouse that influences how millions of people choose hotels, airlines and activities and spend their money.
Therefore, landing on one of Conde Nast's top-50 lists in 18 categories catapults a hotel, cruiseline, ski resort, restaurant or spa into the stratosphere.
The 13 nominees from the Thompson Okanagan are all in the resorts or ski resorts categories.
- Sparkling Hill Resort near Vernon
This 149-room resort is owned by the Swarovski family -- one and the same as owns the internationally famous crystal empire.
As such, Sparkling Hill looks like an upturned crystal perched mountaintop with views of Okanagan Lake to one side and Kalamalka Lake the other.
It's home to KurSpa, wellness programs, three restaurants and 3.5 million crystals incorporated into all elements of its design, construction and decoration.
- Burrowing Owl Guest House in Oliver
Only 10 rooms with fireplaces and decks surrounding the 25-metre pool make up this guest house.
Attached to Burrowing Owl Winery, set in the 140-acre vineyard.
- Delta Grand Okanagan Resort in Kelowna
Right downtown on the Okanagan Lake and Waterfront Park, this urban resort is made up of twin 10-storey towers.
- Naramata Inn
This 12-room boutique hotel is the converted 116-year-old lakeside mansion of town founder, land baron and tree-fruit pioneer John Robinson.
Gourmet restaurant with wraparound porch and ultra-local Naramata wine list on the ground floor.
- Lake Okanagan Resort on the westside of Okanagan Lake half-way between Kelowna and Vernon
Lakeside rooms and villas with beach and marina.
- Spirit Ridge Resort in Osoyoos
On Osoyoos Indian Band land and surrounded by Nk'Mip Winery, vineyards, the Nk'Mip Desert Cultural Centre and a golf course with views to Lake Osoyoos.
Part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt.
- Watermark Beach Resort in Osoyoos
All condominium-style suites in this downtown lakefront resort.
- Hearthstone Lodge at Sun Peaks Ski Resort near Kamloops
Alpine architecture right on Sun Peak's main street wtih 70 ski-in-ski-out studios, suites and lofts.
- Penticton Lakeside Resort
Downtown on the Okanagan Lake, renovated rooms and new addition with bird-named over-the-water restaurant, Hooded Merganser (a type of duck) and pub (The Barking Parrot).
- Coast Sundance Lodge at Sun Peaks Ski Resort near Kamloops
The alpine-style, ski-in-ski-out hotel with the clocktower on Sun Peak's main street.
- SilverStar Mountain Resort near Vernon
Skiing, snowboarding, tubing and skating in the winter and mountain biking, hiking and scenic gondola rides in the summer surrounded by a Victorian Western village.
- Big White Ski Resort near Kelowna
Seven-and-a-half metres of snow annually at this resort with 119 ski runs served by 16 lifts.
- Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops
With 16 square kilometres of skiable terrain, Sun Peaks is the second largest in Canada behind only Whistler Blackcomb.
Also hiking, biking and golf in the summer.
You can vote here until June 30 for your favourites in 18 categories.
It's not just a simple check mark vote.
You'll be asked a series of questions to quantify your ballot, ranging from whether or not you've actually stayed there and when, why you chose it, if you'd recommend it to others and how everything was from the rooms, location, service, culinary options, activities, concierge, cleanliness and overall experience.
Top 50 lists in all categories are released in Conde Nast Traveler magazine and online in October.
Last year, only one hotel in Canada made top-50 list -- Nita Lake Lodge in Whistler at No. 48.
The top hotel in world last year was Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland, a modern country escape in a historic building that looks like a castle.
