Victoria snags best small city award for the second year in a row

Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s annual reader’s choice awards have named Victoria the best small city in the world for the second year in a row.

Produced by the publishers of GQ, Wired and Vogue, the magazine made the announcement Oct. 1.

“We are humbled and grateful to be recognized for a second time as the No. 1 Small City in the World by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler,” Paul Nursey, the CEO of Destination Greater Victoria, said in a news release.

Condé Nast Traveler ranked small cities based on responses from over 575,000 U.S. readers. Using a standard five-point scale, nominated cities were judged on a set of criteria, and the average of these ratings determined final scores.

Victoria’s score trumped those of other major tourist destinations, including San Miguel de Allende, Florence and Salzburg.

“This award reflects the amazing qualities of this destination that we, as locals and as an organization, are proud to share with the world,” Nursey said. “From the breathtaking outdoors to the rich culture and history to the incredible, hyper-local cuisine, Victoria is among some of the most renowned destinations in the world.”

The infrastructure that supports Victoria’s visitors has also been recognized. For example, Condé Nast named the Magnolia Hotel and Spa the eighth best hotel in Western Canada, and the Brentwood Bay Resort and Spa was named ninth best resort in the country.

Other Island destinations have been recognized, including the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino, which clinched the best resort in the U.S. and Canada award.

For more information about these rankings, visit cntraveler.com/inspiration/readers-choice-awards.

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