Horseshoe Bay Resort, part of the Crescent Hotels & Resorts Latitudes collection, has been recognized in Travel + Leisure‘s highly coveted 2026 World’s Best Awards, earning valuable third-party recognition from one of the travel industry’s most influential publications and reaching an audience of more than 11 million monthly unique visitors.
The resort was named the No. 3 Best Resort in Texas in this year’s rankings, which are determined by reader votes and celebrate the world’s top travel experiences. Horseshoe Bay Resort earned an impressive overall score of 88.38, reinforcing its reputation as one of Texas’ premier resort destinations.
“We are extremely proud to be honored in Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards as it reflects our ownerships and entire team’s commitment to making a Horseshoe Bay Resort vacation a singular and elevated experience that captures the magic of the Texas Hill Country and the natural allure of Lake LBJ,” said Horseshoe Bay Resort’s Managing Director Randy Zupanski. “Every touch point and opportunity to provide exemplary service is a passion for our staff, whether a guest on the golf course, on the water, on our Ladybird II Dining Yacht, poolside at North America’s only Floating Pool, or at one of our outstanding dining venues. It’s an honor to receive this distinguished recognition from the T + L readers who travel with high expectations and thoughtful frame of reference.”
In its 31st year, the annual World’s Best Awards are the culmination of readers’ choice surveys of the ultimate travel experiences around the globe, which include the top hotels, resorts, travel destinations, and more. The 2026 survey had more than 207,000 responses from T+L readers with over 661,000 votes across 10,088 city and island escapes, safari outfitters, airlines, and hotels around the world.
“This year’s rankings showcase a mix of exciting newcomers and enduring favorites,” said Jacqui Gifford, Editor in Chief of Travel + Leisure. “From Koh Samui’s rise to the top of our islands list to the continued popularity of destinations like San Miguel de Allende and Yellowstone, the winners reflect travelers’ interest in destinations that feel distinctive, memorable, and deeply rooted in place.”
The Travel + Leisure honor adds to a growing list of accolades for Horseshoe Bay Resort, which has also been recognized as a AAA Four Diamond property and a Condé Nast Readers’ Choice Award winner, and was named Crescent Hotels & Resorts’ 2024 Full-Service Hotel of the Year. Together, these honors reflect the resort’s continued investment in its guest experience, amenities and grounds, as it solidifies its place among the top lakeside and golf destinations in the country.
Home to three acclaimed Robert Trent Jones Sr. championship golf courses and the state-of-the-art Golf Academy at Horseshoe Bay Resort, this lakefront oasis is one of America’s premier golf destinations, situated just 45 minutes from Austin along the shores of constant-level Lake LBJ. These seasonal packages are designed to accommodate a wide range of golfers — from those seeking a relaxed lakeside round to serious players looking to sharpen every aspect of their game under expert instruction.
With more than 7,000 acres along Lake LBJ, Horseshoe Bay Resort offers guests a full spectrum of experiences beyond golf, including a lakeside spa, tennis and pickleball facilities, an extensive marina, and a private jet center — all set against the backdrop of the Texas Hill Country.
“With three golf courses in tremendous condition and offering the perfect respite from city life here at Horseshoe Bay Resort, we’re seeing serious demand for golf bookings,” said Director of Golf Operations Anthony Holder. “Additionally, starting in August, our courses and resort will be featured prominently as the host location of Big Break on Golf Channel when 10 episodes of the 24th season, Big Break X Good Good, air this summer and fall. We expect that to drive a lot of attention and package sales, so it’s a great idea to book early for your golf next getaway to Horseshoe Bay Resort.”
