Maui Named Best Island in the World for the 16th Time

With a score of 90.7, it also garnered "Best Pacific Island" for the 20th consecutive year. According to the magazine, "Maui is the only island to score above 90, making it No. 1 in the world for the sixteenth time."

In the "Best Pacific Island" category, sister island Kauai placed second with a score of 88.8. Bora Bora ranked third with 85.5. Other Hawaiian islands placing in the "Top 10" were: 6th place Hawaii Big Island (83.5); 7th place Oahu (83.3); and 8th place Lanai (80.8).

Other top island destinations in the world included winners in the following geographical categories: Asia/Indian Ocean (Maldives, 86.4), Caribbean/Atlantic (Bermuda, 83.7), North America (Kiawah, 83.0) and Europe (Mykonos and the Cyclades, 78.0).

Maui's score once again surpassed all other top destinations worldwide, convincingly topping every single "Best City" category winner including Oceania (Sydney, 86.1), U.S. (San Francisco, 84.3), Europe (Florence, 84.6), Asia (Bangkok, 82.9), Africa/Middle East (Capetown, 83.7) and The Americas Vancouver, 82.4).

The hotels of Maui County completely dominated the "Top Hawaii Resorts" list. In this category, four of the top five winners were from Maui and Lanai. The list includes: 1. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea; 2. Hotel Hana Maui and Honua Spa; 4. Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay and 5. Four Seasons Resort Lanai, The Lodge at Koeele. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (on Hawaii's Big Island) ranked third.

Other Maui properties ranked in the Top 20 including: #9 Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui; #11 Grand Wailea; #15 Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua and Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa (tie) and #20 Westin Maui Resort & Spa (tied with Kauai Marriott and Beach Club). In total, Maui captured nine of the "Top 20" spots.

The magazine's annual Readers' Choice Awards poll analyzes the travel preferences of their readership in various categories including cities, islands, airlines, cruise lines, hotels, spas, resorts and rental cars. Ratings are based on the responses of CONDE NAST TRAVELER subscribers who participated in the 23rd annual poll. More than 25,000 readers participated this year and complete results are published in the November 2010 issue, which arrives on newsstands later this month.

"Maui no ka 'oi!" or "Maui is the Best!" is a common Hawaiian refrain. World-class resorts, award winning cuisine, championship golf and the islands' host Hawaiian culture have propelled Maui into the limelight. For more information, go to www.visitmaui.com or call 800-525-6284.