TORONTO – Butterfield & Robinson is the World's Best Tour Operator, according to readers of Travel + Leisure, who cast ballots in the magazine's prestigious World's Best Awards.

The annual survey asks T+L's discerning readers to cast their votes for the hotels, destinations and companies that define the very best in travel. Butterfield & Robinson has been named to the list 16 times in the past 20 years – a record among all tour operators – topping the list for the first time this year.

“We tend to emphasize experience above accolades,” says B&R President Norman Howe. “But being named the world's best tour operator is an incredible testament to the quality of the experience we deliver on the ground and the passion that our travellers have for what we do.”

The top winners in each category will be recognized at an awards ceremony on Thursday, July 23 hosted by T+L Editor-in-Chief Nathan Lump.

“For the past twenty years, the Awards have showcased a widely changed travel landscape, one in which exotic destinations, intimate hotels, and one-of-a-kind experiences stand out from the crowd,” said Travel + Leisure Editor Nathan Lump. “These are based on the preferences of individuals who have been all around the world and are seeking out ever more distinctive travel options.”

For more on Butterfield & Robinson visit www.butterfield.com.

Butterfield & Robinson—the world's premier active travel company—designs incredible journeys to the world's most amazing places. Crafted from the finest ingredients (exceptional lodgings, incomparable access, stellar wines and food, experienced guides and more than a few secrets), B&R crafts bike tours and custom luxury travel experiences that combine adventure with unparalleled cultural immersion in the world's greatest destinations.