Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The first six months of 2014 have granted Puerto Vallarta a number of awards and recognitions celebrating the destination and its infrastructure, along with its high quality services and tourism offerings.

Tripadvisor’s consumer base of more than 2 million monthly users have once again voted Puerto Vallarta onto their list of overall best destinations, this year coming in at #2 for Overall Best Mexican Destination in the 2014 Traveler’s Choice Awards. The Traveler’s Choice Awards are of great significance because each destination must earn the award as a result of maintaining at least a 4-star average score from consumers in both their hotels and restaurants over the course of 12 months.

With a variety of accommodations to fit any budget, the destination’s lodging options include leading hotel chains, all-inclusive resorts, haciendas, boutique hotels, and much more. Local hotels such as - Barceló, Casa Magna Marriott, Casa Cupula, Friendly Vallarta, Garza Blanca, Golden Crown Paradise, Hotel Catedral, Melia, Posada de Roger, Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta, Sunset Plaza, The Westin and Villa Premiere; have earned Tripadvisor’s Certificate of Excellence in previous years for their constant high ratings on the site and subsequent placement on the company’s top-performing 10% of all business worldwide.

In recent months, AAA also granted Puerto Vallarta’s hotels some accolades when it granted Four Diamond Awards to Villa Premiere (9 years in a row), Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta (2 years in a row), Hilton Puerto Vallarta Resort (2 years in a row), and the Westin Resort and Spa, which has held the distinction for over 21 years. CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa was also given AAA Four Diamond Rating for the 23rd consecutive year.

With 40 miles of diverse terrain, Puerto Vallarta appeals to the adventurous with attractions ranging from water sports to the longest zip-line in Mexico. In June, the stunning beaches of Puerto Vallarta's Southern shores were awarded Blue Flag Certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education's (FEE) international jury of environmentalists. The Blue Flag works towards sustainable development of beaches and marinas through strict criteria dealing with Water Quality, Environmental Education and Information, Environmental Management, and Safety & Other Services. As it stands now Palmares Beach just south of Puerto Vallarta, is the only beach in Banderas Bay to be Blue Flag certified through July 2015. Blue Flag’s sister certification program Green Key, which aims to increase sustainable and eco-friendly tourism awarded Puerto Vallarta’s Sheraton Buganvilias Resort & Convention Center with a green key for its commitment to conservation and protection on its ecological surroundings.

The CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa and Casa Velas Hotel Boutique received TAG approval for their LGBT-inclusive offerings and atmosphere. They join other TAG approved properties Hotel Mercurio, Secrets Vallarta Bay, and Villa Verano and the adjacent Puerto Vallarta Beach Club.

As one of the most acclaimed destinations in Mexico, Puerto Vallarta continually receives accolades from the media and visitors alike. US News & World Report selected Puerto Vallarta in January 2014 as the "2nd Best Place to Visit in Mexico." Puerto Vallarta also went on to be chosen as #3 in the "Best Beaches in Mexico" and #4 in the "Best Spring Break Destination" categories of the January 2014 US News & World Report polls. The destination was also named Mexico's #5 under the "Top Cities in Mexico and Central and South America" category in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards of 2013. Puerto Vallarta’s CasaMagna was also rated #8 in the "Top 10 Resorts in the Pacific Riviera" by readers of the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler magazine.

Puerto Vallarta earned all of these recognitions by consistently offering exceptional tourism services. As one of Mexico's most attractive destinations, the Banderas Bay region's steady growth has been accompanied by improved services, an extensive expansion of its infrastructure, and an increasing number of cultural activities to better serve both the growing number of travelers who visit Puerto Vallarta every year, and the city's ever-growing population.

Many congratulations to the people of Puerto Vallarta and its tourism industry that keep our tourists coming back for more!