The Destination of the Year 2025 Gala took place last night at the Thalia Hall of the Sibiu State Philharmonic and marked the grand finale of the most prominent national tourism competition in Romania.
Organized with the support of the Sibiu City Hall – Official Partner and Host of the event – and the Sibiu County Council, the Gala celebrated performance, community involvement, and good governance in Romanian tourism.
“Sibiu hosted this Gala as the Destination of the Year 2024 and as the holder of the ‘City That Inspires’ title. During the event, we passed the torch to the 2025 Destination of the Year, Oradea, which also deserves recognition and encouragement, and we applauded all other winning destinations. The Gala was a beautiful ending to a much-needed tourism competition in Romania, which saw participation from dozens of successful locations and tourist attractions. As a jury member, I want to congratulate all participants – it’s clear once again that Romania and the Republic of Moldova are beautiful, attractive, and have so much to offer! Romania’s many destinations deserve to be promoted through a national tourism strategy. Until that materializes, a bottom-up approach from each promising locality can also be effective and can attract attention not just to that destination but to the entire country. Congratulations to the organizers for uniting quality Romanian tourism. And thanks to the public who voted – the large number of votes cast makes these results truly representative,” said Astrid Fodor, Mayor of Sibiu.
The winners of the Destination of the Year competition – a benchmark in the local tourism industry – took the stage, promoting Romania’s most appealing and valuable locations each year. The 2025 edition brought 76 finalists, selected through a rigorous nomination process. Evaluation was based on a complex system that combined public votes, expert jury analysis, a sociological tourism brand survey, and architectural and urbanistic assessments.
“Destination of the Year 2025 clearly shows that Romanian tourism has a future. We’re seeing more communities move from potential to performance through vision and real collaboration between public authorities and the private sector. It’s no longer just about beautiful places but about sustainable experiences and lasting partnerships. Congratulations to all destinations working with a future-oriented mindset,” said Dragoș Anastasiu, President of the Destination of the Year 2025 jury.
Here Are the Winners of the Six Categories in the Destination of the Year 2025 Competition:
Category: “Cities That Inspire” – presented by Enterprise Rent-a-Car
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Winner: Oradea
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2nd Place: Sibiu
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3rd Place: Brașov
Category: “Fairy Tale Villages” – presented by Antreprenorești
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Winner: Rimetea, Alba
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2nd Place: Mila 23, Tulcea
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3rd Place (tie): Biertan, Sibiu & Breb, Maramureș
Category: “Balneoclimatic Resorts” – presented by Mamaia Resort
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Winner: Sovata, Mureș
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2nd Place: Băile Felix, Bihor
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3rd Place: Vatra Dornei, Suceava
Category: “Fun and Adventure” – presented by EpicVisits.com
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Winner: Dino Parc, Râșnov, Brașov
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2nd Place: Mini Transylvania, Odorheiu Secuiesc, Harghita
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3rd Place (tie): Brambura Park, Avrig, Sibiu & Ariniș Leisure Complex, Gura Humorului, Suceava
Category: “Culture and Education” – presented by BCR
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Winner: ASTRA Museum, Sibiu
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2nd Place: Bran Castle, Brașov
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3rd Place: Corvin Castle, Hunedoara
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Special Centennial Award: Palace of Culture, Iași
Category: “Enchanted Lands” – presented by Aqua Carpatica
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Winner: Danube Delta, Tulcea
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2nd Place: Land of Monasteries, Bukovina
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3rd Place: Transylvanian Hills
From the destinations with the highest number of votes, the Grand Prize – Destination of the Year® 2025 in Romania was awarded to the Danube Delta, Tulcea.
“Winning the Grand Prize at Destination of the Year® 2025 is an extraordinary validation of the Danube Delta’s tourism potential and of the strategic and coherent efforts we’ve made, including for the city of Tulcea, the gateway to the Delta. This victory belongs to the entire local community – administration, entrepreneurs, guides, locals, and lovers of this unique natural haven – not just the Tulcea Destination Management Organization team. We thank the organizers for their professionalism and the rigor of the process. It was a real challenge for all of us, but also a growth opportunity. The Delta deserved this moment! And we’re ready to make the most of it,” said Alexandru Filip, Destination Manager, Tulcea DMO.
Special Awards – Recognizing Excellence in Hospitality and Impact
In addition to the main category awards, the Gala also featured special prizes for industry players who stood out through innovation, sustainability, and service quality. Here are the special awards of the Destination of the Year 2025 edition:
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Hotel of the Year 2025, powered by Travelminit – based on a strict selection process:
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Minimum average rating of 9
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At least 150 bookings in 2024
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Dining and wellness services offered
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Acceptance of vacation card payments
After public voting, the winner is: Hotel Malibu, Mamaia
“It was an honor to present the ‘Hotel of the Year 2025’ award on the Destination of the Year Gala stage. Travelminit has always been about promoting high-quality hospitality that creates unforgettable tourist experiences. We are pleased to recognize Hotel Malibu in Mamaia as the Hotel of the Year 2025 and congratulate them for the appreciation they’ve earned from travelers. Many thanks as well to the Destination of the Year for the wonderful collaboration,” said Tímea Imecs-Ambrus, Group Sales Director, Travelminit.
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Best Promotion – based solely on votes from over 150 jury members, experts in tourism, recognizing destinations for creativity and commitment in national and international promotion:
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1st Place: Via Transilvanica
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2nd Place: Craiova
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3rd Place: Romania Atractivă
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County of the Year – honoring engagement and best practices in destination management:
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Sibiu County
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Brașov County
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Destination of the Year 2025 – Republic of Moldova – awarded under the same criteria as Romanian destinations:
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Cricova Tourism Complex
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