The Sea Pines Resort Recognized in Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards
October 12, 2026
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — The Sea Pines Resort has been named among the Top 20 resorts in the South in the 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, marking the third time in four years the property has received the recognition.
The 39th annual awards, based on nearly 800,000 reader survey responses, recognize hotels, resorts and other travel experiences. The results were announced Oct. 8 and will appear in the magazine’s November issue.
“We’re honored to once again be recognized by Condé Nast Traveler readers, whose votes reflect the experiences we strive to create for every guest,” said Steve Birdwell, president of The Sea Pines Resort. “This ranking is truly a tribute to our entire team. Their dedication to genuine Lowcountry hospitality is what makes The Sea Pines Resort a destination travelers look forward to visiting often.”
The recognition follows several other honors for the resort’s golf, lodging and dining operations over the past year.
In golf, Sea Pines ranked No. 5 among the Best Golf Resorts in the 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards and was named Best Golf Destination in Global Traveler’s 14th annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards. The resort also earned a place on GOLF Magazine’s 2026 list of the Top 100 Resorts in the World.
The Inn & Club at Harbour Town, located within the resort, received a 2026 Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Award for the 17th consecutive year. It also ranked No. 6 among the Top 25 Hotels in the South in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. The resort received a 2026 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award.
Sea Pines’ food and beverage operations also received recognition. Three restaurants — Coast, Oceanfront Dining; Links, an American Grill; and Quarterdeck — earned 2026 Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRōNA) Awards of Excellence.
Links ranked No. 2 among golf course restaurants in USA TODAY’s 2026 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards. Coast was included in Southern Living’s 2025 list of the Top 10 Beach Bars in the South, while Quarterdeck ranked No. 18 among casual dining restaurants in Tripadvisor’s 2025 Travelers’ Choice Awards.
The resort also received Great Place To Work certification for 2026-27. According to the company news release, 85% of employees surveyed said Sea Pines is a great place to work, compared with the reported U.S. company average of 57%.
The 2026 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards results are available at cntraveler.com.
