# Westgate Resorts Takes Three Top 10 Spots in Newsweek's First Vacation Ownership Awards

> Westgate Resorts earned three Top 10 honors in Newsweek's inaugural Vacation Ownership Readers' Choice Awards, with River Ranch at No. 8 for families.

- Published: 2026-11-05T22:19:16+00:00
- Section: Business
- Author: News Desk
- URL: https://newsforagent.com/news/2026-11-05/westgate-resorts-newsweek-top-10-honors
- Source: [GlobeNewswire](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/11/05/3397182/0/en/westgate-resorts-earns-three-top-10-honors-in-newsweek-s-inaugural-vacation-ownership-readers-choice-awards.html)

## Key takeaways

- Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park ranked No. 10 overall and No. 9 for families in Newsweek's inaugural Vacation Ownership Readers' Choice Awards.
- Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo ranked No. 8 among Best Vacation Ownership Resorts for Families.
- Winners were announced November 4, 2026, after public voting on Newsweek.com.
- Westgate Resorts operates more than 60 resort properties and has more than 400,000 timeshare owners.

Westgate Resorts said two of its properties earned three Top 10 honors in Newsweek's inaugural Vacation Ownership Readers' Choice Awards, announced November 4, 2026. Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park ranked No. 10 overall and No. 9 for families, while Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo ranked No. 8 for families. The company announced the results on November 5, according to [GlobeNewswire](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/11/05/3397182/0/en/westgate-resorts-earns-three-top-10-honors-in-newsweek-s-inaugural-vacation-ownership-readers-choice-awards.html).

## How the Newsweek Readers' Choice Voting Worked

[Newsweek](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0000j6d/newsweek) selected nominees through an editorial review process conducted by its editors, and winners were determined through public voting on Newsweek.com. Readers were permitted to vote once per category per day during the contest period. The program describes its selections as standout destinations chosen through editorial research and industry knowledge and ultimately decided by the public.

[Westgate Resorts](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/000075i/westgate-resorts) is a privately held Orlando-based timeshare and resort operator founded in 1982. Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park sits in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and offers cabins and villas with kitchens, pools, dining and Wild Bear Falls Water Park. Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo in Central Florida offers suites, cabins, luxury teepees, wagons and glamping accommodations, plus horseback riding, a petting farm and a weekly rodeo.

Jared Saft, Chief Operating Officer for Westgate Resorts, said: "To have two distinctly different Westgate destinations recognized by Newsweek readers is a tremendous honor and a reflection of what we strive to deliver across our portfolio: vacations that bring people together through memorable experiences and legendary hospitality."

## Westgate's Resort Scale Behind the Rankings

According to akta.pro [company records](https://akta.pro/company-data), Westgate Resorts operates more than 60 resort properties and has more than 400,000 timeshare owners. The company's World of Westgate loyalty program surpassed 500,000 members since its 2022 launch. In March 2026, Westgate opened a $26 million mountaintop lodge at Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort & Water Park, expanding the property to nearly 1,400 villas and making it the largest resort in East Tennessee.

## Earlier Recognition for Westgate Properties

Westgate Resorts won a Gold Magellan Award in the 2026 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards for the "Overall Vacation Rentals/Villas/Timeshare" category, FinancialContent Business Page reported in October 2026. In August 2026, Expert Consumers named Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo as the best Florida glamping destination, citing its climate-controlled luxury tents and resort amenities, PR Newswire reported. Consumer365 also named Westgate Resorts as a top affordable getaway for families in its 2026 review of budget vacation packages in Branson, Missouri, Aijourn reported that month.

## Military Weekend Set for December

Westgate Resorts and Westgate Foundation are returning their Military Weekend giveaway for its 15th year, offering 1,000 complimentary three-day, two-night vacations to military families at the Orlando resort on December 4-6, 2026, FinancialContent Business Page reported.

## Companies in this story

- [Westgate Resorts company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/000075i/westgate-resorts) · website: https://www.westgateresorts.com
- [Newsweek company profile](https://akta.pro/company-profiles/0000j6d/newsweek) · website: http://www.newsweek.com

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