San Francisco, CA - San Francisco received the highest score of any city in the United States in Condé Nast Traveler's annual Readers' Choice Awards. This is the 18th of 19 years and the 14th consecutive year that San Francisco has scored the highest in the poll's Top Cities - United States category.

Tabulated from 21,000 responses by Condé Nast Traveler's readers, the award was presented to Joe D'Alessandro, president & CEO, San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau, during a ceremony at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City on Oct. 16.

"Even though this is the 18th time San Francisco has received this award as the top city in the United States, it is always an honor. San Francisco has often been called 'Everybody's Favorite City' and this award from the readers of Conde Nast Traveler confirms that visitors continue to be discerning and reward quality where they find it," D'Alessandro said following the ceremonies hosted by the Travel Channel's Samantha Brown.

"We are incredibly proud that the readers of Condé Nast Traveler have chosen San Francisco as the number one destination city in the USA," stated San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. "As we continue in the process to bring the 2016 Olympics to San Francisco, this award helps show how much we would have to offer as we work to invite the world in 2016."

San Francisco was followed by Santa Fe, NM, and New York City in the Top Cities - United States category. Each city was judged according to specific criteria such as ambiance, friendliness, culture/sites, restaurants, lodging and shopping.

The Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards are the highest honors in the travel industry, celebrating the best-of-the-best hotels, airlines, resorts, cruise lines, cities, rental car companies and islands as voted by Condé Nast Traveler's dedicated readers. The results are pulled from the largest independent poll of consumers preferences, second only to the U.S. Census.

Unlike many other travel publications, Condé Nast Traveler does not accept free travel and accommodations, and its correspondents, as far as possible, travel anonymously. With the motto "Truth in Travel," the magazine prides itself on not allowing advertising to influence its editorial content.

Condé Nast Traveler has won six National Magazine Awards, the highest honor in magazine publishing. Condé Nast Traveler has a circulation of more than 750,000 and is published by Condé Nast Publications, Inc.