How do you win a travel award at the International Travel Awards?

To win an International Travel Award, organisations submit a nomination at goldentreeawards.com/award-nomination with supporting evidence of excellence. A panel of 200+ independent travel and hospitality experts evaluates each entry, shortlisted nominees are publicly announced, and winners are selected through a final judging round and industry vote.

What is the most prestigious travel award?

The International Travel Awards is widely recognised as one of the most prestigious travel awards programmes globally. Its rigorous independent judging process, global scope across 150+ countries, and media reach across luxury travel publications make it the gold standard for travel and hospitality recognition worldwide.

Who can enter the International Travel Awards 2026?

Any travel or hospitality organisation can enter the International Travel Awards 2026 — from luxury hotels and boutique resorts to airlines, tour operators, DMCs, tourism boards, cruise lines, and travel technology companies. There are no geographic restrictions; brands from all 150+ countries are eligible.

What countries participate in the International Travel Awards?

The International Travel Awards programme covers more than 150 countries across six global regions: Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania. Major participating countries include UAE, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, USA, India, Singapore, France, Australia, Japan, and South Africa, among many others.

How do I nominate for the International Travel Awards?

Nominating for the International Travel Awards is straightforward. Visit the official nomination portal at goldentreeawards.com/award-nomination, select the most relevant award category, complete the nomination form with supporting documentation, testimonials, and evidence of excellence, then submit. Nominations are accepted year-round and our team confirms receipt within 48 hours.

International Travel Awards

International Travel Awards — Recognising Global Travel Excellence

The world's foremost global travel awards programme, celebrating extraordinary achievement across 150+ countries and 60+ categories.

What Are the International Travel Awards?

The World's Most Prestigious Global Travel Awards Programme

The International Travel Awards is the world's foremost independent recognition programme dedicated to celebrating extraordinary excellence in the global travel and hospitality industry. Each year, the programme evaluates thousands of nominations from luxury hotels, airlines, resorts, travel agencies, tourism boards, and travel technology companies across 150+ countries, honouring the brands that define the gold standard in travel experiences.

Founded with a single mission — to give the world's finest travel brands the global recognition they deserve — the International Travel Awards has grown into the most comprehensive and credible travel awards programme on the planet. Our rigorous, transparent evaluation process is guided by an independent panel of over 200 travel and hospitality experts, ensuring every award winner represents genuine, documented excellence.

Whether you are a five-star resort in the Maldives, a boutique luxury hotel in Tuscany, a pioneering airline from the Middle East, or a destination management company in Southeast Asia, the International Travel Awards provides the platform to showcase your brand to a global audience of affluent travellers, industry professionals, and media across 150+ countries.

Nominate Now About the Awards

International Travel Awards gala ceremony

150+Countries

60+Award Categories

5,000+Hotels & Resorts

200+Expert Judges

800+Annual Winners

6Global Regions

Global Scope & Heritage

A Truly Global Travel Awards Programme Spanning Six Continents

The International Travel Awards is uniquely positioned as the only awards programme with truly global reach — operating across six continents, recognising travel excellence in destinations as diverse as the high-altitude tea estates of Sri Lanka, the ultra-luxury resorts of the Maldives, the grand palace hotels of Europe, and the adventure lodges of East Africa.

The programme's global travel awards structure is built around six regional pillars: Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania. Within each region, country-level recognition ensures that outstanding brands from markets of every size receive the spotlight they deserve — from the established luxury powerhouses of the UAE and United Kingdom to emerging travel destinations such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Rwanda.

The International Travel Awards 2026 edition marks another milestone in the programme's evolution, introducing new categories reflecting the most important trends shaping global travel today: regenerative tourism, wellness travel, AI-powered hospitality, and ultra-luxury private travel experiences.

Award Categories

60+ Categories Across Every Dimension of Global Travel

The International Travel Awards covers the full spectrum of the global travel and hospitality industry. Whatever your sector, there is a category designed to recognise your excellence.

🏨

Luxury Hotel Awards

Recognising the world's finest luxury hotels delivering extraordinary guest experiences.

Nominate →

✈️

Airline Awards

Celebrating airlines setting the benchmark for passenger experience and in-flight excellence.

Nominate →

🏝️

Resort Awards

Honouring beach retreats, mountain escapes, and wellness resorts offering unforgettable experiences.

Nominate →

🧭

Tour Operator Awards

Recognising tour operators and DMCs crafting extraordinary guided experiences worldwide.

Nominate →

🗼

Tourism Board Awards

Celebrating destinations and tourism organisations creating world-class visitor experiences.

Nominate →

💻

Travel Technology Awards

Celebrating innovators transforming the travel industry through technology and digital platforms.

Nominate →

🚢

Cruise & Yacht Awards

Honouring cruise lines and yacht operators delivering ocean-based luxury excellence.

Nominate →

🏆

Travel Leadership Awards

Recognising the visionary leaders shaping the future of the global travel industry.

Nominate →

View All 60+ Award Categories

How to Nominate for the International Travel Awards

A Simple, Transparent Nomination Process Built for the Industry

The International Travel Awards nomination process has been designed to be straightforward and accessible for travel and hospitality brands of all sizes, from boutique independent properties to global hotel chains. Understanding how to nominate for International Travel Awards recognition requires just four clear steps.

First, visit the official nomination portal and select the award category most relevant to your organisation. Second, complete the nomination form, providing evidence of excellence such as guest satisfaction data, industry accolades, sustainability certifications, and innovation case studies. Third, submit your nomination — our team reviews every submission within five working days. Fourth, shortlisted nominees are publicly announced, giving your brand significant pre-awards media exposure.

Our judging panel of 200+ independent travel experts then evaluates all shortlisted entries against standardised criteria covering guest experience, service quality, innovation, sustainability, and brand impact. Winners of the global travel awards programme receive the prestigious International Travel Awards seal, trophy, and comprehensive media coverage across our global partner network.

Judging Criteria Details Start Your Nomination

International Travel Awards nomination process

Benefits of Winning

Why International Travel Awards Recognition Transforms Brands

Winning an International Travel Award delivers tangible, measurable benefits that extend far beyond the ceremony night.

🌐

Global Brand Recognition Across 150+ Countries

The International Travel Awards seal of excellence is recognised by travellers, travel agents, and hospitality professionals worldwide. Display it on your website, marketing materials, and property to immediately signal your commitment to the highest standards.

📈

Measurable Uplift in Direct Bookings

Award-winning properties in our global travel awards programme consistently report significant increases in direct booking rates, average daily rate (ADR), and revenue per available room (RevPAR) following their recognition.

📰

International Media & Press Coverage

Winners receive extensive editorial coverage across our global partner media network, including luxury travel publications, hospitality trade press, digital platforms, and social media channels reaching millions of affluent travellers.

🤝

Premium Industry Networking

The International Travel Awards gala ceremony connects you with the global travel industry's elite — fellow winners, potential partners, luxury travel agents, tour operators, and media from around the world.

⭐

Staff Morale & Team Pride

Industry recognition energises hospitality teams, reduces staff turnover, and attracts top talent. The International Travel Awards seal sends a powerful signal that your property is an employer of choice in the global travel sector.

International Travel Awards 2026 — Nominations Open

Your Global Travel Excellence Deserves Global Recognition

Join over 5,000 of the world's finest travel and hospitality brands who have already discovered the transformative power of International Travel Awards recognition. Nominations for 2025 are open now.

Submit Nomination Today Enquire Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything You Need to Know About the International Travel Awards

The International Travel Awards is the world's most prestigious recognition programme for excellence in global travel and hospitality. We celebrate extraordinary achievement across luxury hotels, airlines, resorts, travel agencies, tour operators, tourism boards, cruise lines, travel technology companies, and all sectors of the travel industry across 150+ countries and 60+ award categories.

Winning an International Travel Award requires submitting a compelling, evidence-backed nomination at goldentreeawards.com/award-nomination. Our panel of 200+ independent experts evaluates each entry against criteria including guest satisfaction, service quality, innovation, sustainability, and brand impact. Shortlisted nominees receive a public announcement, and final winners are selected through a combination of expert evaluation and industry voting.

The International Travel Awards is recognised as one of the most prestigious travel awards globally, distinguished by its genuinely independent judging process, comprehensive global coverage across 150+ countries, rigorous evaluation standards, and extensive media reach across international luxury travel publications and digital platforms.

The International Travel Awards programme covers more than 150 countries across six global regions. Key participating markets include UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, USA, Canada, India, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, Australia, South Africa, and many more. Visit our countries section for region-specific award information.

Visit the official nomination portal at goldentreeawards.com/award-nomination. Select the award category most relevant to your organisation, complete the nomination form with supporting documentation and evidence of excellence, then submit. Our team confirms receipt within 48 hours and guides you through the evaluation process. Nominations are accepted year-round.

The International Travel Awards 2026 features 60+ categories covering every segment of the travel industry: Luxury Hotels, Boutique Hotels, Budget Hotels, Beach Resorts, Spa Resorts, Airlines, Budget Airlines, Travel Agencies, Tour Operators, DMCs, Tourism Boards, Cruise Lines, Yacht Operators, Travel Technology, Hospitality Leadership, Sustainable Tourism, Adventure Tourism, Cultural Tourism, Medical Tourism, and many more specialist categories.

Explore More