Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Everything you need to know about the International Travel Awards — nominations, judging, winners, and how to get involved.
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About the Awards
Fundamental information about the International Travel Awards — our history, mission, global reach, and annual programme.
The International Travel Awards is the world's most prestigious recognition programme for excellence in global travel and hospitality. Founded to celebrate extraordinary achievement, we honour outstanding hotels, airlines, resorts, travel agencies, tour operators, and tourism organisations from 150+ countries across 60+ award categories. Our awards represent the gold standard of excellence in the travel industry.
The International Travel Awards was established to create a globally respected, independent platform for recognising excellence in travel and hospitality. Growing from a regional recognition programme, the awards have expanded to encompass 150+ countries and have become one of the most coveted recognitions in the global travel and hospitality industry. Our ceremony is held annually in Dubai, one of the world's premier travel destinations.
Our mission is to identify, celebrate, and promote excellence in travel and hospitality worldwide. We aim to inspire the travel industry to continuously raise standards and deliver extraordinary experiences to travellers across the globe. By recognising outstanding achievement, we encourage a culture of continuous improvement and innovation across the entire travel sector.
The International Travel Awards is organised by the Golden Tree Awards team, based in Business Bay, Dubai, UAE. Our headquarters is located at The Binary by Omniyat, Office 1909-203, 19th Floor, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE. You can reach us at awards@goldentreeawards.com or via WhatsApp at +971 585 862 014.
The International Travel Awards receives nominations from over 150 countries worldwide, spanning all six inhabited continents. We have dedicated regional programmes for Asia, Europe, Middle East, Americas, Africa, and Oceania, ensuring every region of the world is represented. Our global reach makes us the only truly worldwide travel recognition programme of our scale.
The International Travel Awards gala ceremony is held annually in Dubai, UAE — a global travel hub that perfectly embodies the spirit of international excellence. Dubai's world-class venues provide a spectacular backdrop for our prestigious awards night. The ceremony brings together industry leaders from across the globe in one of the world's most iconic destinations.
The primary language of the International Travel Awards is English. However, our team is able to assist nominees and participants in multiple languages including Arabic, Hindi, and other major global languages. Contact us at awards@goldentreeawards.com for language-specific support with your nomination.
The International Travel Awards follows an annual cycle. Nominations are accepted year-round, with the judging process, shortlist announcements, and gala ceremony taking place on a scheduled annual basis. The annual cycle typically runs from ongoing nomination intake through to the prestigious annual gala ceremony where all winners are revealed and celebrated. Contact us for the current year's schedule.
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Nomination Process
Everything you need to know about submitting a nomination for the International Travel Awards — from eligibility to submission requirements.
Submitting a nomination is straightforward. Visit our official nomination portal at goldentreeawards.com/award-nomination, select the award category most relevant to your organisation, complete the nomination form with supporting information and documentation, and submit. Our team will confirm receipt and guide you through the evaluation process. We recommend starting early to allow time to compile supporting materials.
Nominations are accepted year-round, with rolling intake periods throughout the year. We recommend submitting your nomination as early as possible to allow sufficient time for the evaluation process and to ensure inclusion in the current awards cycle. Visit our nomination portal or contact awards@goldentreeawards.com for the current intake schedule and any upcoming deadlines.
The International Travel Awards operates a nomination processing fee structure to support our global evaluation process, independent expert judging, international media coverage, trophy production, and the organisation of the gala ceremony. The fee structure ensures a robust and professional awards programme. Please visit goldentreeawards.com/award-nomination or contact our team for current fee information specific to your category and region.
Any travel or hospitality organisation worldwide is eligible to submit a nomination. This includes luxury and boutique hotels, resorts and spas, airlines and aviation companies, travel agencies, tour operators, destination management companies (DMCs), tourism boards, cruise lines, yacht operators, travel technology companies, hospitality management groups, car rental companies, and individual travel entrepreneurs. There are no geographic restrictions.
Supporting documentation typically includes: a detailed company overview and brand profile; evidence of service excellence such as TripAdvisor ratings, Google reviews, or certified guest satisfaction scores; professional photographs of your property, team, or services; client or guest testimonials; previous awards or industry certifications; sustainability and CSR initiatives; performance statistics; and a compelling narrative explaining why your organisation deserves recognition. The stronger your supporting materials, the more competitive your nomination.
Yes, organisations are welcome to submit multiple nominations across different award categories that are relevant to their business. Each nomination is evaluated independently on its own merits. Many organisations nominate across regional and global categories simultaneously, as well as across multiple sector categories such as best luxury hotel, best spa, and best sustainable hotel. Each nomination requires its own form and supporting documentation.
Both self-nomination and industry nominations are equally accepted and considered at the International Travel Awards. Organisations may nominate themselves directly through our portal, or be nominated by industry partners, hospitality associations, travel agents, clients, or corporate partners. Self-nominations are evaluated on exactly the same criteria as industry-submitted nominations — what matters is the quality of evidence provided, not the source of the nomination.
Nominations can be updated or supplemented during the initial intake period. Once the formal evaluation process begins, amendments may be limited. If you need to update your nomination details, contact our team at awards@goldentreeawards.com as soon as possible, clearly referencing your nomination reference number. We will advise on whether updates can be accommodated within the current evaluation timeline.
Questions about the nomination process? Contact us →
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Judging & Scoring
Understanding our independent, rigorous, and transparent judging process — who judges, how they score, and how winners are determined.
Nominees are evaluated through a rigorous four-stage process: (1) Initial submission review by our coordination team to verify eligibility and completeness; (2) Independent expert evaluation where our panel of 200+ travel and hospitality professionals scores each nomination against standardised criteria; (3) Public shortlist announcement followed by independent expert evaluation; (4) Final judging panel deliberation where scores are consolidated and category winners determined. The entire process is independently overseen.
Our judging panel comprises over 200 independent travel and hospitality experts including: senior hotel executives and general managers, international travel journalists and editors, tourism board officials and government advisors, airline industry veterans, luxury travel consultants and agents, travel technology specialists, hospitality school academics, and sustainability experts. All judges undergo a rigorous vetting process to confirm expertise and independence.
Our evaluation framework assesses nominees across multiple dimensions: service excellence and quality standards; innovation and industry leadership; guest or client satisfaction evidence; environmental sustainability and responsible tourism practices; brand reputation and global reach; operational performance and financial health; staff development and employee welfare; contribution to the local community and tourism economy; and overall impact on the global travel industry.
The judging timeline spans several months. Following the intake period, nominations undergo expert review for approximately 6-8 weeks. Shortlists are then announced publicly, followed by a 3-4 week independent expert scoring period. The final judging panel then deliberates on the shortlisted nominees over 2-3 weeks before winners are confirmed. Winners are announced at the annual gala ceremony. Contact us for the specific timeline for the current awards cycle.
The International Travel Awards maintains a transparent appeals process. If an organisation believes there has been a material procedural error or significant oversight in their evaluation, they may submit a formal written appeal to awards@goldentreeawards.com within 14 days of the relevant shortlist or winner announcement. Appeals are reviewed by a separate independent panel. Note that appeals on the basis of disagreeing with subjective judging scores are not accepted — only procedural or factual errors are eligible for appeal.
Yes. The International Travel Awards operates dedicated regional judging panels for all six global regions: Asia, Europe, Middle East, Americas, Africa, and Oceania. Regional judges have deep expertise in their specific markets and cultural contexts. Regional winners are then elevated to compete at the global level for the ultimate International Travel Awards recognition, providing a two-tier competitive pathway.
Maintaining the integrity of our judging process is paramount. All judges are required to complete a comprehensive conflict of interest declaration before the judging process begins. Judges with any direct or indirect interest in a nominee — including employment, ownership, partnership, or family relationships — are automatically recused from evaluating that nominee. An independent ethics committee oversees conflict management and has authority to remove any judge from the panel if impartiality cannot be guaranteed.
Want to understand our judging process better? Read the full judging process →
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Winning & Benefits
What International Travel Award winners receive — trophies, media coverage, seal usage rights, and the full suite of winner benefits.
Winners receive a comprehensive package of recognition and marketing benefits: a premium handcrafted crystal and gold winner's trophy; an official winner's certificate; the prestigious International Travel Awards digital winner seal in high-resolution formats; extensive international media coverage; social media promotion across our global channels; a dedicated winner's profile on the International Travel Awards website; press release distribution to international travel publications; and an invitation to the annual gala ceremony.
The International Travel Awards winner's trophy is a premium, hand-finished piece combining crystal and gold elements, designed to reflect the prestige and excellence it represents. The trophy is custom-engraved with the winner's name, award category, and year of recognition. It serves as a lasting symbol of achievement that winners display prominently in their properties, head offices, or reception areas.
Yes — displaying the winner's seal is one of the most valuable benefits of winning. All winners receive a licence to use the official International Travel Awards winner's seal across all marketing materials including: website and online booking pages, brochures and print collateral, social media profiles and posts, press releases and media kits, in-property displays, email signatures, online travel agent profiles, and all other promotional materials. The seal signals globally recognised excellence to discerning travellers.
Winners receive extensive PR and marketing support including: professionally written press releases distributed to our international media network; features in luxury travel publications and digital platforms; social media announcements and tagged posts to our global audience of travel professionals and consumers; digital winner profiles on the International Travel Awards website (with permanent SEO benefit); media interview opportunities; and guidance on maximising the commercial impact of their award recognition across all channels.
Attendance at the gala ceremony is highly recommended but not a requirement to receive your award. Winners who cannot attend in person can receive their trophy and certificate via secure international courier service. However, attending the ceremony provides exceptional value beyond the award itself: direct networking with global industry leaders, media exposure at the event, photographic moments with your trophy for marketing use, and the experience of being celebrated on the international stage.
Yes. Organisations that demonstrate excellence across multiple relevant categories are absolutely eligible to win more than one award in the same year. Many of our most celebrated brands have won multiple awards simultaneously — for example, a luxury resort group might win Best Luxury Resort, Best Spa, Best Sustainability Initiative, and a regional title in the same cycle. Each award is judged independently, and winning one does not preclude winning others.
Absolutely. Previous winners are encouraged to nominate in subsequent years. Each awards cycle is judged independently, and past wins do not guarantee future recognition — all nominees compete on equal terms based on current performance and evidence. Many of our most distinguished brands have won recognition across multiple consecutive years, demonstrating consistent excellence over time. Past winners often use their ongoing pursuit of the award as a benchmark for continuous improvement.
Want to see what winning looks like? View past winners →
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Categories & Regions
Understanding the International Travel Awards category structure — global, regional, and country-specific award categories across the full travel and hospitality spectrum.
The International Travel Awards features 60+ distinct award categories spanning all major sectors of the global travel industry. These include: Luxury Hotels, Budget Hotels, Boutique Hotels, Resorts and Spas, Airlines, Budget Airlines, Private Aviation, Travel Agencies, Tour Operators, Tourism Boards, Destination Management Companies, Cruise Lines, Yacht Operators, Car Rental Companies, Travel Technology, Sustainable Travel, Adventure Tourism, Cultural Tourism, Medical Tourism, Wellness Tourism, MICE and Events, Hospitality Leadership, and many more specialist categories. View the full list at award-categories.html.
Regional awards are divided into six global regions, each with dedicated categories and judging panels: Asia (including South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia); Europe (Western and Eastern Europe); Middle East and North Africa; Americas (North, Central, South America and Caribbean); Sub-Saharan Africa; and Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands).
Yes. In addition to global and regional categories, the International Travel Awards offers dedicated country-specific award programmes for major travel markets. These include UAE, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, USA, India, Singapore, Australia, France, Italy, Spain, Thailand, Japan, South Africa, Morocco, Turkey, and many more. Country-specific awards allow organisations to gain recognition at the national level before competing regionally and globally.
Yes. The International Travel Awards conducts an annual review of its category portfolio to ensure it accurately reflects the evolving global travel industry. New categories are added to recognise emerging sectors such as wellness travel, digital nomad services, sustainable luxury, space tourism experiences, and AI-powered travel platforms as they gain prominence. Our goal is to remain the most comprehensive and relevant travel awards programme in the world.
Category suggestions from the travel industry are very welcome. If you believe there is a significant, growing travel or hospitality sector that is not currently represented in our portfolio, please submit your suggestion with a brief rationale to awards@goldentreeawards.com. Our awards committee reviews all industry suggestions during the annual category review process, typically in Q3 each year. Suggested categories that gain significant industry interest are prioritised for consideration.
Explore all categories: View all 60+ award categories →
Still Have Questions?
Still Have Questions?
Our awards team is available to answer any questions about the nomination process, judging criteria, categories, or any other aspect of the International Travel Awards. We are here to help you succeed.