Award Categories 2026
Inspire Global tourism Awards
The Inspire Global Tourism Awards celebrate and encourage sustainable, positive impact tourism, across the entire tourism supply chain. The Awards stand out in their clear aspiration to drive positive impact.
The Inspire Global Tourism Awards (IGTAs) recognise operators who demonstrate exceptional expertise, integrity, and positive impact within a specific region of the world. These awards celebrate operators who go beyond selling trips — creating experiences that deepen understanding, support communities, protect environments, and inspire more meaningful travel. #StoriesInMotion
The 2026 Awards focus on Tour Operators, with categories across (13) thirteen geographical regions plus one Recognition Award to recognise an outstanding individual who has made a significant contribution to POSITIVE IMPACT TOURISM.
how to enter
- Review purpose and entry criteria HERE .
- Register to enter by emailing info (at) inspireglobal (dot) travel with your company name and regional category you would like to enter.
- Complete the online submission form sent to you in full and submit – by 11pm (GMT) Friday, 19 June 2026, together with payment for entry fee.
The Awards Countdown
Join us in London along with thought-leaders and senior travel industry members.
18 May 2026
19 June 2026
6 July 2026
2 September 2026
Destination of the Year
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AWARD CRITERIA
The Destination of the Year Award celebrates destinations that embody the very best of positive impact tourism — where travel uplifts communities, protects nature, and preserves culture. This award recognises a destination that has demonstrated exceptional leadership in community collaboration and visitor education. This destination represents a living example of how tourism can be a force for good — regenerating environments, sustaining livelihoods, and inspiring travellers to journey with purpose. Inspire Global reserves the right to add geographical sub-categories, based on submission volume.
Region of the Year
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AWARD CRITERIA
The Region of the Year Award celebrates cities, provinces or regions that embody the very best of positive impact tourism — where travel uplifts communities, protects nature, and preserves culture. This award recognises a region that has demonstrated exceptional leadership in community collaboration and visitor education. This region represents a living example of how tourism can be a force for good — regenerating environments, sustaining livelihoods, and inspiring travellers to journey with purpose. Inspire Global reserves the right to add geographical sub-categories, based on submission volume.
Accommodation of the Year
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AWARD CRITERIA
The Accommodation of the Year Award celebrates a place to stay that proves hospitality and sustainability can coexist beautifully. This award recognises a lodge, hotel, camp, or guesthouse that goes beyond providing comfort — it offers guests a living experience of purpose, rooted in respect for people and planet. Whether through innovative design, local partnerships, or regenerative operations, this accommodation shows how tourism can restore environments, empower communities, and inspire conscious travellers. Inspire Global reserves the right to add geographical sub-categories, based on submission volume.
Experience of the Year
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AWARD CRITERIA
The Experience of the Year Award honours a travel experience that goes beyond the ordinary — one that transforms both the visitor and the community it touches. This award recognises an initiative, program, or journey that has created meaningful impact through authentic connection, offering travellers the chance to engage deeply with people, place, and purpose. Whether rooted in cultural exchange, conservation, or community empowerment, this experience stands as a model for how travel can truly make a difference. Inspire Global reserves the right to add geographical sub-categories, based on submission volume.
Specialist Tour Operator of the Year
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AWARD CRITERIA
The Specialist Tour Operator of the Year Award recognises an operator whose deep expertise, integrity, and passion have created journeys that truly matter. This award celebrates a company that designs and delivers transformative travel experiences — rooted in authenticity, responsibility, and meaningful connection. Their focus goes beyond itineraries; it’s about impactful storytelling, ethical partnerships, and measurable positive outcomes for the destinations and communities they serve.
Thirteen (13) sub-categories - United Kingdom & Ireland | Nordic Region | Europe – West / Central / East | Mediterranean & North Africa | Africa & Indian Ocean | Asia | Australasia & Oceania | Arabia | North America - USA | North America - Canada | Central America & Mexico | The Caribbean | South America & Antarctica
You are permitted to submit in a maximum of one (1) sub-category / geographical region.
Global UK Tour Operator of the Year
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AWARD CRITERIA
The Global Tour Operator of the Year Award recognises an operator whose deep expertise, integrity, and passion have created journeys that truly matter. This award celebrates a company that designs and delivers transformative travel experiences — rooted in authenticity, responsibility, and meaningful connection. Their focus goes beyond itineraries; it’s about impactful storytelling, ethical partnerships, and measurable positive outcomes for the destinations and communities they serve. A Global Tour Operator sells multiple geographical destinations, and/or more than 10 destinations.
Ten (10) sub-categories - United Kingdom | Nordic Region | Europe – West / Central / East | Mediterranean & North Africa | Africa & Indian Ocean | Asia | Australasia & Oceania | Arabia | North America | Latin America & Antarctica | The Caribbean
You are permitted to submit in a maximum of five (5) sub-categories / geographical regions.
Community Catalyst Award
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AWARD CRITERIA
The Community Catalyst Award recognises an individual, organisation, or partnership that has fundamentally transformed the relationship between tourism and local communities. This award honours visionary leadership, collaboration, and initiatives that empower people, strengthen livelihoods, and create long-term, sustainable benefits. Please note - this category is NOT open for general self-submissions. Tour operators and sponsors may nominate an individual, organisation or partnership for consideration.
Guardians of Nature Award
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AWARD CRITERIA
The Guardians of Nature Award celebrates an initiative that has made an exceptional contribution to environmental stewardship and biodiversity conservation through tourism. It recognises those who protect landscapes, wildlife, and ecosystems while fostering meaningful connections between travellers and nature. Please note - this category is NOT open for general self-submissions. Tour operators and sponsors may nominate an initiative for consideration.
Positive Impact Outstanding Contribution - Individual
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AWARD CRITERIA
The Positive Impact Outstanding Contribution Award recognises an individual, whose work has consistently advanced positive impact tourism at a global or systemic level. This award celebrates visionaries whose innovation, leadership, and dedication have inspired change across the sector, creating ripple effects that go far beyond a single project. Please note - this category is NOT open for submissions as it is awarded by Inspire Global following an internal appraisal and evaluation by its management and Ambassadors.
Positive Impact Outstanding Contribution - Organisation
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AWARD CRITERIA
The Positive Impact Outstanding Contribution Award recognises an organisation or project whose work has consistently advanced positive impact tourism at a global or systemic level. This award celebrates visionaries whose innovation, leadership, and dedication have inspired change across the sector, creating ripple effects that go far beyond a single project or destination.
how to enter
- Review purpose and entry criteria HERE .
- Register to enter by emailing info (at) inspireglobal (dot) travel with your company name and regional category you would like to enter.
- Complete the online submission form sent to you in full and submit – by 11pm (GMT) Friday, 19 June 2026, together with payment for entry fee.
entry process and terms & conditions
We believe positive impact tourism is to create socio-cultural, environmental, and economic benefits through tourism, that enrich the lives of both visitors and the host communities.
All entries will be assessed against the Inspire Global Tourism Awards’ three core pillars:
- IMPACT – does the operator create real, measurable positive change within the region?
Judges will assess: tangible community benefit; environmental stewardship or conservation outcomes; protection of local culture and heritage; ethical partnerships and local collaboration; evidence and transparency of impact.
- INSPIRE – does the operator inspire purposeful travel and meaningful connection? Judges will assess: authentic storytelling; ability to emotionally engage travellers; distinctive regional positioning; respectful representation of destinations and communities; evidence of inspiring curiosity and action.
- IMPACT – does the operator create real, measurable positive change within the region?
- INFORM – does the operator deepen understanding of the region? Judges will assess: quality and depth of regional knowledge; educational value for travellers; focus on lesser-known perspectives or experiences; cultural sensitivity and nuance; ability to move beyond superficial tourism narratives.
- Entries are open to all founder-led independent specialists, boutique regional operators, mid-sized experts and large global operators with regional specialisation.
- Entries are only open to UK and Ireland-based and/or registered operators.
- Applicants can only enter in ONE primary regional category: United Kingdom & Ireland | Nordic Region | Europe – West / Central / East | Mediterranean & North Africa | Africa & Indian Ocean | Asia | Australasia & Oceania | Arabia | North America – USA | North America – Canada | Central America & Mexico | The Caribbean | South America & Antarctica
- Applicants must have operated in the region for a minimum of 3 years.
- Applicants must demonstrate clear specialisation in the selected region, show evidence of positive impact through tourism, and provide region-specific examples and partnerships.
- There is an entry fee of £295 + VAT. per entry. The fee includes:
- One complimentary guest place at the the Awards Reception and thought-leadership evening
- Dinner and networking drinks
- Finalist, Highly Commended and Winner digital badges (where applicable).
- Additional guest tickets are available at £195 + VAT per person.
- Membership to Inspire Global not required either, although encouraged. Membership is free to approved applicants – apply HERE.
- All entries must be submitted via online submission form, by 11pm (GMT) on Friday, 19 June 2026.
- All information provided on entries will remain strictly confidential. Only Inspire Global approved staff and judges will have visibility.
- In the event that an entry is inaccurate or incomplete, does not comply with these conditions for entry or is deemed, at the sole discretion of Inspire Global, ineligible for any other reason, then the relevant entry will be disqualified.
- These awards are designed to recognise meaningful contribution – not company size or marketing budget. Entries will be judged relative to the organisation’s scale and operating model, with equal consideration given to independent specialists, boutique operators, and larger organisations demonstrating genuine regional leadership and positive impact.
- Judges will score each entry using a point system, with a maximum of 100 points, divided as follows – IMPACT = 40 points; INSPIRE = 30 points; INFORM = 30 points.
- Judges will exercise caution around entries that: make vague sustainability claims without evidence; overuse ‘generic’ responsible tourism language; emphasis luxury without meaningful impact; showcase transactional rather than collaborative relationships; prioritise image over substance; demonstrate little understanding of local context.
- Judges will approach each entry with openness, curiosity, and fairness – recognising that transformational impact can come from both a single passionate founder and a global organisation operating responsibly at scale. The goal is not to reward the biggest. The goal is to recognise the most meaningful.
- Inspire Global shall consider each entry on its merits and on the basis solely of the information provided in the relevant entry,
- Inspire Global will shortlist the entries to go through to a final judging phase. The winners will be decided by Inspire Global’s appointed Judges,
- To ensure competitive equality, each regional sub-category must achieve a minimum threshold of five (5) submissions to be eligible as a stand-alone sub-category. Inspire Global reserves the right to separate further or merge sub-categories, based on submission volume.
- You will be informed whether your entry has been shortlisted in July 2026 via email,
- Shortlisted entries will be required to supply images and other information to Inspire Global to be used for display in Inspire Global’s marketing materials leading up to the Awards and during the week of the event. Entrants authorise Inspire Global to publicly display all and any such images and information provided for this purpose,
- You will be invited to attend the Tourism Awards ceremony as our guest (as part of your entry fee) where the winners will be announced on Wednesday 2 September 2026 in London, United Kingdom,
- Inspire Global’s decisions relating to shortlisting and granting of Awards in the course of judging is final and will not enter into any correspondence or discussion with any entrants on any subject nor will Inspire Global accept any submissions, representations or appeals with regard to such decisions,
- Inspire Global reserves the right to:
- Disqualify entries that do not comply with these Terms & Conditions or for any other reason,
- Move an entry to another category without notice, if Inspire Global feels it would be better suited to the relevant category,
- Remove an Award category,
- Disqualify any entry that is a product of two or more companies that does not have the agreement of all parties.
The Awards Countdown
Join us in London along with thought-leaders and senior travel industry members.
18 May 2026
19 June 2026
6 July 2026
2 September 2026