World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards Opens 2026 Entries, Calling Global Industry Leaders to Drive Sustainable Change

Written By: Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar

Tuhin Sarkar is a Senior Journalist at Travel and Tour World with more than 10 years of experience in travel and tourism journalism. A post-graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Jadavpur University, he combines strong research, industry knowledge and storytelling expertise to produce engaging, insightful and impactful travel news and fascinating feature stories.

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August 11, 2026 18:43 GMT+5:30

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The World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards has officially opened entries for its 2026 programme, inviting travel, tourism and hospitality organisations, destinations, startups, community initiatives and individual leaders to showcase measurable contributions to a more sustainable industry.

Summary

• 2026 sustainable travel awards open global entries until 31 August.
• Programme features 22 categories covering sustainable tourism sectors.
• Entries will undergo evidence-based assessment in Lisbon.
• Global travel professionals can vote from 21 September.
• Winners will be revealed in Paris on 9 December 2026.

Now entering its third year, the awards programme is positioning itself as a global platform for recognising organisations and individuals that are moving beyond sustainability commitments and delivering meaningful outcomes for people, the planet and destinations.

Entries for the 2026 programme are open globally, but applicants have until 31 August 2026 to submit their applications. The programme will then move into an independent assessment process before global voting opens in September.

Why Are the 2026 Sustainable Travel Awards Significant?

The 2026 programme has been structured to make participation more accessible while maintaining a rigorous assessment process focused on evidence, outcomes and long-term impact.

Rather than limiting recognition to major international travel companies, the awards are designed to reflect the breadth of the sustainable travel and tourism sector. Global travel groups, destinations, hospitality companies, transport operators, startups, community-led initiatives, emerging leaders and individual creators can all participate.

This broader approach reflects the increasingly complex nature of sustainability across travel. Environmental responsibility is no longer confined to reducing emissions or waste. The sector is also facing growing expectations around local communities, destination management, social inclusion, economic resilience, responsible leadership and collaboration.

The awards therefore aim to highlight initiatives that demonstrate how sustainability can become an integrated part of travel and hospitality operations rather than a standalone corporate commitment.

What Categories Are Included in the 2026 Programme?

The 2026 programme features 22 categories, selected by the Awards Advisory Board to represent different areas of sustainable travel and tourism.

The categories are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a net-positive framework built around five interconnected areas: People, Planet, Place, Prosperity and Partnerships.

The categories cover six broad areas: Organisational Excellence; Destinations, Hospitality and Transport; Leadership; Impact; Storytelling and Influence; and Special Recognition.

This structure allows the programme to recognise both operational achievements and the people responsible for advancing sustainability across the industry.

For travel businesses, the categories also provide an opportunity to demonstrate how sustainability initiatives can produce measurable benefits while supporting commercial performance, destination resilience and community development.

How Will Entries Be Judged?

The awards programme will use a multi-stage assessment process designed to place emphasis on demonstrated results rather than promotional claims.

After entries close on 31 August, applications will be reviewed, analysed and scored by students studying sustainable business at Nova School of Business and Economics in Lisbon.

Entries will be assessed against several core considerations, including demonstrated outcomes, credible evidence, leadership, collaboration and the potential to deliver lasting change.

This process is particularly important in a sustainability awards programme because claims about environmental and social performance can vary significantly between organisations. Requiring evidence and measurable outcomes helps distinguish initiatives that have produced tangible results from projects that remain primarily aspirational.

Applicants that meet the qualifying benchmark will subsequently be shortlisted for final approval by the Awards Advisory Board.

The approach creates several layers of scrutiny before finalists and winners are confirmed, giving the programme a stronger emphasis on credibility and measurable impact.

When Will Global Voting Begin?

Following the assessment and shortlisting stages, the programme will open its global voting period to travel and tourism professionals from 21 September to 21 October 2026.

The voting stage provides the wider industry with an opportunity to participate in the recognition process and place attention on initiatives that are influencing the future direction of sustainable travel.

For shortlisted organisations and individuals, the voting period is also expected to increase visibility among industry professionals, potential partners and other stakeholders working towards sustainability objectives.

The combination of independent assessment and industry voting is intended to balance evidence-based evaluation with recognition from the broader travel community.

When and Where Will the Winners Be Announced?

The winners will be revealed at the third annual World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards Gala Ceremony, which will take place in Paris, France, on 9 December 2026.

The ceremony will be held on the final night of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance Global Summit, scheduled for 8–9 December 2026.

Holding the awards ceremony alongside the Global Summit creates an opportunity to bring together sustainability leaders, hospitality executives, destinations and other industry stakeholders at the same time.

Paris will therefore become the focal point for the programme’s 2026 conclusion, providing a high-profile setting for celebrating organisations and individuals that are delivering sustainable change across travel and hospitality.

What Does the Awards Programme Mean for the Hospitality Industry?

The programme comes as sustainability continues to become a strategic priority for hotels, destinations, airlines, transport providers, tour operators and other travel businesses.

The hospitality sector, in particular, faces pressure to reduce environmental impacts while maintaining service quality, supporting employees and contributing positively to the communities and destinations in which properties operate.

Justin Cooke, Executive Vice-President of the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, said the programme welcomes entries from across the sustainable travel and hospitality sector and aims to recognise and tell the stories of those accelerating change and creating sustainable impact for future generations.

The emphasis on storytelling is significant because sustainability initiatives can often remain invisible outside their immediate operational environment. Recognition can help demonstrate how practical projects, innovative business models and community partnerships can influence wider industry behaviour.

How Does the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance Support the Programme?

The 2026 awards programme is being delivered in partnership with the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, strengthening its connection with the international hospitality industry.

The Alliance’s partners and members collectively represent more than 66,000 hotels, 8 million rooms, 300 brands and more than 100 supply chain and strategic partners globally.

That scale gives the awards programme access to a substantial international hospitality network and reinforces the importance of collaboration in achieving sustainability goals.

Glenn Mandziuk, President and CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, said the organisation was proud to champion individuals and organisations driving genuine sustainability across the industry.

He also highlighted the significance of holding the awards gala in Paris on the final night of the Global Summit, describing the occasion as an opportunity to celebrate industry trailblazers, align collective efforts with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and accelerate progress towards a net-positive hospitality future.

What Should Applicants Do Before the Deadline?

Organisations and individuals interested in participating should focus their applications on evidence, measurable outcomes, leadership, collaboration and long-term potential.

The 31 August deadline means applicants have a limited window to demonstrate not only what their sustainability initiative intends to achieve, but what it has already delivered and why its impact could continue.

The 2026 programme ultimately reflects a wider shift within global travel: sustainability is increasingly being judged through tangible results rather than broad commitments alone.

With 22 categories spanning organisational performance, destinations, hospitality, transport, leadership, impact and influence, the awards offer a broad platform for those working to reshape tourism.

The next major milestones will be the 31 August entry deadline, the 21 September–21 October global voting period, and the 9 December awards gala in Paris. Together, these stages will determine which individuals and organisations emerge as leading examples of sustainable travel and hospitality in 2026.