EARLY BIRD ENTRIES NOW OPEN!


This is your chance to showcase your achievements and be recognised by your peers.

From tour operators and hotels, to retail managers and responsible travel superstars, these prestigious awards remain the ultimate mark of recognition for those shaping the future of travel.

Ready for you moment in the spotlight? Gather your year's highlights, polish your entry, and join us for an unforgettable celebration of travel excellence as we return to the iconic Camden Roundhouse on 23 September. Let’s make 2026 one to remember!

Early bird ends Friday 10 April. The final entry deadline is midnight on Friday 29 May.

Wee wish you the best of luck!

Got a question? Visit our FAQs page or contact us


EARLY BIRD ENTRIES CLOSE

SUPPLIER CATEGORIES

Expedition Cruise Line of the Year

The winner of this category will be the expedition cruise line that has worked the smartest, delivered the best product, and done the most to support travel agent partners in the past year (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026)
£ 349.00
Early bird rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

Expedition Cruise Line of the Year

Entry criteria:

This category is open to cruise operators with smaller vessels that focus on remote areas, such as the polar regions. If expedition cruising is just one part of your wider business, your answers here must relate specifically to your expedition product and sales.

Entry tips:

  • Please write in succinct bullet-points to minimise waffle.
  • Judges will expect figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • You don’t need to use the full word-count for each question, but if you are well under it, it’s unlikely you’ve given enough information to convince the judges
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative in your market – as opposed to catching up with things your competitors are already doing – will score particularly well
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission. Don’t upload adverts and brochures, or upload a generic video not created specifically to support your submission.

Ocean Cruise Line of the Year

The winner of this category will be the ocean cruise line that has worked smartest, delivered the best product, and done most to support travel agent partners, in the past year (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).

Finalists in this category will be invited to take part in a video interview with our panel of senior industryjudges on Monday 6th July 2026
£ 349.00
Early bird rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

Ocean Cruise Line of the Year

Entry criteria:

This category is for ocean-going cruise brands of any size and in any budget category.

There are also categories for ‘Expedition Cruise Line of the Year' and ‘River Cruise Line of the Year’.

Entry tips:

  • Please write in succinct bullet-points to minimise waffle.
  • Judges will expect figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • You don’t need to use the full word-count for each question, but if you are well under it, it’s unlikely you’ve given enough information to convince the judges
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative in your market – as opposed to catching up with things your competitors are already doing – will score particularly well
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission. Don’t upload adverts and brochures, or upload a generic video not created specifically to support your submission.

River Cruise Line of the Year

The winner of this category will be the river cruise line that has worked smartest, delivered the best product, and done most to support travel agent partners, in the past year (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).
£ 349.00
Early bird rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

River Cruise Line of the Year

Entry tips:

  • Please write in succinct bullet-points to minimise waffle.
  • Judges will expect figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • You don’t need to use the full word-count for each question, but if you are well under it, it’s unlikely you’ve given enough information to convince the judges
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative in your market – as opposed to catching up with things your competitors are already doing – will score particularly well
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission. Don’t upload adverts and brochures, or upload a generic video not created specifically to support your submission.

Family Holidays Provider of the Year

The winner of this category will be the travel company that has worked smartest, delivered the best family holiday experiences, and offered the best service to family guests, in the past year (1 March, 2025 to March 1, 2026)

This category is cross-industry, so open to cruise lines, retailers and accommodation providers as well as tour operators. Brands must sell through travel agents to enter.
£ 349.00
Early bird rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

Family Holidays Provider of the Year

Entry criteria:

This category is cross-industry, so open to cruise lines, retailers and accommodation providers as well as tour operators. Brands must sell through travel agents to enter.

Entry tips:

  • Please write in succinct bullet-points to minimise waffle.
  • Judges will expect figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • You don’t need to use the full word-count for each question, but if you are well under it, it’s unlikely you’ve given enough information to convince the judges
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2024 to 1 March, 2025).
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative in your market – as opposed to catching up with things your competitors are already doing – will score particularly well
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission. Don’t upload adverts and brochures, or upload a generic video not created specifically to support your submission.

Hotel & Resort Operator of the Year

The winner of this category will be the hotel and resort operator that has worked smartest, delivered the best product, and done most to support travel agent partners, in the last year (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026), as well as making significant steps towards greater sustainability. 
£ 349.00
Early bird rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

Hotel & Resort Operator of the Year

Entry criteria:

This category is for hotel and resort brands that work closely with travel agents in the UK and Ireland (even if their head office is overseas). It is aimed at hotel groups as opposed to individual properties, though single hotels with a comprehensive trade engagement strategy are welcome to enter.

Entry tips:

  • Please write in succinct bullet-points to minimise waffle.
  • Judges will expect figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • You don’t need to use the full word-count for each question, but if you are well under it, it’s unlikely you’ve given enough information to convince the judges
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative in your market – as opposed to catching up with things your competitors are already doing – will score particularly well
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission. Don’t upload adverts and brochures, or upload a generic video not created specifically to support your submission.

Tour Operator of the Year - Small

The winner of this category will be the small tour operator that has worked smartest, delivered the best product, and done most to support travel agent partners, in the last year (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).

There is also a category for “Tour Operator – Large” and “Touring and Adventure Operator”. Tour operators can only enter ONE of these three categories.
£ 349.00
Early bird rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

Tour Operator of the Year - Small

Entry criteria:

This category is for small UK or Ireland-based tour operators, with annual passengers of 10,000 or fewer in a typical year. You might have a general/worldwide programme, or might be a destination or activity specialist. You must work closely with travel agent partners to be eligible for this category. There is also a category for “Tour Operator – Large” and “Touring and Adventure Operator”. Tour operators can only enter ONE of these three categories.

Entry tips:

  • Please write in succinct bullet-points to minimise waffle.
  • Judges will expect figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • You don’t need to use the full word-count for each question, but if you are well under it, it’s unlikely you’ve given enough information to convince the judges
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative in your market – as opposed to catching up with things your competitors are already doing – will score particularly well
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission. Don’t upload adverts and brochures, or upload a generic video not created specifically to support your submission.

Tour Operator of the Year - Large

The winner of this category will be the tour operator that has worked smartest, delivered the best product, and done most to support travel agent partners in the past year (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).

There is also a category for “Tour Operator of the Year – Small” and “Touring & Adventure Operator of the Year”. Tour operators can only enter ONE of these three categories.

Finalists in this category will be invited to take part in a video interview with our panel of senior industry judges on Monday 6th July 2026.
£ 349.00
Early bird rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

Tour Operator of the Year - Large

Entry criteria:

This category is for large UK or Ireland-based tour operators, with annual passengers of 10,000 or more in a typical year, and a general, mainstream, or worldwide programme.

There is also a category for “Tour Operator of the Year – Small” and “Adventure and Touring Operator of the Year”. Smaller/specialist operators, and touring and adventure operators, should enter those categories instead. Tour operators can only enter ONE of these three categories.

Entry tips:

  • Please write in succinct bullet-points to minimise waffle.
  • Judges will expect figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • You don’t need to use the full word-count for each question, but if you are well under it, it’s unlikely you’ve given enough information to convince the judges
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative in your market – as opposed to catching up with things your competitors are already doing – will score particularly well
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission. Don’t upload adverts and brochures, or upload a generic video not created specifically to support your submission.

Touring & Adventure Operator of the Year

The winner of this category will be the touring or small group adventure operator that has worked smartest, delivered the best product, and done most to support travel agent partners, in the past year (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).

There is also a category for “Tour operator – Large” and “Tour Operator - Small”.  Please note, tour operators can only enter ONE of these three categories.
£ 349.00
Early bird rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

Touring & Adventure Operator of the Year

Entry criteria:

This category is for UK or Ireland-based tour operators, which specialise in escorted touring or small group adventures. You must work closely with travel agent partners to be eligible for this category.

There is also a category for “Tour operator – Large” and “Tour Operator - Small”. Tour operators can only enter ONE of these three categories.

Entry tips:

  • Please write in succinct bullet-points to minimise waffle.
  • Judges will expect figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • You don’t need to use the full word-count for each question, but if you are well under it, it’s unlikely you’ve given enough information to convince the judges
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative in your market – as opposed to catching up with things your competitors are already doing – will score particularly well
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission. Don’t upload adverts and brochures, or upload a generic video not created specifically to support your submission.

FAIRER TRAVEL CATEGORIES

Best Place to Work in Travel

The winner of this category will be the travel company that has done most to support and nurture its employees, to create a diverse and inclusive working environment, and to develop its people, in the past year (1 March, 2025 to March 1, 2026).

Finalists in this category will be invited to take part in a video interview with our judging panel of senior industry experts on Monday 6th July 2026.
£ 349.00
Early bird rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

Best Place to Work in Travel

Entry criteria:

The category is open to any UK or Ireland-based travel and tourism business, including suppliers as well as retailers, and including those that sell direct to consumers, as well as those that sell through the trade.

Entry tips:

  • Please write in succinct bullet-points to minimise waffle.
  • Judges will expect figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • You don’t need to use the full word-count for each question, but if you are well under it, it’s unlikely you’ve given enough information to convince the judges
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026)
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative in your market – as opposed to catching up with things your competitors are already doing – will score particularly well
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission. Don’t upload adverts and brochures, or upload a generic video not created specifically to support your submission.

Accessible Holidays Provider of the Year

The winner of this category will be the travel company that has worked smartest, delivered the best accessible holiday experiences, and offered the best service to customers with accessibility requirements in the past year (1 March, 2025 to March 1, 2026).

Accessibility requirements might include wheelchair users, the hearing or visually-impaired, travellers with certain medical conditions, and neurodiverse travellers. Entrants might have worked on supporting just one of those communities, or strived to better support travellers across all of them.
£ 349.00
Early bird rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

Accessible Holidays Provider of the Year

Entry criteria:

This category is open to cruise lines, tour operators, hoteliers, retailers, accommodation providers and travel brands that sell direct to consumers, as well as those that sell through travel agents.

Companies DO NOT need to be accessible holidays specialists in order to enter, entries from mainstream companies trying to do better are very much welcomed.

Entry tips:

  • Please write in succinct bullet-points to minimise waffle.
  • Judges will expect figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • You don’t need to use the full word-count for each question, but if you are well under it, it’s unlikely you’ve given enough information to convince the judges
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative in your market – as opposed to catching up with things your competitors are already doing – will score particularly well
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission. Don’t upload adverts and brochures, or upload a generic video not created specifically to support your submission.

Destination for Change Award

This category is open to tourist boards and destination management organisations striving to create a more sustainable, responsible and inclusive visitor economy that supports both the tourists who visit and the communities they travel to.

Entries should demonstrate how your strategy, marketing, partnerships and on-the-ground actions are helping to shape a fairer future for tourism, backed up with evidence and results from the past 12 months, 1 March 2025 – 1 March 2026
£ 349.00
Early bird rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

Destination for Change Award

Entry criteria:

This category is open to tourist boards and destination management organisations in any part of the world, however, entrants must engage with the UK and Irish travel trade to be eligible.

Entry tips:

  • Please write in succinct bullet-points to minimise waffle.
  • Judges will expect figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • You don’t need to use the full word-count for each question, but if you are well under it, it’s unlikely you’ve given enough information to convince the judges
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026)
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission. Don’t upload adverts and brochures, or upload a generic video not created specifically to support your submission.

Sustainable Travel Company of the Year

The winner of this category will be the travel company that has done most in the past year (1 March, 2025 to March 1, 2026) to strive towards being a more sustainable business, both in its own operations, and in the travel products it creates and promotes.

Finalists in this category will be invited to take part in a video interview with our judging panel of senior industry experts on Monday 6th July 2026.
£ 349.00
Early bird rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

Sustainable Travel Company of the Year

Entry criteria:

This category is open to tour operators, cruise lines, retailers and any other travel companies either based in the UK and Ireland, or working closely with the UK and Irish market.

Entry tips:

  • Please write in succinct bullet-points to minimise waffle.
  • Judges will expect figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible. 3 You don’t need to use the full word-count for each question, but if you are well under it, it’s unlikely you’ve given enough information to convince the judges
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative in your market – as opposed to catching up with things your competitors are already doing – will score particularly well
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission. Don’t upload adverts and brochures, or upload a generic video not created specifically to support your submission.

Technology Innovation of the Year

The winner of this category will demonstrate how their innovation has made an outstanding impact and helped one or more travel companies work smarter and grow business.

Please focus your entry on one particular product or technology partnership developed and launched during the entry period (1 March, 2024 to 1 March, 2026)
£ 349.00
Early bird rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

Technology Innovation of the Year

Entry criteria:

This category is for technology suppliers providing platforms, systems or services to travel and tourism businesses in the UK and Ireland. These might include GDSs, review platforms, itinerary planning apps, currency services, telephony, website building, AI developers etc. It is also open to travel and tourism companies’ in-house tech teams and/or their technology partners.

Entry tips:

  • Please write in succinct bullet-points to minimise waffle.
  • Judges will expect figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • You don’t need to use the full word-count for each question, but if you are well under it, it’s unlikely you’ve given enough information to convince the judges
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2024 to 1 March, 2026).
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative in your market – as opposed to catching up with things your competitors are already doing – will score particularly well
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission. Don’t upload adverts and brochures, or upload a generic video not created specifically to support your submission.

The Positive Impact Award

This category is to recognise a single project or campaign by any travel company which has made a truly positive impact - either from an environmental or social perspective. The project needs to have been implemented AND impact measured within the two-year entry period (1 March, 2024 - 1 March, 2026).

The project may be a charitable endeavour that has supported local or vulnerable communities in destinations to which we travel, or a new product/experience helping protect and celebrate local culture and heritage, or it might relate to carbon reduction, supporting biodiversity or safeguarding animal welfare in tourism, all just suggestions. You must be able to demonstrate the impact and success of the initiative.
£ 349.00
Early bird rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

The Positive Impact Award

Entry criteria:

The category is open to tour operators, cruise lines, retailers and any other travel companies either based in the UK or Ireland, or working closely with the UK and Irish market.

Entry tips:

  • Please write in succinct bullet-points to minimise waffle.
  • Judges will expect figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • You don’t need to use the full word-count for each question, but if you are well under it, it’s unlikely you’ve given enough information to convince the judges
  • Focus on what’s new/what’s been developed during the entry period (1 March, 2024 to 1 March, 2026) rather than simply describing what you do.
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative in your market – as opposed to catching up with things your competitors are already doing – will score particularly well
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission. Don’t upload adverts and brochures, or upload a generic video not created specifically to support your submission.

TRAVEL AGENT CATEGORIES

Holiday Essentials Provider of the Year

The winner of this category will be the holiday essentials provider that has worked smartest, delivered the best product, and done most to support travel agent partners, in the past year (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).
£ 349.00
Early bird rate £ 299.00 +(VAT@20%)
Available until

Holiday Essentials Provider of the Year

Entry criteria:

This category is open to brands selling products such as car hire, accommodation-only, airport parking, transfers, theme park and attraction tickets, city tours, rail or ferry travel or insurance through travel agent partners in the UK and/or Ireland.

Entry tips:

  • Please write in succinct bullet-points to minimise waffle.
  • Judges will expect figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • You don’t need to use the full word-count for each question, but if you are well under it, it’s unlikely you’ve given enough information to convince the judges
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative in your market – as opposed to catching up with things your competitors are already doing – will score particularly well
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission. Don’t upload adverts and brochures, or upload a generic video not created specifically to support your submission.

Cruise Expert of the Year

The winner of this category will be the cruise agent who has worked smartest, and delivered the best service to their clients, in the last year.

Entrants must talk about their own personal sales, and not that of the wider business. Agents might work for a specialist cruise agency, or for a more general agency, but cruise should make up the majority of their sales. 

Finalists in this category will be invited to take part in a video interview with our panel of judges on Tuesday 7th July 2026

Cruise Expert of the Year

Entry criteria:

The category is for individual retail agents in the UK or Ireland, who work in a customer-facing sales role, whether in a high street store, or online/call centre business, or home-based

Submissions can be completed by the agent themselves or by their manager/colleague – but must be done with the agent's permission.

Entry tips:

  • Write succinctly, and give figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative – as opposed to catching up with things other experts are already doing – will score particularly well.
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission.

Touring & Adventure Expert of the Year

The winner of this category will be the agent who has demonstrated the best product knowledge and delivered the most outstanding specialist service for clients taking escorted touring and/or guided adventure holidays during the judging period (1 March 2025 to 1 March 2026)

Entrants must talk about their own personal sales, and not that of the wider business.

Finalists in this category will be invited to take part in a video interview with our panel of judges on Tuesday 7th July 2026

Touring & Adventure Expert of the Year

Entry criteria:

The category is for individual retail agents in the UK or Ireland, who work in a customer-facing sales role, whether in a high street store, or online/call centre business, or from home. Submissions can be completed by the agent themselves or by their manager/colleague – but must be done with the agent’s permission.

Entry tips:

  • Write succinctly, and give figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative – as opposed to catching up with things other agents are already doing – will score particularly well.
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026)
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission.

High Street Travel Agent of the Year

The winner of this category will be the high street agent who has worked smartest and delivered the best service to their clients, in the past year (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).

Entrants must talk about their own personal sales and achievements, and not those of the whole store.

Finalists in this category will be invited to take part in a video interview with our panel of judges on Tuesday 7th July 2026

High Street Travel Agent of the Year

Entry criteria:

The category is for individual sales consultants in the UK or Ireland, who work in a customer-facing sales role.

Submissions can be completed by the agent themselves or by their manager/colleague – but must be done with the agent’s permission.

Entry tips:

  • Tips: Write succinctly, and give figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative – as opposed to catching up with things other agents are already doing – will score particularly well.
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March 2025 to 1 March 2026)
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission.

Home-based Travel Agent of the Year

The winner of this category will be the home-based agent who has worked smartest, and delivered the best service to their clients, in the past year (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026)

Finalists in this category will be invited to attend a video interview with our panel of judges on Tuesday 7th July 2026

Home-based Travel Agent of the Year

Entry criteria:

The category is for individual home-based retail agents in the UK or Ireland, who work in a customer-facing sales role. Submissions can be completed by the agent themselves or by their manager/colleague – but must be done with the agent’s permission.

Entry tips:

  • Write succinctly, and give figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative – as opposed to catching up with things other agents are already doing – will score particularly well.
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026)
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission.

Manager of the Year

The winner of this category will be the travel agency manager who has done most to support their team and grow their business in the past year (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).

Your entry can focus on the achievements of the whole team, but must highlight how the decisions you’ve taken and the environment you’ve created as manager have steered the store/agency to successfully surviving the challenges of the last year. 

Finalists in this category will be invited to take part in a video interview with our panel of judges on Wednesday 8th July 2026

Manager of the Year

Entry criteria:

The category is for high street store managers as well as managers of teams in online/call centre agencies.

Managers can write a submissions themselves or be nominated by a colleague/head office, but must be done with the manager's permission.

Entry tips:

  • Write succinctly, and give figures, % increases/actual increases, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • Anything you’ve done that is innovative – as opposed to catching up with things other agents are already doing – will score particularly well.
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026).
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission.

New Home-based Agent of the Year

This category is open to agents who have been a home-based travel advisor for two years or less by 1 March 2026. You may have moved over from a high street store, call centre team or joined the industry as a career change

The winner of this category will be the new home-based agent who has worked smartest, and delivered the best service to their clients, in the past year (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026)

Finalists in this category will be invited to take part in a video interview with our panel of judges on Wednesday 8th July 2026

New Home-based Agent of the Year

Entry criteria: This category is open to home-based travel advisors who have been selling travel for two years or less by 1 March 2026. You may have moved over from a high street store, call centre team or joined the industry as a career change

Submissions can be completed by the agent themselves or by a colleague – but must be done with the agent's permission.

Entry tips: Write succinctly, and give figures, examples and evidence wherever possible. You don't have to use the whole word count, but if you are well under the word count, you're unlikely to have given enough detail. Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026)

A supporting document or a personal video can enhance your submission, but is not at all essential.

New Retail Agent of the Year

This category is open to retail travel agents who have been selling travel for two years or less by 1 March 2026, including apprentices, trainees and career changers.

The winner of this category will be the new retail agent who has worked hardest, learnt most and has given the best support to their wider team in the past year (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026)

Finalists in this category will be invited to take part in a video interview with our panel of judges on Wednesday 8th July 2026

New Retail Agent of the Year

Entry criteria:

This category is open to retail travel agents who have been selling travel for two years or less by 1 March 2026, including apprentices, trainees and career changers.

Submissions can be completed by the agent themselves or by their manager – but must be done with the agent's permission.

Entry tips:

  • Write succinctly, and give figures, examples and evidence wherever possible.
  • You don't have to use the whole word count, but if you are well under the word count, you're unlikely to have given enough detail.
  • Focus on the entry period (1 March, 2025 to 1 March, 2026)
  • A supporting document or a personal video can enhance your submission, but is not at all essential.

INDIVIDUAL FAIRER TRAVEL CATEGORIES

The Diversity Trailblazer Award

This award celebrates an individual – whether a junior employee or senior exec – who puts diversity at the heart of everything they do, to make their company and/or the wider travel industry a more inclusive place.

Entries should relate to actions and activities in the past year (1 March, 2025 to March 1, 2026) and you will be asked to outline in 500 words what makes you (or your nominee) a champion for diversity, equity and inclusion.

THE JOHN HAYS ENTREPENEUR AWARD

The John Hays Entrepreneur Award

In tribute to one of travel’s greatest pioneers, John Hays, founder of the UK’s largest independent travel agency Hays Travel, this award recognises the true entrepreneurial spirit of an outstanding personality who has disrupted the travel industry.

Entrants must be the founder or co-founder of their business and be able to demonstrate how they have innovatively built their company and will deliver sustainable future growth.

Finalists for The John Hays Entrepreneur Award must be available in September 2026 (date to be confirmed) to take part in an in-person judging day at Hays Travel head office in Sunderland, during which finalists will be interviewed by a panel of Hays Travel and TTG judges and a winner chosen.

The John Hays Entrepreneur Award

Entry criteria:

This category is open to founders/co-founders of travel businesses registered in the UK or Ireland.

Entry tips:

  • Include numbers, sales figures, % increases, ROI and evidence wherever possible. Judges will need to see clear evidence the business is successful and sustainable. 
  • A supporting document or a personal, bespoke video can enhance your submission, but should not contain information that’s critical to your submission