Categories

For more information on categories, entry criteria nomination and the voting process, please read How it works.

Enter the awards

Award Categories

Organisational Excellence

1. World's Leading Sustainable Organisation
2. World's Leading Small Sustainable Organisation
3. World's Leading Sustainable Startup or Scale-Up Free to enter
4. World's Leading Sustainable Employer
5. World's Leading Sustainable Partnership
6. World's Leading Sustainable Innovation

Destinations, Hospitality and Transport

1. World's Leading Sustainable Destination
2. World's Leading Small Sustainable Destination
3. World's Leading Sustainable City
4. World's Leading Sustainable Hotel or Resort
5. World's Leading Sustainable Visitor Experience
6. World's Leading Sustainable Transport Initiative

Leadership

1. World's Leading Sustainability Leader Free to enter
2. World's Leading Sustainability Leader of Tomorrow Free to enter

Impact

1. World's Leading Climate Action Initiative
2. World's Leading Community Impact Initiative
3. World's Leading Nature Positive Initiative
4. World's Leading Equality & Inclusion Initiative
5. World's Leading Education & Skills Initiative
6. World's Leading Circular Economy Initiative

Storytelling and Influence

1. World's Leading Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Storytelling Initiative Free to enter

Special Recognition

1. Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Not open for entry

Categories in Detail

• Leading Sustainable Organisation

  Recognising an organisation demonstrating outstanding sustainability leadership, measurable impact and a long-term commitment to environmental, social and economic progress. This award is open to organisations across the global travel and hospitality sector that can demonstrate a comprehensive and credible approach to sustainability. Judges will consider the scale of the organisation’s impact, the strength of its evidence, the quality of its leadership and the extent to which sustainability is embedded across its operations and long-term strategy.

• Leading Small Sustainable Organisation

  Recognising a smaller organisation delivering exceptional sustainability outcomes and lasting impact with comparatively limited resources. This category is open to eligible organisations that meet the published size criteria, including independent businesses, specialist operators, social enterprises, academic institutions, smaller destination organisations and independent hospitality businesses. Judges will consider the results achieved in relation to the organisation’s size, resources, operating environment and starting position.

• Leading Sustainable Startup or Scale-Up

  Recognising an emerging travel or hospitality business with an innovative and scalable model capable of delivering meaningful and lasting environmental, social or economic impact. This category is designed for startups and scale-ups developing new technologies, services, products or business models that could help accelerate sustainable change across travel and hospitality. Judges will look for innovation, evidence of early impact, a credible route to growth and the potential for the model to be replicated or expanded. This category is free to enter.

• Leading Sustainable Employer

  Recognising an organisation creating an inclusive, responsible and resilient workplace that supports employee wellbeing, development and long-term organisational success. Entries may include programmes addressing employee wellbeing, inclusion, skills, career progression, responsible employment practices, workplace culture or organisational resilience. Judges will look for measurable improvements, meaningful employee involvement and evidence that the approach is embedded within the organisation.

• Leading Sustainable Partnership

  Recognising a collaboration delivering measurable sustainability outcomes that could not have been achieved by the participating organisations independently. Entries may be submitted by businesses, destinations, governments, charities, community organisations, academic institutions or cross-sector partnerships. Judges will assess the quality of the collaboration, the contribution made by each partner, the outcomes achieved and the potential for the partnership model to be replicated.

• Leading Sustainable Innovation

  Recognising a pioneering product, service, technology or business model advancing sustainability and resilience across travel and hospitality. Entries should demonstrate how the innovation addresses a clearly defined challenge and provide evidence of the environmental, social, cultural or economic outcomes achieved. Judges will consider originality, effectiveness, scalability and the potential to influence wider industry practice.

• Leading Sustainable Destination

  Recognising a destination balancing tourism development with environmental protection, cultural preservation, community benefit and long-term resilience. Entries may be submitted by national, regional or local tourism authorities, destination management organisations, governments or relevant partnerships. Judges will look for a coordinated destination-wide approach supported by measurable outcomes and credible engagement with residents, businesses and visitors.

• Leading Small Sustainable Destination

  Recognising a smaller destination delivering exceptional sustainable tourism outcomes while protecting its environmental and cultural assets and strengthening local resilience. This award is designed to ensure that smaller destinations can be recognised fairly in relation to their size, resources and operating environment. Judges will consider community participation, environmental stewardship, visitor management, cultural preservation and the lasting benefits created through tourism.

• Leading Sustainable City

  Recognising a city embedding sustainability and resilience across tourism, mobility, infrastructure, community wellbeing and the visitor economy. Entries should demonstrate how tourism forms part of a broader and coordinated approach to sustainable urban development. Judges will consider accessibility, transport, infrastructure, resident benefit, climate preparedness, visitor management and the quality of collaboration between public and private stakeholders.

• Leading Sustainable Hotel or Resort

  Recognising a hotel or resort demonstrating excellence in sustainable operations, responsible hospitality, climate preparedness and positive environmental and social impact. Entries may address energy, water, waste, food, procurement, biodiversity, employee wellbeing, community impact, guest engagement or responsible design. Judges will place the greatest emphasis on measurable outcomes and credible supporting evidence rather than policies or future commitments alone.

• Leading Sustainable Visitor Experience

  Recognising an attraction, tour or visitor experience delivering positive environmental, cultural and social outcomes while creating a high-quality experience for visitors. Entries may include tours, attractions, cultural experiences, nature-based tourism, adventure tourism, heritage experiences and community-led tourism initiatives. Judges will consider the quality of the visitor experience alongside environmental responsibility, cultural integrity, accessibility and local benefit.

• Leading Sustainable Transport Initiative

  Recognising an initiative advancing sustainability, accessibility and resilience across passenger transport, mobility or travel infrastructure. The category is open to initiatives involving aviation, airports, rail, cruise, ferries, road transport, public transport, urban mobility and integrated travel infrastructure. Judges will consider emissions reduction, accessibility, efficiency, passenger experience, resilience and the potential to influence wider transport systems.

• Leading Sustainability Leader

  Recognising an individual whose vision, influence and leadership have significantly advanced sustainability across travel and hospitality. Nominees may come from the private sector, government, destinations, academia, charities, community organisations, media or civil society. Judges will look for a sustained record of leadership, measurable influence and evidence that the individual has inspired action beyond their immediate organisation. This category is free to enter.

• Leading Sustainability Leader of Tomorrow

  Recognising an emerging leader demonstrating exceptional achievement and the potential to shape a more sustainable and resilient future for travel and hospitality. This award is intended for individuals at an earlier stage of their career who are already delivering meaningful results, challenging established approaches or inspiring others to take action. Judges will consider achievement to date, leadership potential, originality, impact and the individual’s contribution to the wider sector. This category is free to enter.

• Leading Climate Action Initiative

  Recognising an initiative delivering measurable emissions reduction, climate adaptation, increased resilience or progress towards net zero. Entries may include decarbonisation programmes, renewable energy projects, climate adaptation measures, emissions measurement, low-carbon travel solutions or initiatives supporting sector-wide change. Judges will look for verified results, a credible methodology and evidence that the initiative can deliver lasting or scalable impact.

• Leading Community Impact Initiative

  Recognising an initiative delivering lasting social, cultural and economic benefits while strengthening the resilience of local communities. The category is open to locally led, Indigenous, cultural heritage and community tourism initiatives, as well as partnerships that ensure communities share meaningfully in the benefits created by travel and tourism. Judges will consider community participation, local ownership, economic benefit, cultural integrity and the durability of the outcomes achieved.

• Leading Nature Positive Initiative

  Recognising an initiative protecting, restoring or enhancing biodiversity, ecosystems and the natural environment through travel and tourism. Entries may include habitat restoration, species protection, marine conservation, regenerative tourism, landscape protection or visitor-funded conservation initiatives. Judges will look for measurable environmental outcomes, credible scientific or local evidence and meaningful involvement from affected communities and stakeholders.

• Leading Equality & Inclusion Initiative

  Recognising an initiative advancing equality, diversity, accessibility and inclusion across travel and hospitality. Entries may address employment, leadership, representation, accessible travel, inclusive visitor experiences, supplier diversity or the removal of barriers faced by underrepresented groups. Judges will consider the depth of the initiative, measurable outcomes, stakeholder involvement and the extent to which lasting organisational or sector-wide change has been achieved.

• Leading Education & Skills Initiative

  Recognising an initiative developing the knowledge, skills and opportunities required to support a more sustainable and resilient travel and hospitality workforce. Entries may include training programmes, apprenticeships, academic partnerships, professional development, community skills programmes or initiatives supporting new and emerging sustainability capabilities. Judges will consider participation, accessibility, learning outcomes, career impact and the potential for the programme to be sustained or expanded.

• Leading Circular Economy Initiative

  Recognising an initiative reducing waste, improving resource efficiency and embedding circular practices through reuse, recycling, responsible procurement and sustainable design. Entries may address food waste, packaging, materials, construction, refurbishment, procurement, product life cycles or the redesign of services and operating models. Judges will look for measurable reductions in waste or resource use, credible evidence and the potential for the approach to be replicated across the sector.

• Leading Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Storytelling Initiative

  Recognising outstanding journalism, documentaries, campaigns, publications, broadcasts, podcasts or digital content that bring sustainability stories to life, deepen understanding and inspire meaningful action across travel and hospitality. The category is open to journalists, creators, filmmakers, broadcasters, publishers, production companies, media organisations and relevant industry campaigns. Judges will consider the quality and originality of the storytelling, its reach and influence, the credibility of the subject matter and its ability to increase understanding or inspire action. This category is free to enter.

• Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Travel & Hospitality

  Presented at the discretion of the WSTHA Advisory Board to recognise an individual or organisation that has made an exceptional and enduring contribution to advancing sustainability across global travel and hospitality. This award is not open for entry or public nomination and may not be presented every year.