World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards and Institute of Tourism partner to advance responsible tourism

Tue 10 June 2025

The World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards and the Institute of Tourism have announced a new value-based partnership to advance responsible and sustainable tourism globally.

The strategic agreement establishes a collaborative framework between the two organisations, with a shared mission to spotlight and celebrate best practices in sustainable travel and hospitality.

Under the partnership, both parties will amplify each other’s visibility across all communications channels. The Institute of Tourism will encourage its global network of members to engage with the 2025 Awards programme – from entry submissions and nominations to voting and the gala ceremony.

In turn, the Institute of Tourism will become an official partner of the Awards. Dr. Reza Soltani, President, Institute of Tourism, will be appointed to the Awards Advisory Board. He will help steer and govern the Awards programme to reflect the travel and hospitality ecosystem, including guiding on best practice, standards, criteria and the award category list.

Justin Cooke, Executive Vice-President, World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, says: “This partnership reflects our shared mission to elevate and celebrate meaningful leadership in sustainable tourism. We look forward to working closely with the Institute of Tourism to champion responsible practices across the travel and hospitality sector.”

The Institute of Tourism is dedicated to fostering global dialogue and collaboration within the travel and tourism industry. It organises international conferences, webinars and seminars that bring together academics, business leaders and practitioners to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the travel and tourism sector. These events aim to create international connections, build research networks and share valuable insights related to tourism, accessible to everyone free of charge.

The Institute emphasises creating tourism with a positive impact and provides a platform for individuals to voice their ideas and contribute to the industry. With over 40 research centres around the world, it works with all the tourism stakeholders fostering a better tourism for people, planet and economy. It features more than 4,000 members from 85 countries.

Dr. Reza Soltani, President, Institute of Tourism, says: “The Institute of Tourism is proud to partner with the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards to spotlight the pioneers shaping a more responsible and sustainable travel industry. Together, we aim to inspire collective global action and highlight best practices that benefit people, planet and place.”

Entries for the 2nd annual World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards are currently open, and run until 30 June. Individuals and organisations across the globe accelerating change and making an impactful contribution in sustainable travel and tourism are invited to enter free of charge.

30 categories, covering all sectors of sustainable travel and tourism, have been selected by the Awards Advisory Board to reflect the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and net positive framework of People, Planet, Place, Prosperity and Partnerships.

The winners will be announced at the 2nd annual World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards Gala Ceremony, taking place at Terra, Expo City Dubai, on 29 October 2025, with the leaders in sustainable travel in attendance.

—ENDS—

Notes to Editors

Media Information

For further information about the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, visit wstha.com or contact [email protected]

For more information about the Institute of Tourism, visit institutetourism.com.