A prestigious new awards scheme which celebrates the best of travel and tourism around the world has opened nominations for its categories.

The International Travel & Tourism Awards, presented by WTM London, is a first-of-its-kind event that will recognise the success of national, regional and city tourist boards as well as outstanding private sector companies and individuals.

The Awards will feature 13 categories, with twelve judged by an independent panel of leading experts and senior figures in each sector. The final award for outstanding contribution to the industry nominated by WTM London Media Partners will be the ultimate finale to these show-stopping awards, which will take place at a glittering awards ceremony in London on 6 November.

The illustrious awards scheme is being officially unveiled on 22 March 2018 at Awards partner London & Partners headquarters, with an invited audience of senior travel and tourism professionals.

They will hear how the awards will be the first to celebrate travel and tourism success on such a global scale, and will showcase the best tourist boards, marketing campaigns, individuals and companies.

More than 500 senior industry executives, including government ministers, will attend the impressive awards ceremony at Tobacco Dock, a few stops on the Docklands Light Railway from WTM London’s ExCeL venue. Busses will also transport WTM London delegates to the awards ceremony.

A famous London landmark, Tobacco Dock is a Grade I-listed warehouse built in 1811 serving primarily as a store for imported tobacco. It now offers stunning timber beams and beautiful architecture, making it the perfect location for this stylish ceremony.

The awards will be co-chaired by UNWTO Sandra Carvao, Chief of Communications and Publications and Reed Travel Exhibitions Director Nick Pilbeam.  Judges will be from top tourism and industry bodies and organisations including Euromonitor International and public relations body PRCA.

“UNWTO is pleased to partner with WTM in this new initiative. An Award is a recognition of value and an incentive to do better and we trust the International Travel & Tourism Awards will inspire the tourism sector to aim higher in order to become ever more competitive and sustainable,” Sandra Carvao, Chief, Communications, UNWTO.

Steve Miller, Membership & Partnerships Director from PRCA & ICCO, added: “The PRCA is proud to support the inaugural International Travel and Tourism Awards, particularly as PR has its own category to recognise excellence in this field.”

Different categories will be judged by experts in those sectors, such as the Global Wellness Institute, World Food Travel Association and Out Now Consulting.

International Travel & Tourism Awards, co-founder, Paul Nelson said: “We are delighted to officially open nominations for the new International Travel & Tourism Awards, presented by WTM.

“With such a distinguished independent panel of respected judges, the winners will know they truly represent the best in their class.

“Entries and nominations will come from right across the world, so the honours will be a definitive global guide to the top professionals in every sector.”

International Travel & Tourism Awards, co-founder, Charlotte Alderslade, added: “The ITTAs offer an unrivaled marketing and PR opportunity as part of the week of WTM London.

“The awards will quickly become a fixture in the industry calendar and a stamp of excellence for the trade and holidaymakers alike.”

Categories:
Best national tourism board campaign/DMO campaign
Best tourism marketing agency
Best regional/city campaign
Outstanding contribution to the industry
Best food destination
Most innovative use of technology within a destination
Best digital campaign in tourism
Best digital influencer in the industry
Best wellness destination
Best responsible tourism destination
Best adventure tourism destination
Best LGBT destination
Best PR campaign

For more details visit awards.wtm.com