How to Win a World Travel Award: A Guide for Travel and Tourism Brands

Have you ever heard of the World Travel Awards? If you are a travel and tourism professional, you probably have. The World Travel Awards, often referred to as the "Oscars of the Travel Industry", are the most prestigious and coveted awards in the global travel and tourism sector. They recognize and celebrate excellence across all key segments of the industry, including airlines, hotels, resorts, destinations, attractions, and more.

Winning a World Travel Award is not only a great honor, but also a powerful marketing tool. It can boost your brand reputation, visibility, and credibility, and attract more customers and partners. It can also motivate your team, inspire your competitors, and impress your stakeholders. It can be a game-changer for your business and career.

But how can you win a World Travel Award? What does it take to stand out among thousands of nominees and voters from around the world? How can you prepare and apply for the awards, and what are the best practices and tips to increase your chances of success?

In this blog post, we will answer these questions and more. We will provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to win a World Travel Award, based on the official criteria, rules, and guidelines of the awards. We will also share some insights and advice from previous winners and experts in the industry. By the end of this post, you will have a clear and actionable plan on how to achieve your goal of winning a World Travel Award.

What are the World Travel Awards?

Before we dive into the details of how to win a World Travel Award, let's first understand what the awards are and how they work.

The World Travel Awards were founded in 1993 by Graham Cooke, a veteran travel and tourism journalist and entrepreneur. His vision was to create a recognition initiative that acknowledges and rewards excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry. He also wanted to raise the standards and quality of the industry, and encourage innovation and creativity.

The World Travel Awards are based on a year-long voting process that involves millions of travel and tourism professionals and consumers worldwide. The voting is conducted online, through the official website of the awards, and is verified by independent auditors. The voting is divided into several regions and categories, covering every aspect of the industry.

The winners of each region and category are announced at a series of gala ceremonies that are held throughout the year in different locations around the world. These ceremonies are glamorous and prestigious events that attract the industry elite, media, and influencers. They also offer a great opportunity for networking, learning, and doing business.

The winners of each region and category then compete for the ultimate accolade: the World Travel Awards Grand Final, which is held at the end of the year in a spectacular destination. The Grand Final is the climax of the World Travel Awards, where the best of the best are revealed and celebrated.

The World Travel Awards are widely regarded as the highest and most respected honor in the industry. They have been endorsed by various organizations and personalities, such as the World Tourism Organization, CNN, BBC, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and more. have also been featured in numerous publications and media outlets, such as The New York Times, The Guardian, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and more.

The World Travel Awards have a motto: "The Power of Recognition". This motto reflects the impact and influence that the awards have on the industry and the world. By recognizing and celebrating excellence, the awards and empower and inspire the industry to strive for excellence , and to make a positive difference in the world.

Why should you apply for a World Travel Award?

Now that you know what the World Travel Awards are and how they work, you might be wondering why you should apply for them. What are the benefits and advantages of winning a World Travel Award?

Here are some of the main reasons why you should apply for a World Travel Award:

It can enhance your brand image and reputation

Winning a World Travel Award can demonstrate your excellence and quality to your customers, partners, and competitors. It can also showcase your achievements and successes to the world. It can help you build trust and loyalty with your existing and potential customers, and increase your brand awareness and recognition.

It can boost your marketing and sales

Winning a World Travel Award can give you a competitive edge and a unique selling point in the market. It can also give you access to a global network and platform of exposure and publicity. You can use the World Travel Award logo and trophy as a marketing tool, and leverage the media coverage and social media buzz that the awards generate. You can also benefit from the World Travel Awards website, app, and community, which can drive more traffic and leads to your business.

It can motivate your team and improve your performance

Winning a World Travel Award can be a great source of pride and satisfaction for your team. It can also be a great way to reward and recognize your team for their hard work and dedication. It can inspire your team to continue to improve and innovate, and to maintain the high standards and quality that the awards represent. It can also help you attract and retain the best talent in the industry.

It can open new opportunities and partnerships

Winning a World Travel Award can open new doors and possibilities for your business and career. It can help you expand your network and connections, and meet new people and organizations that can help you grow and succeed. It can also help you create new partnerships and collaborations, and access new markets and resources.

These are just some of the benefits and advantages of winning a World Travel Award. There are many more, depending on your specific goals and needs. The bottom line is that winning a World Travel Award can have a positive and lasting impact on your business and career, and can help you achieve your full potential.

How to apply for a World Travel Award?

If you are convinced that winning a World Travel Award is something that you want to pursue, the next step is to apply for the awards. How can you do that?

The application process for the World Travel Awards is simple and straightforward. Here are the steps that you need to follow:

- Step 1: Check the eligibility and criteria

Before you apply for the awards, you need to make sure that you are eligible and that you meet the criteria. The eligibility and criteria vary depending on the region and category that you want to apply for, but in general, you need to be a travel and tourism brand that operates in the global market, and that has been in business for at least one year.

You also need to demonstrate excellence and quality in your products, services, and performance, and to have a positive impact on the industry and the world. You can find the specific eligibility and criteria for each region and category on the World Travel Awards website.

- Step 2: Register and submit your application

Once you have checked the eligibility and criteria, you need to register and submit your application. You can do this online, through the World Travel Awards website. You need to create an account, fill in your details, select the region and category that you want to apply for, and provide a brief description of your brand and why you deserve to win.

You can also upload any supporting documents, such as testimonials, reviews, awards, certificates, etc. You need to submit your application before the deadline, which is usually in October of each year.

- Step 3: Wait for the confirmation and nomination

After you have submitted your application, you need to wait for the confirmation and nomination. The World Travel Awards team will review your application and verify your eligibility and criteria. They will also compare your application with other applicants in the same region and category, and select the best ones.

They will then notify you by email if your application has been accepted and if you have been nominated for the awards. You can also check the status of your application and nomination on the World Travel Awards website.

How to win a World Travel Award?

If you have applied for the awards and have been nominated, congratulations! You have already achieved a great milestone and have proven your excellence and quality. But the journey is not over yet. You still need to win the award, which is the ultimate goal .

How can you win a World Travel Award? What are the factors and strategies that can increase your chances of success?

The main factor that determines the winner of a World Travel Award is the voting. The voting is based on the opinions and preferences of millions of travel and tourism professionals and consumers worldwide, who vote online, through the World Travel Awards website. into several regions and categories, and the nominee with the most votes in each region and category wins the award.

Therefore, the key to winning a World Travel Award is to get as many votes as possible from your target audience. How can you do that? Here are some tips and best practices that can help you:

Know your audience and target them effectively

The first tip is to know your audience and target them effectively. You need to identify who are the people and organizations that can vote for you, and what are their needs, wants, and expectations. You also need to segment your audience into different groups , based on their characteristics, behaviors, and preferences.

You can use various tools and methods, such as surveys, interviews, analytics, etc., to collect and analyze data about your audience. You can then use this data to create a profile and a persona for each group, and to tailor your message and strategy accordingly.

Communicate your value proposition and differentiation clearly and convincingly

The second tip is to communicate your value proposition and differentiation clearly and convincingly. You need to explain to your audience why they should vote for you, and what makes you different and better than your competitors.