2026 Travel Unity Awards
Winners of the 2026 Travel Unity Awards are listed below.
The Travel Unity Awards recognize individuals and organizations helping make travel more welcoming through leadership, community impact, research, organizational action, storytelling, and the work of emerging professionals.
Self-nominations are welcome. There is no fee to nominate or apply.
Nominations closed on September 13, 2026.
2026 Award Categories
Inclusion Champion
Recognizing an individual demonstrating exemplary leadership in advancing inclusion across the travel industry.
Winner: announced after public voting closes October 23, 2026.
Community Impact
Recognizing an individual or organization creating meaningful, sustained positive change
within the communities in which travel and tourism operate.
2026 Winner: G Adventures
Academic Research
Recognizing one or more individuals and/or academic institutions for published,
peer-reviewed, or presented research with a thesis anchored in inclusive practices.
2026 Winner: Simon Darcy, Tracey Dickson, and Stephen Schweinsberg
Organizational Initiative
Recognizing an innovative, impactful, and replicable organizational initiative centered on
inclusive practices, including traveler-facing experiences, accessibility, workforce initiatives,
community engagement, product or service design, and more.
2026 Co-Winners: Becoming rentABLE and Wowzitude
Young Professional
Recognizing an outstanding professional age 30 or younger who is making meaningful
contributions to advancing inclusion in travel.
2026 Winner: Amine Gabbouj, IGLTA Foundation
New in 2026:
Inclusive Travel Storytelling
Recognizing an individual or organization whose travel storytelling broadens representation,
elevates perspectives that are often overlooked, and helps audiences better understand people, places,
and experiences in travel.
Eligible work can include journalism, destination and brand campaigns, photography,
video, podcasts, social content, publications, documentaries, and other forms of storytelling.
2026 Winners
Editorial & Publishing: Adventure.com
Independent Creator: Cassandra Washington, Sustah-Girl Chronicles
Destination & Organization: Alabama Mountain Lakes, Accessible-Friendly North Alabama
Honorable mentions: “Seeing Texas Differently: A Traveleyes Tour with Visually Impaired Travellers” (Julia Hammond); “Sober Travel Handbook” (Teresa Bergen); Debbie North; Visit Richmond’s BLK RVA program
Our 2026 Judges
Thank you to the 19 judges who reviewed this year’s nominations.
Inclusive Travel Storytelling
- Tonya Fitzpatrick, World Footprints
- Ernest White II, Fly Brother
- Ethan Gelber, Give Lively
- Lavanya Sunkara, Freelance Writer & Editor
- Elizabeth Harryman Lasley, OnTravel Media
- Sylke Neal-Finnegan, Explore Tualatin Valley
- Megan Padilla, Freelance Travel Writer
Community Impact
- Cory Lee, Curb Free with Cory Lee
- Molly Laycob, USTOA
- Peter Gamez, Visit Oakland
Organizational Initiative
- Mike Walsh, Blind Travel Foundation
- Ka Vang, Meet Minneapolis
- Miriam Wagliardo, Synergy Events
Young Professional
- Joe Jamison, VisitAble
- Nick Chun, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)
- Dr. Mechelle Best, California State University, Northridge
Academic Research
- Dr. Bella Vongvisitsin, Hong Kong Metropolitan University
- Dr. Brielle Gillovic, Auckland University of Technology
- Dr. Soyoung Park, Florida Atlantic University
