2026 Travel Unity Award Nominations Now Open!
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Travel Unity Awards.
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 close September 13, 2026.
2026 Award Categories
Inclusion Champion
Recognizing an individual demonstrating exemplary leadership in advancing inclusion across the travel industry.
Community Impact
Recognizing an individual or organization creating meaningful, sustained positive change
within the communities in which travel and tourism operate.
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.
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.
Young Professional
Recognizing an outstanding professional age 30 or younger who is making meaningful
contributions to advancing inclusion in travel.
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.