GUIDELINES
CATEGORIES
Nomination is open to all employees working in companies and organisations in the following travel and hospitality industry sectors:
There will be one winner per category.
1. CATEGORY: ADVOCACY
TITLE: DIVERSITY/DEI ADVOCATE
Honours women or those who identify as a woman or non-binary, who are advancing equity by empowering diverse voices, whether through skills development, structured mentoring, or sponsorship.
CRITERIA:
Must be mid-management to executive level.
Provide career overview and diversity initiatives led.
Show measurable outcomes in improving equity and inclusion.
Detail impact on culture, organisation, or industry.
2. CATEGORY: ADVOCACY
TITLE: EXCELLENCE IN MENTORING
Recognizes women who actively encourage, empower, and support others in their personal and professional development within the Asian travel and tourism sector.
CRITERIA:
Minimum 3-5 years’ industry experience.
Actively acting as a role model, encouraging others, and helping team members realize their full potential.
Demonstrated, ongoing commitment to mentoring peers or junior professionals.
Evidence that the mentorship has positively impacted mentees’ careers and helped build a highly skilled and engaged workforce.
3. CATEGORY : CONVERGENCE & SYNERGY
TITLE: THE EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH TRAVEL AWARD
CRITERIA:
Measurable social impact, dedication to traveler safety, and innovative community-based business models.
4. CATEGORY : CONVERGENCE & SYNERGY
TITLE: THE EXPERIENTIAL ARCHITECH
This award recognizes a corporate executive (or entrepreneur) who has successfully integrated non-travel sectors (such as fintech, retail, real estate, or e-commerce) into the travel journey, breaking down traditional silos to build a seamless experience for today’s travelers.
CRITERIA:
Clear and compelling examples of large scale strategic visionBusiness transformation and super app style eco system building
Details re market impact, technological scale, and/or successful execution of cross-indsutry partnerships
CRITERIA:
Open to all levels
Provide career and overview of innovative contributions
Detail measureable impact on efficiency, products or customer experience
Show evidence of inspiring others through innovation
TITLE: TRAILBLAZING ENTREPRENEUR AWARD
CRITERIA:
Must have founded and own/led a business operating for 3+ years.
Provide entrepreneurial story and achievements.
Detail how business has influenced travel (e.g., programs, policies, platforms, purpose-led campaigns, etc.).
Show examples of inspiring or empowering others through their success, with measurable impact, wherever possible.
TITLE: RISING STAR IN TRAVEL
CRITERIA:
Must have 3–5 years of industry experience.
Provide career overview and achievements that demonstrate their leadership potential.
Detail contributions that go beyond the usual expectations for someone at this level and/or their specific role.
Show evidence of being a role model for peers.
TITLE: TRANSFORMING TRAVEL AWARD
CRITERIA:
Must be in a leadership or executive role and known for a growth mindset.
Show proof of being an inclusive leader and inspiring figure during times of dramatic or rapid change, championing diverse perspectives to ensure all team members feel valued and that new solutions emerge.
Provide examples of transformation projects led, showing impact on people, performance, positioning, and/or profits.
TITLE: REGENERATIVE TRAVEL PIONEER
CRITERIA:
Education: whether actively producing content, workshops, or campaigns that educate the industry and public on regenerative principles or training local communities, hospitality staff, or students in restoration skills like permaculture or circular economy waste management.
Transition planning: Demonstrating a clear, actionable roadmap where an existing business is actively moving away from extractive practices toward net-positive goals.
Community alignment: Engaging local stakeholders and indigenous voices directly in the educational and planning process to ensure their needs guide the strategy.
TITLE: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ADVOCATE
Honours women demonstrating a commitment to preserving local cultures and protecting the environment during the development of new properties.
CRITERIA:
Open to all levels.
Provide career overview and show evidence of protecting cultural or natural heritage during new developments in Asian markets.
Detail CSR campaigns, green operations and strategic stakeholder engagement initiatives, wherever appropriate.
TITLE: MOST INSPIRING WOMEN IN TRAVEL ASIA (2024-2026)
CRITERIA:
Embodies the core characteristics of inspiring people:
Is courageous and resilient
Has empathy/ is emotionally healthy, capable of openly expressing love and appreciation
Focuses on doing what is best/right for the collective good
Fosters equality and lifting others up through advocacy, etc.
Has overcome particularly challenging circumstances to become a success while helping others rise OR
Has achieved or started something remarkable (a movement, a project) that is making waves
Detail measurable impact on others/the travel industry across Asia in the past 12-24 months.
TITLE: IWTA HALL OF FAMER
This is a lifetime achievement honoring a woman whose 20+ year career in the industry has become a legacy that will stand the test of time and set new standards that others will long aspire to, in Asia and beyond. Her visionary work has laid a firm foundation for other women to follow, paving new paths that didn’t exist before.
CRITERIA:
20+ years in the industry
A track record of mentoring and being a role model for others
Consistently recognized for excellence in various dimensions of the business and/or communities
Evidence of unique contributions that have left a permanent imprint on how the travel industry operates
HOW TO ENTER?
1. Go to the online nomination form and read the nomination guidelines.
2. Fill in the required details about the company and contact person for the nomination.
3. Select your Category and Award title.
4. Input your write-up,
5. Wait for the nomination confirmation email and acknowledge it once received.
Note: – Nomiators may submit up to three (3) different entries in the nomination.
– Each nomination form is valid for one category only.
Fill out the form again if you will nominate another project.
– Nomination is free of charge.