Tourism for Tomorrow Awards Winners Revealed in Madrid

The world’s best examples of sustainable tourism businesses and destinations have been recognized at the annual World Travel & Tourism Council Tourism for Tomorrow Awards Ceremony in Madrid, Spain.

The Awards, which are held as part of the WTTC 15th Global Summit, showcase and celebrate sustainable tourism businesses and destinations around the world.

The winners in the five categories are:

Community Award: Reality Tours & Travel, India
Destination Award: Ljubljana, Slovenia
Environment Award: Soneva Group, Maldives & Thailand
Innovation Award: TripAdvisor GreenLeaders, USA
People Award: Confortel Hoteles, Spain

Each year, more than 20 international experts from around the world, representing the private sector, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and governments, come together as independent judges to select the finalists and winners.

The judging process, where independent experts visit each of the 15 finalists, is the most rigorous of any awards process in the tourism industry.

WTTC president David Scowsill said: “The WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards celebrate the very best examples of sustainable tourism businesses and destinations around the world.

“The awards have been an established part of our industry for over 20 years, recognized as a way of sharing best practice in ways that everyone in our industry can understand; and to make a real difference to businesses wherever they operate in the world.
“This year’s winners come from across the world and throughout our industry, but each one demonstrates a commitment to running their business to the benefit of their people, their shareholders and the environments they operate in.”

Fiona Jeffery, chair of the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, said: “I would like to thank our team of international judges lead by Professor Graham Miller in assisting with the final selection, each one shines a light on examples of outstanding business practice.

“They demonstrate and invest in a type and level of business leadership that isn’t exclusively about meeting the frequent demands and pressures for short term results.

“Rather it requires a sustained, studied and committed process involving employees, partners and beneficiaries which aims to protect the environment now and for future generations but at the same time creates positive tourism experiences for others to share; fulfilling the spirit of our industry.”