Deadline: August 20, 2016
The National Geographic Traveler World Legacy Awards honor the companies, organizations, and destinations—ranging from airlines to hotels, from communities to countries—that are driving the positive transformation of the tourism industry, showcasing leaders and visionaries in sustainable tourism best practices, and sharing their stories with millions of today’s travelers.
An initiative of the National Geographic Society, one of the world’s largest and most prestigious nonprofit scientific, educational, and travel organizations reaching more than 450 million people worldwide, in partnership with ITB Berlin, the world’s largest travel gathering, the World Legacy Awards offer unprecedented international visibility and promotion.
Award Categories
- Earth Changers: Recognizing cutting-edge leadership in environmentally friendly business practices and green technology, from renewable energy and water conservation to zero-waste systems and carbon emissions reduction;
- Sense of Place: Recognizing excellence in enhancing cultural authenticity, including using vernacular architecture and design, support for the protection of historic monuments, archeological sites, indigenous heritage, and artistic traditions;
- Conserving the Natural World: Recognizing outstanding support for the preservation of nature, including restoring natural habitat, and protecting rare and endangered species, whether on land or in the oceans;
- Engaging Communities: Recognizing direct and tangible economic and social benefits that improve local livelihoods, including training and capacity building, fair wages and benefits, community development, health care, and education;
- Destination Leadership: Recognizing destination stewardship, including cities, provinces, states, countries, and regions that are demonstrating environmental best practices, protection for cultural and natural heritage, benefits to local people, and educating travelers on the principles of sustainable tourism.
Eligibility
- Any travel and tourism company, organization or destination—ranging from airlines to hotels, from cities to countries, and from luxury tour operators to adventure travel outfitters—is eligible to apply for the awards in one of the five categories.
- Only one application may be submitted in one category during any given year.
Application Process
- Each award category has an application form with a series of specific questions. To apply, download and fill out the application for the award that you wish to apply for, and submit the completed application form to [email protected].
- Applications must be submitted in English;
- Only completed applications, without any additional promotional or marketing materials, will be accepted.
- If you have questions or need additional information or assistance, please contact [email protected].
Awards Timeline
- Call For Entries Opens – 20 June 2016;
- Call For Entries Closes – 20 August 2016;
- Awards Judging Process – 21 August – 30 November, 2016;
- Finalists are Announced – 1 December 2016;
- Winners are Announced – March 2017
For more information, visit World Legacy Awards.
