World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards

29/04/2026

Paris named Official Host Destination for World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2026

Paris has been named Official Host Destination for the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2026, with the Gala Ceremony to take place in the French capital on 9 December 2026 as the culmination of the two-day World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance Summit.

The announcement marks a significant strengthening of the strategic partnership between the Awards and the Alliance, bringing together two of the sector’s most influential platforms into one defining moment for sustainable travel and hospitality.

The World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance Summit will convene senior leaders from across the global hospitality value chain for two days of best practice, seminars, workshops, thought leadership and practical action. The Summit will culminate in the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards Gala Ceremony, where the 2026 winners will be revealed and celebrated.

Together, the Summit and Awards will create a powerful global platform for industry leaders, destinations, brands, investors, innovators and changemakers committed to accelerating sustainable progress across travel and hospitality.

Paris becomes the third host destination for the Awards, following Belize and Dubai, and brings further international profile and authority to the programme. As the host city of the Paris Agreement and one of the world’s most influential capitals for culture, diplomacy, tourism and sustainability, Paris provides a fitting stage for the next chapter of the Awards.

Justin Cooke, Executive Vice President, World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, says: “As we enter the third edition of the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, Paris joins Belize and Dubai as an iconic host destination for the programme. It is a city with exceptional global resonance, and a powerful connection to the sustainability agenda.

“Bringing the Awards into the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance Summit is a natural and important next step in our strategic partnership. The Summit draws together the sector's most influential voices for two days of focused dialogue, leadership and practical progress – and the Awards provide the perfect culmination, recognising and celebrating the individuals and organisations turning that ambition into impact.”

He adds: “Together, the Awards and the Summit create a compelling global platform, one that informs, inspires and celebrates progress across sustainable hospitality, travel and tourism. With the support of our advisory board, our partners and the Alliance’s extraordinary global network, our ambition is clear: to build the most credible platform in the world for recognising those accelerating change across the sector.”

The Awards programme is run in partnership with the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, whose partners and members represent more than 66,000 hotels, 8 million rooms, 300 brands, and over 100 supply chain and strategic partners worldwide.

Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, says: “We are delighted that the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards will provide the culmination of our 2026 World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance Summit in Paris. The Summit is the key moment in the Alliance calendar, bringing our partners, members and the wider hospitality value chain together around practical action and shared responsibility.

“Concluding with the Awards allows us to move from insight and collaboration to recognition and celebration, shining a light on the organisations and individuals already delivering measurable impact across hospitality, travel and tourism.”

Entries for the 2026 World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards will open on 1 June 2026, with pioneering sustainable travel and hospitality organisations worldwide invited to apply.

The 2026 programme will reflect the full breadth of the sustainable travel and tourism economy, from destinations, community initiatives and eco hotels to responsible sourcing, clean water, conservation, innovation and measurable impact.

20/01/2026

Dubai named ‘World’s Leading Sustainable City’ at World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards

Dubai has been recognised with the title of ’World’s Leading Sustainable City 2025’ by voters at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards.

The prize was revealed in front of hundreds of global leaders of sustainable tourism at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025, held at Terra, Expo City Dubai. The VIP ceremony recognised the individuals and organisations that are accelerating change in net positive tourism.

Dubai has made notable strides towards sustainability through a multifaceted approach that emphasises clean energy, efficient buildings and green infrastructure. Its ambitious Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park exemplifies this commitment to renewable energy, being one of the largest single-site solar parks globally, helping to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and cut carbon emissions.

Anas Al Ablam of Dubai Tourism said: “We are delighted to receive this award on behalf of the people of Dubai. It is a pleasure to be recognised on this global stage for our achievements.”

Elsewhere in Dubai, the push for green buildings under the Al Sa’fat certification system has seen more than half of new buildings in Dubai meeting minimum green building requirements; this translates into significant energy savings—up to around 35% for platinum-level standards—which contributes to lowering the environmental footprint of the city.

The awards programme is run in partnership with the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, whose partners and members represent over 66,000 hotels, eight million rooms globally, 300 brands, and over 100 supply chain and strategic partners.

Glenn Mandziuk, President & Chief Executive Officer, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, said: “We extend our congratulations to the city of Dubai on being honoured. This achievement reflects an outstanding commitment to innovation, collaboration, and leadership in sustainable hospitality. At the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, we are proud to recognise organisations that are not only redefining excellence in guest experience but also demonstrating that responsible business practices and sustainability are essential to the future of our industry - a Net Positive Hospitality future."

Justin Cooke, Executive Vice-President of the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, said: “Our organisation is dedicated to celebrating the individuals and companies setting new standards in protecting our planet for future generations – and Dubai is a truly deserving winner. It’s a privilege to recognise the city’s achievements at our second annual Gala Ceremony, and I wish the team at Dubai Tourism continued success in the years ahead.”

20/01/2026

Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps - Selenkay Conservancy honoured as ‘World’s Leading Conservation Programme’ at World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards

Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps - Selenkay Conservancy has been recognised with the title of 'World's Leading Conservation Programme' by voters at the 2nd annual World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards.

The prize was revealed in front of hundreds of global leaders of sustainable tourism gathered in Dubai for the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025. The VIP ceremony was held at Terra, Expo City Dubai and recognised the individuals and organisations that are accelerating change in net positive tourism.

Gamewatchers’ Selenkay Conservancy exemplifies community-driven conservation. Situated in Kenya’s Amboseli ecosystem, it empowers Maasai landowners by leasing land for wildlife protection while delivering tourism revenue and employment. The initiative has restored critical wildlife corridors, increased lion populations, and improved rangeland health through rotational grazing.

“Selenkay was created to protect vital wildlife habitats and to ensure that local communities benefit directly from responsible tourism. By working hand in hand with Maasai landowners, we support conservation, create livelihoods, and help wildlife and people coexist in harmony. This award acknowledges the dedication of our teams, our community partners, and every guest who chooses to travel in a way that protects Kenya’s natural heritage. Thank you for recognising the importance of community led conservation,” said Dr. Mohanjeet Brar, Managing Director, Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps.

https://wstha.com/news/article/223/gamewatchers-safaris-porini-camps-selenkay-conservancy-honoured-as-worlds-leading-conservation-programme-at-world-sustainable-travel-hospitality-awards

20/01/2026

Accor named ‘World’s Leading Climate Action Initiative’ at World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards

Global hospitality giant Accor has been recognised with the title of ’World's Leading Climate Action Initiative’ by voters at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards for supply chain decarbonisation programme ‘Achieving Net Zero Together’.

The prize was revealed in front of hundreds of global leaders in sustainable tourism gathered in Dubai for the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025. The VIP ceremony was held at Terra, Expo City Dubai and recognised the individuals and organisations that are accelerating change in net positive tourism.

Launched in 2024, the Achieving Net Zero Together programmes tackles a key challenge in corporate climate action: how to reduce supply chain emissions in a context of low supplier maturity and limited carbon data availability. Structured around three pillars – measure carbon maturity of suppliers, reduce emissions of supply chain, promote low-carbon suppliers and offers – Accor proactively developed in-house tools and frameworks to support buyers and suppliers in designing practical, tailored decarbonisation roadmaps. Rather than waiting for the sector to mature, Accor chose to act - addressing the challenges head-on.

https://wstha.com/news/article/224/accor-named-worlds-leading-climate-action-initiative-at-world-sustainable-travel-hospitality-awards

06/11/2025

Hilton & Winnow wins
'World's Leading Sustainable Partnership 2025'

Hilton & Winnow are honoured to be recognised as the World’s Leading Sustainable Partnership 2025 for our Green Ramadan campaign.

As we all know, the very concept of hospitality is rooted in generosity and the spirit of giving and sharing. We believe Hilton has a unique opportunity and responsibility to find solutions that tackle food waste, whilst strengthening our relationships with guests.

Celebrated since 2023, Green Ramadan has achieved exactly this, through behavioural science, technology and culinary creativity. Together, Hilton and Winnow helped reduce waste per cover by over 80% vs 2023 saving over 18,900 meals. This award celebrates the power of partnership, bringing technology and hospitality together to create more sustainable dining experiences and reduce avoidable waste within hospitality.

06/11/2025

Hospitality - Sustainability EcoFry EcoFry Australia and John Mc Fadden Head to Dubai for Global Sustainability Recognition EcoFry Australia has been nominated for the prestigious World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025, marking a major milestone in the company’s commitment to environme...

31/10/2025

The global leaders of sustainable tourism convened in Dubai for a ceremony to recognise the individuals and organisations that are accelerating change in net positive tourism. The 2nd annual World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards proved a fitting showcase for Terra, Expo City Dubai and its pioneering sustainability initiatives.

The VIP reception, held on 29 October, unveiled the 30 winners of this year’s programme. Recipients of the coveted titles reflected the length and breadth of the sustainable tourism sector, ranging from community artisan initiatives to global hospitality giants.

Highlights included ITC Hotels winning ‘World’s Leading Sustainable Organisation’ for pioneering projects to conserve water and energy. Meanwhile, Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor emerged as the winner of ‘World’s Leading Sustainable Water & Waste Innovation’ for setting new benchmarks in water recycling and rainwater harvesting systems.

Green Ramadan was named ‘World’s Leading Sustainable Partnership’ with the Hilton initiative resulting in a 26% reduction in waste during the holy month. The city of Dubrovnik was voted ‘World’s Leading Sustainable Destination’.

Individual winners included Mariana Domingues from Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, who won the ‘Wolfgang Neumann Sustainability Leader of Tomorrow Award’, and Siew Kim Beh of The Ascott Limited, who was voted ‘World’s Leading Sustainability Leader’.

It proved a big night for Mandarin Oriental, which collected treble honours: ‘World’s Leading Sustainable Energy Efficiency Initiative’, ‘World’s Leading Sustainable Cultural Heritage Project’, and ‘World’s Leading Sustainable Policy Initiative’.

Dubai celebrated with a double triumph with the emirate receiving President’s awards for ‘World’s Leading Sustainable City’ and Terra, Expo City Dubai named ‘World’s Leading Sustainable Venue’.

Justin Cooke, Executive Vice-President, World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards says: “We are incredibly proud to celebrate and acknowledge the winners of the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025, each with fascinating stories of how they are positively impacting change. The standard has proved exceptional, and serves as a healthy indicator of the momentum, drive and innovation towards creating a net positive travel industry.”

The World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards categories and entry criteria were agreed by an Advisory Board of thought leaders from the travel and tourism industry, academia and government. Entries were assessed by students in Sustainable Business from Nova School of Business & Economics. Industry professionals, the media, and the general public voted for the nominees they consider to be leading the world in sustainable tourism.

This evening’s carbon-neutral, farm-to-table, zero waste menu – supplied by Official Culinary Partner, Fresh On Table and curated by Chef Sarthak – underscores the programme’s commitment to sustainability and the drive of the travel and hospitality sector to achieve net positivity.

The programme is run in partnership with the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, whose partners and members represent over 66,000 hotels, 8 million rooms globally, 300 brands, and over 100 supply chain and strategic partners.

Glenn Mandziuk, President & Chief Executive Officer, World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, says: “Tonight’s winners represent the very best of what our industry can achieve when purpose and performance come together. Their innovations show that sustainability is not a side project, it is the foundation of lasting success in travel and hospitality. I congratulate each of the award recipients for setting a powerful example of leadership, collaboration, and impact. Together, they are redefining what it means to build a truly sustainable, inclusive and net positive future for our sector and our planet.”

Event Partners included Bioshpere, Tourism Economics, FHS World, TravelUni, Pinwheel, Institute Tourism, BE WTR, Bulla Co., Diageo, MMI, DrinkIQ, La Pochette, Zamna and Newby London.

World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards is the sister event of World Travel Awards, currently celebrating its 32nd anniversary.

Winners of World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025
World’s Leading Sustainable Organisation: ITC Hotels
World’s Leading Small Sustainable Organisation: ECOFRY
World’s Leading Sustainable Partnership: Green Ramadan
World’s Leading Sustainability Leader: Siew Kim Beh, The Ascott
Wolfgang Neumann Sustainability Leader of Tomorrow Award: Mariana Domingues, Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon
World’s Leading Sustainable Employer: ITC Hotels
World’s Leading Sustainable Destination: City of Dubrovnik
World’s Leading Small Sustainable Destination: El Albergue Ollantaytambo
World’s Leading Sustainable Hotel or Resort Development: Peninsula Papagayo
World’s Leading Indigenous Community Tourism Initiative: Four Seasons Resort & Residences Whistler
World’s Leading Sustainable Guest Experience: Ecoventura
World’s Leading Conservation Programme: Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps - Selenkay Conservancy
World’s Leading Marine & Biodiversity Conservation Programme: Iberostar Group - Coastal Ecosystem Restoration Strategy
World’s Leading Climate Action Initiative: Accor Supply Chain Decarbonization Program: “Achieving Net Zero Together”
World’s Leading Sustainable Energy Efficiency Initiative: Mandarin Oriental
World’s Leading Sustainable Water & Waste Innovation: Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor
World’s Leading Sustainable Circular Economy Initiative: SM Hotels and Conventions: “Plate for the Planet”
World’s Leading Sustainable Health & Well-being Initiative: NEOM Operations – Hospitality Services
World’s Leading Sustainable Female Empowerment Initiative: Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board
World’s Leading Sustainable Community Empowerment Programme: Peninsula Papagayo
World’s Leading Sustainable Accessibility & Inclusion Initiative: The Ascott
World’s Leading Sustainable Education & Training Programme: Employability Program in the Hospitality Sector
World’s Leading Sustainable Cultural Heritage Project: Mandarin Oriental
World’s Leading Sustainable Supply Chain Programme: Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris
World’s Leading Sustainable Technology Initiative: FortyGuard
World’s Leading Sustainable Policy Initiative: Mandarin Oriental
World’s Leading Sustainable Food & Nutrition Initiative: ITC Hotels
World’s Leading Sustainable Marketing Campaign: ITC Hotels
World’s Leading Sustainable City: Dubai
World’s Leading Sustainable Venue: Terra, Expo City Dubai

31/10/2025

29/10/2025

We are proud to share that Zadar Cruise Port – Global Ports Holding is part of a groundbreaking initiative that has been named a finalist for one of the world’s most prestigious sustainable tourism awards. The SeaCras App, developed in partnership with the Rewilding Velebit Foundation and SeaCras, has been shortlisted for the World’s Leading Marine & Biodiversity Conservation Programme at the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025.

The app combines AI and satellite data to provide real-time updates on sea cleanliness. Free for all users, it is available at Zadar Cruise Port, Zavratnica Bay, and the nearby town of Jablanac, enabling visitors, cruise passengers, and the local community to access transparent water-quality data via on-site QR codes.

Piloted at Zadar Cruise Port last summer, the project has expanded to protected natural sites managed by the Rewilding Velebit Foundation, demonstrating how ports can play a pivotal role in safeguarding marine ecosystems while promoting sustainable tourism.

“Travelers are increasingly demanding transparency and sustainable management from the destinations they visit. This nomination affirms that we are on the right track, and that innovative solutions developed in Croatia can inspire the global industry,” said Rebeka V. Pevec, General Manager of Zadar Cruise Port.

Support this innovative initiative and cast your vote here: https://wstha.com/award/world-leading-marine-and-biodiversity-conservation-programme/2025

29/10/2025