Submission Deadline: May 15, 2026

Gold Awards Brochure

The PATA Gold Awards continue to honour outstanding achievements in the travel and tourism industry across the Asia Pacific region.

Since their inception in 1984, the PATA Grand and Gold Award-winning projects have set benchmarks for excellence and innovation, inspiring industry professionals to strive for the highest standards.

The Award undergoes annual revisions to reflect the industry’s progress and advancements. As a result, this year will present two Grand Grand Title Winners for the best-of-show entries in the categories of Marketing and Sustainability & Social Responsibility, with a total of 27 Gold Awards to be presented within.

To celebrate PATA’s 75th Anniversary, all registrations completed by March 31 will enjoy a 50% discount!

Winners

All award recipients will be celebrated at the PATA Gold Awards 2026 Gala Dinner held in conjunction with PATA Travel Mart 2026 in Sarawak. The winning entries will also be showcased at the Mart, providing significant exposure to all delegates.

Winning a PATA Gold Award serves as a major accolade, enhancing an organisation’s marketing and public relations profile. Awardees will be featured in the PATA Newsletter and will benefit from extensive international media exposure through press releases and other promotional avenues.

Furthermore, all winners will receive a complimentary copy of the PATA Gold Awards 2026 winners’ showcase e-booklet, which highlights the achievements of each winning entry.

PATA Gold Awards 2026 is proudly supported by:

Marking its 31st year,

2026 Categories

To celebrate PATA’s 75th Anniversary, all registrations completed by March 31 will enjoy a 50% discount!

Grand Title Winners: The international judging committee will select the best of show entries to be the Grand Title Winners; all entries in both categories are eligible to be selected.

Marketing
1 Grand Title & 15 Individual Awards

Marketing Application

  • This award recognises exceptional marketing campaigns by Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) and National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) in the Asia region that effectively promote a destination, increase brand awareness, and drive visitor interest.

  • This award recognises exceptional marketing campaigns by Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) and National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) in the Pacific region that effectively promote a destination, increase brand awareness, and drive visitor interest.

  • This award recognises exceptional marketing campaigns by Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) and National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa regions that effectively promote a destination, increase brand awareness, and drive visitor interest.

  • Recognising outstanding marketing efforts by airlines, cruise lines, and airports that effectively promote travel, enhance brand positioning, and engage target audiences.

  • This category honours innovative marketing campaigns by hotels, resorts, and hospitality groups that enhance brand reputation, customer engagement, and property awareness.

  • Recognising marketing excellence from tourism-related businesses such as travel agencies, tour operators, and attractions that have effectively reached and influenced their target markets.

  • Honouring outstanding traditional print marketing materials such as brochures, magazines, posters, and other collateral that successfully communicate the destination’s message and attract interest.

  • Honouring outstanding traditional print marketing materials such as brochures, magazines, posters, and other collateral that successfully communicate the brand’s message and attract interest.

  • Celebrating campaigns that promote sustainability, inclusivity, and responsible tourism, showcasing eco-conscious practices and/or diversity within the travel industry.

  • Highlighting well-crafted articles that effectively communicate a destination’s story, inspiring and informing travellers through compelling writing.

  • Highlighting well-written articles that effectively promote businesses.

  • Recognising campaigns that creatively leverage new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and interactive tools to enhance customer engagement and brand awareness.

  • Awarding social media campaigns that effectively capture audience attention, encourage interaction, and amplify brand messaging across digital platforms.

  • Honouring outstanding use of photography used in a marketing campaign by visually conveying a compelling story and capturing audience interest.

  • Recognising high-quality video content that successfully promotes a brand, destination, or experience through engaging visuals and storytelling.

Sustainability & Social Responsibility
1 Grand Title & 12 Individual Awards

SSR Application

  • Recognising outstanding initiatives that address climate change in the travel and tourism sector through innovative strategies, resource efficiency and carbon reduction efforts, ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.

  • Recognising outstanding initiatives that address climate change in the travel and tourism sector through innovative strategies, resource efficiency and carbon reduction efforts, ensuring long-term environmental sustainability.

  • Recognising initiatives that protect, preserve, and promote cultural heritage, ensuring the long-term sustainability of historical sites, traditions, and intangible cultural assets.

  • Recognising outstanding projects that protect and restore natural ecosystems, safeguard biodiversity, and ensure the ethical and sustainable management of wildlife.

  • Recognising exemplary initiatives that enhance skills, training, and career development in the travel and tourism industry, fostering a well-equipped workforce for the future.

  • Recognising outstanding community-based tourism (CBT) initiatives that empower local communities – particularly rural and indigenous, celebrate cultural traditions and provide authentic visitor experiences while ensuring sustainability.

  • Recognising destinations that implement strategies to strengthen their resilience against crises, climate change and economic disruptions, ensuring long-term sustainability.

  • This award recognises destinations (cities, regions, or countries) that have implemented comprehensive, large-scale strategies to ensure the entire visitor journey is accessible and welcoming to all.

    It honours the integration of "universal design" into public infrastructure, destination-wide policies, and information systems that allow travellers of all abilities, ages, and backgrounds to navigate the locale with dignity and independence.

  •  Celebrating excellence in the creation and delivery of specific travel products, services, and experiences that are inherently inclusive. This category focuses on how travel providers—such as tour operators, transport companies, and attractions—innovate to ensure their core offerings are usable and enjoyable for everyone, including those with physical, cognitive, or sensory disabilities.

  • Recognising organisations within the travel and tourism sector that lead by example through internal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This award honours businesses that foster a supportive workplace culture where employees from all backgrounds—regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, or ability—have equal opportunities for employment, growth, and leadership.

  • Recognising initiatives that promote gender equality and empower women in the tourism industry through leadership, entrepreneurship, and professional development opportunities.

  • Recognising initiatives that support young professionals and students in the tourism industry, providing them with skills, knowledge and opportunities for career advancement.

* Updated category

If you have any questions about the PATA Gold Awards, please email us at GoldAwards@PATA.org.

Key Timeline

March 1, 2026
Open for submission

May 15, 2026
11:59 PM (GMT+8) Submission closes

March 31, 2026
Special rate ends

July, 2026
Winners to be notified

August 19, 2026
Award ceremony

Submission Guideline

General Rules

  • Eligibility:

    • Member and non-member organisations are welcome to submit entries. 

    • All entries must promote PATA-member destinations or PATA-member organisations.

  • Criteria:

    • All entries must be in English. Marketing collaterals in other languages must be submitted with full English translations.

    • Entries must have been implemented, released or published during the 2025 calendar year.

      • Programmes and products that were significantly revised in 2025 are also eligible.

  • General Notes:

    • Published writers and photographers are welcome to submit to Travel Photography and/or Industry Article.

    • Multiple entries from the same entrant are acceptable. 

    • Collaterals entered as part of a Marketing campaign category may also be entered in other categories, however a separate entry fee must accompany the collaterals.

  • Judging Process:

    • All entries will be equally judged by the international judging committee. 

    • PATA reserves the right to withhold bestowing awards of a winning entry in any categories that fall short of previous winners’ quality.

Application & Submission

  • Apply online and upload your entries at our Dropbox or email separately to goldawards@PATA.org.

  • Submit one report per entry in soft copy. The report should not exceed 20 pages and not larger than 7MB.

    • Supporting materials, pictures, and videos should be embedded in the same report as a link for judges to view.

    • File format: Word document, PDF file, or common electronic file, such as JPG, in low resolution for review only.

  •  Payment

    • PATA members: Apply your member discount code to obtain the PATA member rate.

    • By credit card: Apply online and pay by selecting “Checkout” in the payment section. Please note a 4% processing fee has been applied to each category’s app.

    • By wire transfer: Contact goldawards@pata.org for your invoice and application to be separately taken care of. An additional USD35 for bank service fee will be added. 

      • Application & Invoice: Email us your preferred category and organisation detail.

      • Payment & Submission: Process the payment at your local bank, and email the wire transfer reference and your entries to goldawards@PATA.org.

Registration Instruction

PATA Gold Awards Winners 2025

Winning Entry Booklet

Marketing

Sustainability & Social Responsibility

2025 Independent Panel of Judges:

  • Andreas Hardeman

    Manager, Aerospace, Aviation and Travel Industries, World Economic Forum

  • Anna Hong

    General Manager, Shun Tak - China Travel Ship Management Limited

  • Bel Castro

    Asst. Dean, College of Hospitality Management, Enderun Colleges

  • Betsy Croft

    Global Head of Industry Marketing, Skyscanner

  • David Hailstones

    Vice President & Chief Group Cultural Officer, Bella Vista Institute of Higher Education Switzerland (BVIS)

  • Eric Fong

    Marketing Director, Macau International Airport

  • Fabrizio Orlando

    Global Director, Industry Affairs, Tripadvisor

  • Hannah Pearson

    Founding Partner, Pearson Consulting (Pear Anderson)

  • Jackson Pek

    Senior Vice President & Group General Counsel, Amadeus Asia Limited

  • Janet Yu

    Assistant Vice President – Sales, SJM Resorts, S.A

  • Jennifer Chun

    Director, Tourism Research, Hawaii Tourism Authority

  • Jonathan Low

    Managing Director, Global Success Learning Academy

  • Julia Louw

    Head of Leisure Tourism, WESGRO Cape Town & Western Cape

  • Justin Ong

    Regional Manager, APAC, Hotelbeds Pte. Ltd

  • Lilibeth Aragon

    College of International Tourism and Hospitality Management, Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila

  • Lucie Wesley

    VP, Business Development & Marketing, MMGY Global

  • Mark Manglona

    Marketing Officer - Pacific & North America, Guam Visitors Bureau

  • Olivier Berrivin

    Vice President - APAC, BWH Hotels

  • Paloma Zapata

    CEO, Sustainable Travel International

  • Ralf Ostendorf

    Director Market & Media Management, Berlin Tourismus & Kongress

  • Reham Shaheen

    Tourism Activation team leader, Aseer Region Development Authority

  • Shima Ahmadi

    Project Manager, Universitat de Girona

  • Suyin Lee

    CEO, Discova Travel

  • Verra Wang

    Senior PR Manager, Trip.com Group

  • Victoria Mukranova

    International Director Tourism, AVIAREPS