Update for Friday 15th August
Thank you to all those of you who nominated projects for the BGTW International Tourism Awards 2025. All these nominations have now been verified and it’s now time for you to vote for the tourism projects you feel should win.
You can vote for your top three tourism projects in each of the three categories (UK, Europe and Wider World). Read the words provided by each nominating member, check the project website if you wish to, then vote away.
At this stage, the names of members nominating projects are not revealed. The focus is on the project, not the member.
The deadline for voting in 23.59hrs (UK time) on Sunday 31 August. The voting process is held under the watchful eye of Guild administrator Charlotte Copeman.
The list of finalists (along with the names of their respective nominating members) will be announced at the start of September.
There are some remarkable tourism projects in this year’s nominations so do find a moment to have a read and cast your votes.
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The prestigious BGTW International Tourism Awards scheme (the ITA) recognises excellence in tourism projects across three categories:
- Best UK Tourism Project
- Best Europe Tourism Project
- Best Wider World Tourism Project
The ITA encourages BGTW members to nominate tourism projects they have visited, and which they feel deserve wider recognition for the work being done.
The scheme recognises tourism projects that have opened or started since 1 August 2022 (that date reflecting the closing date for nominations).
Nominating a tourism project for an ITA generates valuable publicity for the project. Being shortlisted as a finalist, and going on to win one of the three categories can really give the project a boost. Each year we say this, but it’s remarkable just what an impact these awards can have, both on the project teams but also on the wider visitor economy in the project’s location.
Taking a few minutes to nominate a project, or more than one, especially if you feel passionate that the project(s) you’ve visited deserve to win, can really make a difference.
All member nominations, once verified, will go to a member vote.
Which projects are eligible?
We’re looking for projects that really stand out. So, in making your nomination we’re looking to see how a project is addressing:
- its social impact
- local job creation
- environmental impact
- accessibility
- and a brief comment on funding
You should have visited the project at, or after the time of it opening or starting. The project must have opened or started since 1 August 2022. If your visit was prior to opening, as a hard-hat tour for example, you should nominate next year.
Tourism projects can be stand-alone, or part of an existing visitor attraction, destination or other project. For example, an existing visitor attraction might have developed a new product on the same site.
The project cannot be nominated if it has been nominated previously in the ITA. You can see previous nominations here.
If the nomination is for an addition to a project that is already open, or that has already started, the nomination must be in the name of the addition (and not the original project).
The project cannot be nominated in the same year by more than one member. Where this happens, the nominating member will be the one whose nomination form was received first.
The closing date for submissions for the ITA 2025 is 4th August 2025.
Which members can nominate?
All BGTW members (full, associate, honorary or lifetime) can nominate a project.
Members must be fully paid-up at the closing date for nominations: 4th August 2025.
Members whose nominated project is shortlisted as a finalist should also be fully paid-up on 3 November 2025, the date of the BGTW Gala Dinner. The member is expected to act as host to their project’s representative at the dinner.
More information about the three categories:
- Best UK Tourism Project: ‘UK’ is defined as England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Best Europe Tourism Project: ‘Europe’ in the context of these awards, does not include the UK, but does include Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, and eastern European countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine.
- Best Wider World Tourism Project: ‘Wider World’ refers to any other country not covered by the first two categories.
In each category there will be a winner and two highly commended awards. A ‘Merit’ award will be given to all nominated, and verified, entries.
How to enter
You can nominate as many different projects as you wish, subject to the rules above. For each project you must complete a separate nomination form (see below). The nomination form asks for the following information:
- Your email and phone number
- Nomination category
- Correct and full official title/name of project
- Project address and website
- Date of opening or starting
- The project’s press/PR contact, job title and email contact
- The project’s social media details (Facebook, X, Google+, Instagram)
- Two images of the project (at a resolution quality that allows for on-screen presentation) that the Guild can use freely for promotional purposes
- Finally, and most importantly, a maximum of 200 words explaining why you feel the project is special and why it should win.
What happens then?
Nominations will be verified to ensure projects are valid and that nomination forms have been correctly completed. It is the member’s responsibility to ensure that projects are valid and nomination forms are completed correctly.
The full list of verified projects will then be circulated to members for a simple, online vote. The focus for voting is always on the projects. To assist with this, the names of members nominating projects will be withheld.
Once the voting is completed and verified, the list of finalists (including the names of nominating members) will be announced.
If your project is a finalist, you will be given a complimentary ticket for the BGTW Gala Dinner that takes place on Monday 3 November in central London. That will give you the opportunity to host the representative you have invited from your project – and bask in the reflected glory!
It is expected that members who have been successful with a nomination(s) will liaise with the tourism project team(s).
Timetable
4th August @ 5pm Deadline for nominations
18 August Longlist announced and member voting begins
31 August Voting ends
2 September Finalists announced
3 November Winners announced
Voting tips
The ITA is a unique awards scheme. For the Guild it is also an important way to raise the profile of the BGTW with a worldwide audience. There’s nothing else quite like it, so it is important that members vote. When voting it is worth taking the following points into account:
Does it appeal to an international audience?
Will it last? Is it more than a project celebrating an anniversary?
Is it a tourism project that benefits the community, the environment etc?
More information
If you have any questions about nominating a tourism project for the International Tourism Awards, please contact Charlotte, the Guild administrator on 020 8144 8713 or email charlotte@bgtw.org
