The Tourism Innovation Awards will form part of TIS – Tourism Innovation Summit 2026. They will recognise innovative, digital and sustainable projects transforming the tourism sector. TIS returns to Seville, Spain, from 6–8 October 2026. The event will host the latest edition of the awards.
Described as the tourism sector’s “Oscars”, the awards recognise companies, projects and initiatives from around the world. Entries should demonstrate innovation, technology or digitalisation. The awards support the development of a more efficient, competitive and sustainable tourism model. They also encourage organisations to keep the traveller at the centre of their work.
Silvia Avilés, Director of TIS, said the awards recognise those helping to redefine tourism. Their work includes innovation, technology and new approaches to the traveller experience. She said the awards highlight projects with genuine transformative potential. They also encourage international partnerships and accelerate solutions that can prepare tourism for future challenges.
The awards are open to companies, universities, suppliers, executives, business schools, academics, researchers, analysts and journalists. Startups, scale-ups and accelerators can also apply. Applications are also welcome from science and technology parks and innovation centres worldwide.
Six Categories for the Tourism Innovation Awards 2026
This year’s awards will feature six categories reflecting the main trends and challenges transforming the tourism industry.
The AI & Digital Innovation Impact Award will recognise projects that apply artificial intelligence and technology to deliver a tangible impact on business, operational efficiency or the traveller experience. The category will focus on real-world examples where innovation has moved beyond the experimental phase and delivered measurable results.
The Next-Gen Customer Experience Award will highlight initiatives improving the customer experience through more personalised, consistent and distinctive offerings.
Meanwhile, the Travel Innovation & New Business Model Award will recognise innovative business models helping to transform the tourism sector. These may range from vertical platforms and hybrid models to new approaches to distribution and monetisation.
The Sustainable & Regenerative Tourism Award will highlight initiatives delivering a positive environmental, social and economic impact. Particular attention will be given to projects that move beyond sustainability and contribute to regenerative tourism models.
The Travel Tech New Business Model Award will recognise entrepreneurs, startups and innovative projects integrating sustainability, technology and customer-centred principles. The category will highlight projects creating positive disruption and establishing new standards within the TravelTech ecosystem.
Finally, the Diversity, Talent & Future Workforce Award will recognise projects redefining talent management within tourism. These may include new organisational models, collaboration between people and technology, and the development of more inclusive workplace cultures prepared for future challenges.
Interested organisations can submit their applications until 12 September 2026. Previous editions of the Tourism Innovation Awards have recognised initiatives from Radisson Hotel Group, United Waterways, SEGITTUR, Hotelverse and ILUNION Hotels. Their projects demonstrated a strong commitment to technological innovation, sustainability and the digital transformation of tourism.
‘The New Generation of Travel & Hotel Tech’
Under the theme “The new generation of travel & hotel tech”, the seventh edition of TIS will focus on two major areas of the tourism industry: destinations and hotels. The aim is not only to introduce these sectors to new technologies but also to help them implement the solutions strategically and generate a measurable impact on their businesses and financial performance. TIS 2026 will examine technological trends affecting tourism at a time of rapid development in artificial intelligence and digitalisation. The event will also present the latest TravelTech solutions designed to help the industry understand travellers’ changing needs, create more personalised experiences and advance innovation and sustainability projects.
