The John Hays Entrepreneur of the Year award, launched in 2021 in memory of industry titan John Hays, returns for 2022 to recognise business owners who are disrupting the travel industry.
The Italian National Tourist Board LGBT+ Trailblazer of the Year category seeks nominations of travel professionals working hard to improve diversity and inclusion in travel, whether in their own business or in the industry more widely.
The Travel Legend award, meanwhile, will be bestowed by the TTG Media team and sponsor Silversea upon one individual who has made a sustained and lasting contribution to the travel industry, championing the sector on a local, national or international scale, or an individual who has made a unique contribution to their local community, or charity.
The categories are all free to enter, with nominations now open online, and with further information on entry criteria below. The closing date for nominations is Friday 15 July.
THE JOHN HAYS ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD:
Introduced for the first time last year, this very special category is in tribute to one of travel’s greatest pioneers, John Hays, who founded the UK’s largest independent travel agency Hays Travel.
The John Hays Award recognises the true entrepreneurial spirit of an outstanding personality who has disrupted the travel industry, and will be judged by the Hays family alongside TTG’s senior team.
To enter, nominees must complete an online submission, answering a range of questions about their ambitions, achievements and financial performance, all in 750 words or fewer.
Entrants should have launched their business in the last 12 months (June 2021-June 2022), or significantly changed the model or direction of their existing business in that timeframe.
Dame Irene Hays will present the accolade to the winning individual at The Travel Industry Awards by TTG on 29 September.
THE ITALIAN NATIONAL TOURIST BOARD LGBT+ TRAILBLAZER OF THE YEAR:
This award celebrates an individual – whether a junior employee or senior exec, straight or gay – who puts diversity and equality at the heart of everything they do to make their company and the wider travel industry at large, a more inclusive place.
Submissions will be judged by senior TTG journalists and the Italian National Tourist Board’s UK director Flavio Zappacosta.
To enter, nominees must complete a written submission online, answering questions about how they have championed diversity and inclusiveness, with examples and evidence about the impact made, in 500 words or fewer.
TRAVEL LEGEND OF THE YEAR:
A special award, presented by the TTG Media team and sponsor Silversea Cruises, which celebrates a unique individual who has made a sustained and lasting contribution to the travel industry and has championed the sector during the Covid crisis.
The winner could be someone who has stood up for the sector on a local, national, or international scale, or an individual who has made a unique contribution to their local community or charity.
Anyone in the industry can nominate a colleague or peer for the award. Nominators must complete an online submission form summarising the ways in which that individual has made a significant impact on the travel industry, or a company within the industry, along with how they inspire others.
The submissions will be judged be senior representatives from Silversea Cruises and the TTG Media team.
