Entries now open for the 2023 Luxury Travel Gold List Awards

The Luxury Travel Gold List Awards are now open to enter, welcoming standout submissions from Australia, the Indo-Pacific and across the globe.

Powered by Indesign Media Asia Pacific, the Luxury Travel Gold List Awards was established in 2005 and is back in 2023 — with a new, refreshed focus that is more in line with the modern luxury travel movement than ever before.

Celebrating leaders in luxury travel in Australia and all around the globe, the Luxury Travel Gold List Awards thrives through industry-specific broadcasting across our global newswire. Through a synchronised web of social media and digital platforms, in addition to our esteemed print titles and events circuit, the Luxury Travel Gold List is more than an awards program — it’s our commitment, to you.

This year’s streamlined categories recognise the most progressive experiences and destinations across air, land, and sea. The entry categories and associated criteria in 2023 reflect our core editorial content pillars of authenticity, design, and sustainability — awarding those who break barriers and do great things.

In order to showcase the best of the best, we’re relying on the careful curatorial eye of a prestigious and global judging panel to assist with the awards program. The Jury, which will be rotated each year, is comprised of forward-thinking industry leaders across luxury travel.

Below are the 2023 Luxury Travel Gold List Award categories. For information on how brands can enter and for detailed category criteria, please visit our dedicated Gold List page at luxurytravelmag.com.au/the-gold-list

Please note, the reader voting and nomination process will take place in August/September.

NEW HOTEL OR RESORT DESIGN

This award recognises outstanding interior design and architecture of a new hotel or resort that has opened, anywhere in the world, since 1 January 2022.

BOUTIQUE PROPERTY, VILLA OR LODGE (LESS THAN 50 KEYS)

Awarded to a boutique property (villa, lodge, small hotel) with less than 50 keys. This award takes into account the overall luxury guest experience at the property, including the location, range of experiences, on-site facilities, design elements, sustainability initiatives, and food/beverage offerings.

SUSTAINABLE, LUXURY RESORT

This award will go to a resort that truly adopts the highest standards of sustainability throughout: including its approach to design, cultural sustainability, eco-tourism experiences, and the preservation and protection of the lands that it occupies.

LUXURY HOTEL OR RESORT BRAND

The luxury hotel or resort award will go to one overall luxury hotel/resort brand, of any size, that offers true luxury accommodation to guests. The brand may have hotels and/or resorts in any part of the world, and the keys and size of the hotels/resorts is not restricted to any number.

GOURMET LUXURY TOURISM EXPERIENCE

With food and wine one of the most important elements to luxury travellers when considering their travels, we award this prize to an outstanding epicurean luxury tourism experience, anywhere in the world.

REGENERATIVE TOURISM EXPERIENCE

This award will go to a genuine, regenerative luxury tourism experience where participants and travellers can directly get involved in guided activities that help to regenerate a destination’s ecosystem, wildlife or community, leaving it better than it was before. Entrants to this category must show that their experiences make a positive contribution — either socially, economically or environmentally.

SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE BY A DESTINATION/TOURISM REGION

Awarded to a tourism board that has introduced a consumer-facing sustainability initiative in its region that makes a positive contribution to sustainable-minded and responsible tourism. It will need to differ from a framework or strategic plan at governance level, but will be a way in which travellers in that region can engage with, interact and positively contribute to the overall sustainable goals and objectives of the region.

WELLNESS SPA OR RESORT

Wellness in the luxury segment has evolved in recent years to include a more holistic approach to physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. This award will recognise an outstanding, luxury wellness facility with a broad range of experiences or programs for guests.

LUXURY FAMILY EXPERIENCE

This award is for a luxury family experience tailored to families and multi-generational groups travelling together, designed to engage guests of all ages and create holiday experiences that allow for meaningful, family bonding. The experience can be across any category eg: culinary, nature, wildlife, regenerative etc.

LUXURY INDIGENOUS EXPERIENCE — AUSTRALIA

The award for Luxury Indigenous Experience – Australia is open to any Australian operator offering authentic and responsible tourism experiences that connect luxury travellers to Country, helping them to gain a better understanding of the oldest living culture on Earth and benefiting the local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities in some way.

AIRLINE (DESIGN, SERVICE AND SUSTAINABILITY)

This is an award that recognises one airline’s overall offering for luxury travellers, taking into account first and business-class facilities, lounges, loyalty program, customer service, commitment to reducing carbon emissions and waste across the business, and taking steps to incorporate sustainable aviation fuel on its flights.

AIRLINE FIRST CLASS CABIN (DESIGN, FEATURES, SERVICE, F&B, LOUNGE)

Recognition of one airline for having a superior First Class cabin that consistently delivers for luxury travellers, featuring up-to-date seat and cabin design, exceptional service, and diverse and premium food and beverage options.

LUXURY EXPEDITION CRUISE BRAND

The luxury expedition cruise brand award will go to one overall luxury expedition cruise brand, of any size, that offers premium luxury expedition voyages or adventure expedition voyages to guests. The brand may conduct their expeditions in any part of the world, and the ship’s guest capacity and size is not restricted to any number.

LUXURY OCEAN OR RIVER CRUISE BRAND (WITH SHIPS UNDER 300 GUESTS)

The Luxury Ocean or River Cruise Brand (with ships under 300 guests) will go to an overall cruise brand conducting exceptional, smaller-scale luxury cruises. Cruise brands travelling in either oceans and seas or rivers are eligible to enter. The cruise cannot be an expedition, as there is a seperate category recognising luxury expedition operators.

LUXURY OCEAN CRUISE BRAND (WITH SHIPS UNDER 750 GUESTS)

The Luxury Ocean Cruise Brand (with ships under 750 guests) will go to an overall ocean-cruising brand conducting exceptional luxury cruises. The cruise cannot be an expedition, as there is a seperate category recognising luxury expedition operators.

LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR (INDIVIDUAL), AUSTRALIA

Recognising excellence in customer service, knowledge and expertise, this award will go to an individual luxury travel advisor who demonstrates exceptional conduct, the highest levels of customer service and knowledge/expertise shared with their clients. The individual will also demonstrate an ongoing commitment to continuing their learning and networking within the luxury travel sector.

LUXURY TRAVEL AGENCY, LEISURE (BOUTIQUE), AUSTRALIA

This award will go to a standout, boutique and small-scale luxury leisure travel agency that may specialise in a particular travel category/style or destination. The award winner will demonstrate exemplary service and delivery for its customers and an in-depth knowledge and experience of its niche travel segment.

LUXURY TRAVEL AGENCY, LEISURE (MEDIUM TO LARGE SCALE), AUSTRALIA

This award will go to a standout, mid to large-scale luxury leisure travel agency with multiple offices or outposts. It may or may not be part of a group or consortium. The award winner will demonstrate exemplary service and delivery for its customers.

LUXURY TOUR OPERATOR, BOUTIQUE

This award acknowledges an exceptional, boutique luxury tour operator that specialises in a particular destination or a particular style of travel (having a certain niche), leading small-group tours for no more than 12 guests.

LUXURY TOUR OPERATOR, MEDIUM TO LARGE SCALE

This award acknowledges an exceptional medium to large-scale tour operator that typically offers luxury and premium tours to multiple destinations around the world as part of its product mix.

LUXURY TRAVEL GOLD LIST ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO LUXURY TRAVEL, AUSTRALIA

The Luxury Travel Gold List award recognises excellence throughout a career dedicated to luxury travel, in any category. The award is a celebration of outstanding commitment to the luxury travel industry in general and to advancing and developing best-practice in the industry.

EMERGING BRAND / ONE TO WATCH (ANY CATEGORY EG: CRUISE, HOTEL, AGENCY)

Building a successful brand in the competitive travel space takes time. The Emerging Brand award is an acknowledgment of a brand, less than five years old (and in any category) that is making great strides in building a modern, luxury travel brand and presence – while doing so with responsible and sustainable tourism at the fore.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

This award is chosen by the Editor and senior executive team of Luxury Travel Media for an outstanding brand or company that we believe is deserving of recognition. This award is not open to entries or nomination and may be across any category eg: cruise, airline, accommodation, tours etc. (please note, this award is not open to entries).