This award recognizes an individual, organization or consortium that has demonstrated social responsibility through efforts to enhance social and cultural impact, help foster collaboration, and build resiliency in the community.

Nomination Requirements

Please address each of the following criteria in your nomination submission, limiting this to approximately 250 words per question in order to be consistent for the judging panel. Bullet point responses are acceptable.

• Describe how the nominee demonstrates leadership in their commitment to social responsibility and/or impact. 
  

• Describe the nominee’s tangible impact on the local community and the broader tourism industry. 
  

• Describe how the nominee works collaboratively with the tourism industry, governments and stakeholders in the broader community.
  

• Describe how the nominee is creating a lasting positive impact within the community.

This award honours a business that provides an outstanding, authentic consumer experience by exemplifying BC's foodways, highlighting local ingredients, and strengthening BC’s standing as a premier culinary and agritourism destination for high-quality tourism experiences.

Nomination Requirements

Please address each of the following criteria in your nomination submission, limiting this to approximately 250 words per question in order to be consistent for the judging panel.  Bullet point responses are acceptable.

• Describe the culinary/agritourism experience. What makes this experience remarkable, and how does it authentically represent BC's food and beverage culture?
  

• Explain how the business demonstrates innovation in showcasing authentic culinary/agritourism experiences within their region or destination.
  

• Illustrate how the experience exemplifies BC as an international culinary/agritourism destination. How does it contribute to promoting BC’s reputation on a global scale?
  

• Describe the ways in which the nominee promotes quality BC food or drink products. Highlight any partnerships with local producers or initiatives to elevate BC products.
  

• Discuss the nominee’s contributions to promoting regional culinary/agritourism experiences. How does this experience support and enhance local tourism within BC’s diverse regions?
  

• Provide evidence of positive consumer feedback (e.g., online reviews, social media engagement, testimonials). How have guests responded to this experience?
  

• Explain how the nominee consistently delivers exceptional guest experiences. Describe any systems, processes, or unique service elements that ensure a memorable experience that exceeds visitor expectations.

This award recognizes a British Columbia tourism industry employer who has upheld high standards of excellence in human resource practices, with a specific focus on mental health & wellness. The category is awarded to an organization, but the nominee would be the individual invited to accept the award on behalf of the organization.

Nomination Requirements

Please address each of the following criteria in your nomination submission, limiting this to approximately 250 words per question in order to be consistent for the judging panel. Bullet point responses are acceptable.

• How would you describe the organizational culture of the nominated organization? How do the organization’s vision, values and leadership practices contribute to creating a positive work environment?
  

• What initiatives, policies, and procedures are in place to support and promote employee mental health and wellness in the workplace? (e.g. leadership commitment, training, clear expectations, etc.).  
  

• How does the nominated organization demonstrate ongoing commitment to supporting and improving psychological health and safety? Please provide as many specific examples as possible (e.g. periodic employee surveys, health & safety committee agenda, training etc.). 
  

• To what extent have the nominated organization’s HR and OHS practices impacted its ability to attract and retain staff? Please provide as many quantifiable indicators as possible (such as staff turnover and/or retention rates, customer satisfaction scores, employee survey metrics, injury and claims data, etc.).
  

Category-specific Eligibility

• Must not have accrued any penalties under the workers' compensation legislation in the last five years

This award recognizes an individual, organization or consortium operating in British Columbia that has made a significant contribution toward creating inclusive and/or accessible tourism experiences for everyone. Through established initiatives and actions, nominees have demonstrated commitment to supporting accessibility, diversity, equity and inclusion within their operations, products, services and experiences.

Nomination Requirements

Please address each of the following criteria in your nomination submission, limiting this to approximately 250 words per question in order to be consistent for the judging panel. Bullet point responses are acceptable.

• Describe how the nominee excels in providing an inclusive and/or accessible tourism and/or hospitality product, service, or experience.
  

• Describe how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in reducing barriers for guests from equity deserving groups to participate in their business. Equity deserving groups include women, Indigenous Peoples, persons of colour, persons with disabilities, and/or persons who identify as a part of the LGBTQI2AS+ community.  
  

• Describe the measures used to ensure the products, services, and experiences meet the needs of a diverse range of visitors.
  

• Describe the nominee's commitment to supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. What initiatives are in place? 

This award recognizes Indigenous tourism businesses that demonstrate authenticity, cultivate a greater understanding of Indigenous culture, history and traditions, and contribute to the resilience of the local Indigenous community.

Nomination Requirements

Please address each of the following criteria in your nomination submission, limiting this to approximately 250 words per question in order to be consistent for the judging panel. Bullet point responses are acceptable.

• Provide a brief overview of the nominee’s Indigenous cultural product, service, or experience offered to visitors/guests.
  

• Describe the business health and long-term viability of the nominated experience.
  

• Describe the business’ customer service philosophy/values and how customer satisfaction and areas for improvement are measured and tracked. 
  

• Describe how the tourism business works collaboratively between Indigenous people, the tourism industry, governments, and the broader community.
  

• Describe how the tourism business contributes directly or indirectly to the sustainability of the local Indigenous community and preserves and protects the community traditions.
  

Category-specific Eligibility

• Nominees must be majority Indigenous-owned/controlled, doing business in British Columbia in 2026, and provide tourism or hospitality experiences and/or related services.

This award recognizes an individual, organization, or consortium that has successfully used technology to create new opportunities, improve the visitor experience, strengthen business operations, increase accessibility or efficiency, or address a challenge within British Columbia’s tourism sector.

The award celebrates practical and forward-thinking uses of technology that demonstrate measurable value. This may include the development or application of digital tools, artificial intelligence, data and analytics, automation, immersive technology, online platforms, mobile applications, booking or business systems, or other technology-based solutions that are changing how tourism businesses, destinations, and organizations operate, connect with visitors, or plan for the future.

The technology does not need to have been developed by the nominee. The emphasis is on how technology has been applied in an innovative way to create meaningful results for the organization, visitors, community, or broader tourism sector.

Nomination Requirements

Please address each of the following criteria in your nomination submission, limiting this to approximately 250 words per question in order to be consistent for the judging panel. Bullet point responses are acceptable.

• Describe the technology, digital solution, platform, initiative, or application and the challenge or opportunity it was designed to address.
  

• Describe how the technology was implemented and what made its use innovative or different from traditional approaches within the tourism sector.
  

• Describe the impact and measurable results achieved through the use of the technology, including benefits to visitors, the organization, community, employees, partners, or the broader visitor economy.

This award recognizes an outstanding British Columbia tourism business, organization, or consortium that delivers exceptional outdoor, wilderness, and adventure tourism experiences while showcasing the natural beauty and extraordinary landscapes that define British Columbia.

The BC Outdoor & Adventure Tourism Award celebrates operators and organizations that connect visitors with British Columbia’s great outdoors through memorable, high-quality experiences. 

The recipient demonstrates excellence in visitor experience, safety, environmental stewardship, innovation, business practices, community relationships, and responsible access to outdoor spaces. The award recognizes organizations that understand that British Columbia’s natural environment is both an extraordinary tourism asset and something that must be cared for with intention.

The recipient should represent the very best of outdoor and adventure tourism in British Columbia and demonstrate how exceptional tourism experiences can support communities, strengthen the visitor economy, and inspire people to experience the remarkable outdoors of beautiful British Columbia.

Nomination Requirements

Please address each of the following criteria in your nomination submission, limiting responses to approximately 250 words per question to ensure consistency for the judging panel. Bullet point responses are acceptable.

• Describe the outdoor, wilderness, or adventure tourism experience offered and how it showcases British Columbia’s natural environment.
  

• Describe how the nominee demonstrates excellence in visitor experience, safety, environmental stewardship, innovation, and responsible outdoor tourism practices.
  

• Describe the measurable impact the nominee has had on visitors, employees, communities, regional tourism, and the broader visitor economy.
  

• Describe how the nominee contributes to the long-term strength and sustainability of outdoor and adventure tourism in British Columbia
  

Category-specific Eligibility

The nominee must be a British Columbia-based tourism business, organization, or consortium that delivers outdoor, wilderness, recreation, or adventure tourism experiences within the province.

This may include mountain resorts, ski areas, wilderness lodges, guiding and outfitting businesses, adventure tourism operators, golf experiences, fishing operations, boating and marine tourism, paddling, cycling, hiking, trail-based tourism, wildlife experiences, outdoor recreation, and other tourism businesses where the visitor experience is primarily centred on being outdoors and engaging with British Columbia’s natural environment.

This award recognizes a community DMO or Sector Association that has demonstrated exceptional leadership in developing, enhancing, supporting, or promoting a tourism experience or initiative that contributes to a remarkable visitor experience in British Columbia.

The nominated DMO or Sector Association will have worked collaboratively with tourism businesses, communities, industry partners, or other organizations to create or strengthen an experience that reflects the character of British Columbia, responds to visitor interests, and provides measurable value to the tourism industry.

A remarkable experience is one that exceeds visitor expectations, creates a lasting connection to a place, community, or activity, and inspires visitors to share their experience through word of mouth, reviews, social media, or repeat visitation.

Nomination Requirements

Please address each of the following criteria in your nomination submission, limiting this to approximately 250 words per question in order to be consistent for the judging panel. Bullet point responses are acceptable.

• The Remarkable Experience – Describe the experience, initiative, program, or campaign and the role of the DMO or Sector Association in its development, enhancement, delivery, or promotion. What makes it remarkable?
  

• Collaboration – How did the DMO or Sector Association work with tourism businesses, communities, other destinations, sectors, Indigenous partners, or industry organizations to create or enhance the experience?
  
  Visitor Response – Provide evidence demonstrating a positive visitor response. This may include visitor feedback, reviews, social media engagement, earned media, repeat visitation, referrals, or other indicators of visitor satisfaction.
  
  Industry and Community Impact – How has the experience created value for tourism businesses, the destination, sector, community, or broader visitor economy? Where possible, provide measurable results.

• Strategic Strength and Long-term Viability – Describe how the experience supports the destination or sector’s strategic priorities, strengthens its competitive position, and can continue to provide value in future years.
  

• Measurement and Continuous Improvement – What systems or processes are used to evaluate the success of the experience, gather feedback, measure results, and make improvements over time?
  

Category-specific Eligibility

The Award is open to any community-based DMO that was a member of the BC DMO Association in 2026, or a TIABC Member Sector Association.

The nominated experience, program, campaign, or initiative must have been active or delivered during 2026.

This award recognizes an individual, organization, or consortium operating in BC who has championed the implementation and/or education of sustainable and regenerative practices in their tourism operation. This category will celebrate those who have committed (big or small) to working on goals and actions aligned with one or more of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Nomination Requirements

Please address each of the following criteria in your nomination submission, limiting this to approximately 250 words per question in order to be consistent for the judging panel. Bullet point responses are acceptable.

• Describe the nominee’s commitment to sustainable and regenerative initiatives within the tourism industry.
  

• Describe how these initiatives are aligned with one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
  

• Describe how the nominee’s initiatives protect, enhance, and improve assets to guarantee a prosperous future (natural, economic or social). 

This award celebrates an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, professionalism, and commitment to advancing BC’s tourism industry.

It honours someone whose vision, resilience, and impact have contributed to the growth, innovation, and integrity of the sector - inspiring peers and strengthening the communities they serve. 

Nomination Requirements

Please address each of the following criteria in your nomination submission, limiting this to approximately 250 words per question in order to be consistent for the judging panel. Bullet point responses are acceptable.

• Business Excellence and Industry Impact: Describe how the nominee’s leadership has driven measurable business success, such as growth, innovation, profitability, operational excellence, or market reputation, and how this success contributes to BC’s tourism industry.
  

• Leadership and Professional Excellence: Describe how the nominee demonstrates leadership, expertise, and professionalism in their role, including examples of mentorship, innovation, or strategic direction.

• Empowerment and Workplace Culture: Describe how the nominee fosters an inclusive, equitable, and supportive workplace, championing individuals, promoting diversity, or advancing opportunities for others.
  

• Community and Legacy: Describe how the nominee’s work has created lasting benefit for their local community or contributed to the broader reputation and sustainability of BC’s tourism industry.
  

Category-specific Eligibility

• Recognizes all professionals making a meaningful contribution to the sector.
  

• Individuals of all gender identities — including women, transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people — are encouraged to apply.  
  

• Must have a minimum of 3 years of experience in the industry

This award recognizes an outstanding British Columbia-based tourism business that demonstrates exceptional leadership, business excellence, innovation, and a sustained commitment to strengthening British Columbia’s visitor economy.

The BC Tourism Business of the Year is awarded to a business that stands out for the way it operates, leads, and contributes to the tourism sector. The recipient will demonstrate strong business performance, a commitment to exceptional visitor experiences, positive contributions to its employees and community, and leadership that helps move tourism in British Columbia forward.

This award recognizes excellence across the whole organization. Nominees must demonstrate achievement through business growth, innovation, workforce development, sustainability, accessibility, community partnerships, Indigenous relationships, visitor experience, operational excellence, and sector leadership.

The recipient should represent the very best of British Columbia tourism and demonstrate what is possible when strong business practices are combined with a clear commitment to people, place, and the long-term success of the visitor economy.

Nomination Requirements

Please address each of the following criteria in your nomination submission, limiting responses to approximately 250 words per question to ensure consistency for the judging panel. Bullet point responses are acceptable.

• Describe the business, its tourism offering, and the role it plays within British Columbia’s visitor economy.
  

• Describe the business achievements, leadership practices, initiatives, and strategies that distinguish the organization and demonstrate excellence within the tourism sector.
  

• Describe the measurable impact the business has had on its visitors, employees, community, region, partners, and the broader tourism economy.
  

• Describe how the business demonstrates leadership and a commitment to the long-term strength, sustainability, and success of tourism in British Columbia.

Category-specific Eligibility

The nominee must be a tourism business based in British Columbia and actively operating within the province for a minimum of 2 years.