Applications are officially open for TravelAge West’s annual Trendsetter Awards, which honors extraordinary travel advisors who are making an impact on the travel industry.
Editor's Note: The application deadline has been extended an extra week, to March 14, 2025. Read on for official contest rules.
What are the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards?
Each year, the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards recognize travel advisors making an impact on the industry and advisor community at large. Two finalists in each category are invited to the TravelAge West WAVE Awards as guests of their category sponsor. The 2025 gala will take place at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey, California, on June 5, 2025.
There are no entry fees, and finalists’ airfare and accommodations are paid to attend. Finalists will receive travel prizes and are featured in a 2025 issue of TravelAge West.
Entries are reviewed and voted on by Trendsetter award sponsors and TravelAge West’s editorial staff. (Note: An entry can be about any suppliers you have worked with, not just award sponsors.)
There are no entry fees, and finalists’ airfare and accommodations are paid to attend the gala.
From now until March 7, 2025, travel advisors can apply across five different categories.
Best Group Booking Effort: Awarded to an advisor for an extraordinary group booking effort from the past year.
Best Targeted Marketing Idea: Awarded to an advisor who has executed a successful and creative marketing campaign. The entry should be focused on a specific new initiative that is designed to bring more business into the agency.
Upward Bound, Rockstar Advisor Under 40: Awarded to an advisor under the age of 40 who has either taken a leadership role in the travel advisor community, who is a sales superstar, or who has distinguished themselves in a major way.
Best Use of Social Media: Awarded to an advisor who demonstrates innovative social media efforts and has a proven track record of how their social media strategy has helped their travel business.
Saving the Day: Awarded to a travel advisor who turned a bad situation into something great for their client(s) (referring to a singular instance/event, for a singular trip/booking).
Official Contest Rules:
Entries must be submitted by Friday, March 7, 2025, and are open to all travel advisors in the United States.
To be considered, advisors must provide all host agency/consortia affiliations, and two travel industry references who can vouch for the advisor's work.
Winners will be selected in April 2025 and will be honored as part of TravelAge West’s WAVE Awards dinner on June 5, 2025, at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey, in California (airfare and accommodations will be paid for).
Advisors must be available to attend the WAVE Awards dinner to be eligible to win.
There are five categories (applicants may enter more than one). Advisors can self-nominate, or be nominated by another individual in the travel industry.
How to Enter the TravelAge West Trendsetter Awards:
Please fill out the appropriate information on the application. You may enter more than one category if you wish. TravelAge West staff will be in touch if more information is needed.
What is the application deadline?
Entries must be received no later than March 14, 2025.
