Applications are officially open for TravelAge West’s annual Trendsetter Awards, which honor extraordinary travel advisors who are making an impact on the travel industry.
Editor's Note: The application period runs from Feb. 2, 2026, to March 13, 2026. 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 2026 gala will take place at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey, California, on June 4, 2026.
There are no entry fees, and finalists’ airfare and accommodations are paid to attend. Finalists will receive travel prizes and are featured in a 2026 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.)
From now until March 13, 2026, travel advisors can apply across five different categories.
Official Contest Rules:
- Entries must be submitted by Friday, March 13, 2026.
- The contest is open to all travel advisors in the United States.
- Winners will be notified in early April and will be honored on June 4 at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey, California.
- There are five categories, and applicants may enter more than one.
- You may nominate yourself, or another travel advisor.
- Initiative mentioned should have taken place within the last year.
- Responses should be limited to 300 words per question.
- Entries must include at least one quantifiable result (e.g., percentage growth, sales volume, number of bookings, engagement metrics or year-over-year comparison). Entries without measurable outcomes may not advance.
- Avoid general statements such as “I go above and beyond,” “I’m passionate about travel,” or “I focus on client relationships.” Show us, don’t tell us. Use a concrete example that demonstrates these qualities.
- Aim to demonstrate why this entry stands out compared to what most travel advisors do.
- Write in your own words. Responses generated by AI platforms will be discarded.
Editor's Note: For more information, and tips on making your application stand out, tune into the January 26 episode of the Humans of Travel podcast, featuring Trendsetter judges Mindy Poder and Emma Weissmann.
Trendsetter Award Categories
1. Best Use of Social Media (sponsored by Sandals Resorts): Tell us about your social media strategy on one primary platform, including at least one specific campaign or initiative, and how it helped your business. Please include any relevant stats and data to illustrate the significance of your achievement. Impact may include revenue attributed to social media, lead generation, audience growth tied to a specific campaign, improved conversion or measurable engagement that led to bookings.
2. Upward Bound, Rock Star Advisor Under 40 (sponsored by Hyatt's Inclusive Collection): Tell us about you or another individual 39 years old or younger (at the time of application) who has taken a leadership role in the advisor community, who is a sales superstar or who has distinguished themselves in a major way. Please include at least one specific leadership, sales or community achievement from the past year, supported by measurable results where possible.
3. Best Targeted Marketing Idea (sponsored by Princess Cruises): Tell us about your most successful marketing campaign that has taken place in the past year. The entry should be focused on a specific initiative. Please address the following (entries missing sections may not be considered):
- Objective: What specific business problem or opportunity were you addressing?
- Audience: Who was the target customer (demographics, traveler type, database size)?
- Execution: What exactly did you do? (channels, timing, partners, budget if relevant)
- Results: Quantifiable outcomes (sales, commission, bookings, conversion rate, engagement, growth vs. prior period)
- Why it matters: What makes this initiative different from what most advisors do?
4. Best Group Booking Sales Effort (sponsored by Globus Family of Brands): Tell us about your best group booking effort from the past year. Include the goal of the booking, its size, the challenges you overcame and why you consider this a great effort. Please include the outcome of the booking (e.g., revenue generated, repeat business or expanded client relationships).
5. Saving the Day (sponsored by Travel Insured International): Tell us about a time when you turned a bad situation into something great for your client(s) in the past year. This should refer to a singular instance/event, for a singular trip/booking. Please describe the original problem, your specific actions and the final outcome.
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 13, 2026.
