The Skift IDEA Awards are designed to recognize and celebrate the most innovative ideas that are reshaping and elevating the travel industry. We encourage entries from all corners of the world, from large enterprises to small startups, all contributing to the continuous evolution of travel and tourism. 

We welcome entries from a diverse range of travel-related fields, including hospitality, aviation, technology, tourism, sustainability, and more.

1. All Skift IDEA Awards entries must be paid for through your Skift account here.
2. Once payment is received, you will receive an email granting access to Award Force, our online entry portal.
3. Your submission(s) will be auto-generated and ready for you to complete in Award Force. You will also be able to review categories and criteria.
4. You can edit/revise your submissions as much as you like until the final deadline in July.
5. If you would like to submit additional entries, you must pay for them first through your Skift account here, then they will be automatically added to your Award Force account.

The cost to enter the Skift IDEA Awards increases the closer we get to the final entry deadline. Please see below the full timeline for entry costs:

• Early-Bird pricing: $449, ends 13 March, 2026.
• Regular pricing: $549, ends 7 May, 2026.
• Final pricing: $599, ends 1 July, 2026.

Each entry requires payment, which is stated within the entry process in the platform for reference.

The entry fee does not guarantee an award, but all entries will be reviewed by our selection committee. The finalists will be announced on Skift.com and will be reviewed by our judges to make the final designation for each category.

Yes, however please note that a category must be selected to process your payment.

Once payment is complete and access to the system is granted, you can change or select your category using the dropdown on the submission form in Award Force.

There is no additional cost to enter aside from the entry fee.

Yes, it’s permissible to enter multiple categories as long as they are unique entries and the entries are tailored to the category criteria.

Yes, once you pay for your first submission, you will receive a 20% discount on additional entries that will be automatically applied at checkout.

Payment must be made with a credit card through MySkift. For any payment queries or invoice requests, please reach out to the team.

The entry should be active in 2026, but it is OK if it has launched up to 12 months earlier as long as it is still in the market or has an impact in 2026. We are also happy to further review your entry and advise. 

The easiest way to check is to sign in to your account and go to the “My Entries” tab where you will be able to see the status of your submission. If you do not find your entry, please email us at awards@skift.com and we will assist.

Yes, once you have purchased your entry through your Skift account here your submission(s) will be auto-generated, and you can continue to edit them until the July deadline. Early submission is recommended to secure the best rate.

The Award Force system outlines the word requirement for all sections of the form. Please ensure this is taken note of and completed before submitting, as incomplete submissions will not be taken into consideration. When in doubt, the more content the better!

You are welcome to submit your entry for the category you see most fit, as there is leeway within many of the categories to make a case. Our best advice is to tell your story on how your product/campaign impacts its intended user, and how you’ve partnered within the travel sector to provide value to the traveler.

Within your entry, please let us know what can and cannot be published. If your entry gets chosen as a finalist/winner, we may ask for a revised version with cleared materials so we can post when announcing results. Otherwise, we would use only what is cleared to publish publicly.

As standard, you will be required to provide a high-resolution company logo and a supporting image in order to submit your nomination. These assets will be used to generate a personalized brand kit (should your submission successfully advance through the process).

The platform also offers the option to include supporting documentation to enhance your written submission. We strongly recommend using this feature, as it provides valuable context. You can include press coverage, testimonials, videos, and more. Instructions for incorporating these elements are provided throughout the process.

The shortlist will be announced in early-August 2026, followed by the winner announcement in late-August 2026.

Entries are scored on the criteria of:

• Purpose: Does it solve a problem?
• Innovation: Does it contribute to the future of the industry?
• Originality: Does it stand out and challenge the status quo?
• Impact: Does it have a meaningful impact on the traveler journey, business, or society?

Entries are scored based on the category criteria set out within the submission form. Each element of the form will be judged by our independent judging panel using a numerical value, with each judge score being added together to form an average score per panel. This formula enables us to ensure the scoring is as objective as possible.

Aside from Skift editors, our jury is typically composed of creative business and innovation leaders from sectors adjacent to travel, who have expertise and a unique vantage point on design and consumer behavior. Our judges are involved on a voluntary basis and hand-picked by our team.

Entry fees for Skift IDEA Awards are non-refundable.

Once payment is completed, no refunds will be issued, including in cases where an entrant does not complete or submit a nomination.

However, if an entrant pays the entry fee and does not ultimately submit a nomination, the amount paid may be applied as a credit toward the purchase of a ticket to any Skift-produced event taking place during the 2026 calendar year, subject to availability and standard ticketing terms.

This credit:

• Has no cash value and may not be redeemed for cash or refunded
• Is non-transferable
• Must be used in a single transaction
• Expires on December 31, 2026, after which it will be forfeited

Credits may only be applied to event ticket purchases and may not be used toward sponsorships, advertising, submissions, or other Skift products or services unless expressly approved in writing by Skift.

Due to the number of entries we receive, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to provide individual feedback on each entry. However, please feel free to reach out to the team on awards@skift.com and we will endeavor to help however we can.

Please reach out to awards@skift.com and a member of the team will be happy to assist.