Women in Travel CIC is marking International Women’s Day (March 8) with the launch of new categories for the 2024 International Women in Travel & Tourism Forum Awards.
Now in its second year, the IWTTF Awards celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion in the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.
The awards ceremony will be held at host sponsor Expedia Group’s London office on June 26.
The IWTTF Awards campaign will start with a webinar on March 12, during which more information will be released.
Abu Bakarr Bundu Kamara, senior director of DEI at Expedia, will welcome attendees who will also hear from last year’s winners and highly commended recipients.
New categories for 2024 include female in travel tech, best female mentee, mentor of the year and DEI professional(s) of the year.
More: Women in Travel CIC reveals 2024 conference plans
The awards ceremony will be followed on June 27 by the IWTTF Forum Day, featuring panel sessions and keynote speeches.
IWTTF was developed by Women in Travel’s founder and managing director, Alessandra Alonso, with founding sponsor Intrepid Travel. The forum has been running since 2020, with awards added in 2023.
Alonso said: “I am particularly excited that we have added a female in tech category, recognising the excellent work being done by women in travel tech, and a best mentee award, which will celebrate those that have really embraced the opportunities and learnings that can occur through robust mentorship, one of Women in Travel CIC’s core pillars.”
Staci Nakayama, IT vice-president at Expedia Group, said: “Last year’s event demonstrated the power of celebrating diversity and inclusion, showcasing the remarkable contributions of women in shaping the future of travel.
“These awards are not only important for honouring individual achievements but also for driving meaningful change within our industry.”
Jess Bezzina, people partner vice-president at Expedia Group, added: “Recognising exceptional work and impact to support our fellow women in the industry makes me proud to be involved. I can’t wait to see all the phenomenal submissions of how amazing women are progressing the travel industry forward.”