A new podcast episode sharing the origins and impact of Equality in Tourism’s annual Gender Equality Champion of the Year Award is out now.
Hosted by Dr. Yasmin Begum, a trustee at the charity, the episode highlights how the award recognises organisations for their efforts to improve gender equality and promote sustainability.
Currently in its fourth year, the Gender Equality Champion of the Year Award was the brainchild of Professor Stroma Cole, Co-Director at Equality in Tourism (EIT). During the episode, she explains that EIT was set up in 2012 to focus on championing gender equality in tourism, believing it to be a major obstacle to achieving sustainable tourism. Professor Cole had noticed that major tourism awards did not even touch on gender equality and so she conceived the new award as a way to identify and celebrate best practice, rewarding leaders in the field and encouraging companies to showcase their gender equality efforts.
We also hear from past winners, including 2025 champions Responsible Tourism (Travel & Destinations), which actively promotes female leadership and women-led initiatives, and Community Homestay Network (CHN) (Accommodation), which supports economic independence for women entrepreneurs, ensuring the profits go directly to women.
They reflect on how the award provides validation, recognition, and public visibility, as well as how the process of applying is an education in itself. The form helps businesses understand what a gender-conscious business looks like and prompting them to improve their policies. For instance, Travel Excellence, the inaugural award winner from 2023, prioritised being family-friendly and conducted masculinity workshops for men to address male behaviour in the tourism industry.
The overarching philosophy is that there is “no such thing as sustainability without gender equality,” as women constitute 70% of the tourism workforce. All organisations involved in tourism and hospitality are encouraged to apply, as the application process offers a chance to learn and positively contribute to reducing the gender gap.
Applications for Gender Equality Champion of the Year Award 2026 are now open. Listen to the podcast to learn more about the significance of the award and what you might gain from applying.
