Join Us for the Inaugural Tourism Excellence Awards, 2026

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Celebrate excellence, innovation, and dedication!
Be part of the prestigious Tourism Awards Ceremony — where we recognise and honour outstanding achievements.

Reserve your spot today!

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Welcome to our Annual Inspirational Ceremony

The Tourism Excellence Awards Kenya is a national initiative by the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) aimed at recognizing and rewarding outstanding achievements, innovation, and excellence within the tourism and hospitality industry. The annual awards celebrate organizations and individuals who demonstrate exceptional service quality, professionalism, sustainability, and creativity — setting new benchmarks for Kenya’s tourism standards.

Anchored in the National Tourism Policy (2010) and aligned with global frameworks such as the UN SDGs, the awards promote responsible tourism, gender equality, and environmental stewardship. Ultimately, the scheme seeks to enhance Kenya’s global competitiveness, inspire continuous improvement, and position the country as a leading, sustainable tourism destination.

Learn More

Our Award Categories & Eligibility Requirement

Hospitality Category

Best Hospitality facility in the 9 tourism circuits

  • Best Hotel in Kenya
  • Best Lodge in Kenya
  • Best Tented Camp in Kenya
  • Best Resort in Kenya
Tour Operator Category
  • Licensed by TRA
  • Member of a recognized Association
Travel Agency Category
  • Licensed by TRA
  • Member of a recognized Association
Tour Guide Category
  • Licensed by TRA
  • Member of a recognized Association
Tourism Photographer Category
  • Licensed by TRA
  • Member of a recognized Association
Spa & Wellness Center Category
  • Member of a recognized Association
Young Entrepreneurs in Tourism Category
  1. Best Male
  2. Best Female
  • Licensed by TRA
  • Must be a youth between 18 to 35 years
  • Member of a recognized Association
Tourism Influencer Category
  • Member of a recognised Association
Tourism Journalist Category
  • Member of a recognised Association
Cultural & Heritage Tourism Category
  • Must be registered by the Department of Culture, the Arts & Heritage.
Adventure Tourism Category
  • Licensed by TRA
  • Member of a recognized Association
Lifetime Achievement Category

a) Best Male

b) Best Female

  • Licensed by TRA
  • Member of a recognized Association
Hotel

This category recognizes an outstanding hotel that provides quality accommodation, facilities and guest services, demonstrating excellence in hospitality, comfort, service delivery and the overall guest experience in line with the national standards for destination competitiveness.

Eligibility:

  1. Compliance with regulatory requirements & hold a valid Tourism Enterprise License by TRA.
  2. Previous Accreditation Award
  3. Member of a recognised Association

Criteria:

  • Strategic Location & Proximity to Service & Attractions

Located within or in close proximity to key service centers and a significant tourism attraction or destination asset, with convenient and safe visitor access.

  • Universal Accessibility & Inclusivity

Demonstrates accessible facilities and services that enable people with disabilities to safely and comfortably use and enjoy the establishment.

  • Staff Development & Service Culture:

Demonstrates commitment to staff training and development to enhance professionalism and quality service delivery.

  • Guest Accommodation Excellence

High standards of housekeeping, public areas, sanitary facilities, laundry. Quality, cleanliness and maintenance of bedrooms, bathrooms, linen, furniture, fittings, ventilation and guest amenities.

  • Food Safety & Hygiene Excellence

Food supply, storage, kitchens, safety and hygiene, quality, menu variety, presentation, allergens disclaimer,  food & beverage service and appropriate waste-handling.

  • Responsible and Sustainable Practices

Adoption of policies, systems, and operational measures that minimize environmental impacts, support local communities, and promote ethical business Operations. Demonstrate positive socio-economic benefits through local employment, local procurement, support for community initiatives, promotion of local products and culture, and strengthening linkages with surrounding tourism enterprises and respect for local cultural heritage, adherence to ethical labour standards, fair and responsible business operations, and encouraging guests to engage responsibly with local communities, cultures, and the environment

  • Safety & Security

Fire safety, emergency preparedness, security systems, access control, emergency exits, first aid, incident procedures and guest/staff safety.

  • Innovation & Smart Digital Solutions

Demonstrates new or improved services, facilities and technological innovation in operations, digital marketing, smart hotel solutions that enhance service delivery and guest experiences.

  • Business Excellence and Improvement

Demonstrate Quality-improvement plans that maintain the condition and functionality of buildings, equipment, swimming pools, recreational facilities, meeting spaces and other hotel amenities through audits, corrective actions, innovation, customer feedback analysis and measurable improvement.

  • Guest Service Excellence, Satisfaction & Experience

Demonstrates consistent, professional and responsive service by trained and qualified staff that contributes to a positive overall guest satisfaction and experience. Guest feedback systems, measuring satisfaction levels, repeat business and evidence of service improvement.

Featured Terms

Term and Conditions

The Tourism Excellence Awards Kenya is proudly held in partnership with State House Kenya, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, and other key stakeholders committed to promoting excellence, innovation, and sustainability in Our Country’s Tourism sector.

Eligibility
  1. The Awards are open to individuals, tourism enterprises, community-based organizations, and other entities operating within the tourism sector.
  2. Applicants must provide accurate and verifiable information during registration.
  3. The Authority reserve the right to verify eligibility at any stage.
Entry Requirements
  1. All entries must be submitted through the official registration portal before the stated deadline.
  2. Applicants may enter one or more categories, provided they meet the specific requirements for each category.
  3. Submissions must be original, truthful, and do not infringe on the rights of third parties.
  4. Incomplete, false, or misleading submissions may lead to automatic disqualification.
Supporting Documents
  1. Applicants shall be required to upload evidence such as licenses, certificates, images, videos, reports, or testimonials.
  2. All supporting documents must be authentic and may be subject to verification.
Judging and Evaluation
  1. All entries will be evaluated according to the official judging criteria for each category.
  2. The judging panel’s decision is final and not subject to appeal.
  3. The Authority reserve the right to move an entry to a different category if deemed appropriate.
  4. Only applicants who will score a minimum of 70% would be considered at the judging stage to qualify for public voting.
Conduct and Compliance
  1. Participants must adhere to ethical conduct and comply with all national tourism laws and regulations.
  2. Any form of misconduct, misrepresentation, or breach of rules of procedure and any other laws of Kenya will lead to disqualification.
Submitted Materials and Confidentiality
  1. By entering the Awards, applicants grant the Authority, the right to use submitted information (excluding confidential documents) for publicity, reporting, and promotional purposes.
  2. Applicants retain ownership of all intellectual property but agree to non-exclusive use by the Authority for award-related activities.
  3. Sensitive information marked as “confidential” will not be published or shared without the applicant’s consent.
  4. Judges will treat proprietary information with confidentiality.
Submitted Materials and Confidentiality
  1. By entering the Awards, applicants grant the Authority, the right to use submitted information (excluding confidential documents) for publicity, reporting, and promotional purposes.
  2. Applicants retain ownership of all intellectual property but agree to non-exclusive use by the Authority for award-related activities.
  3. Sensitive information marked as “confidential” will not be published or shared without the applicant’s consent.
  4. Judges will treat proprietary information with confidentiality.
Withdrawal and Disqualification
  1. Participants may withdraw their application at any time before the judging process begins.
  2. The Authority reserve the right to disqualify any entry that breaches these terms or provides fraudulent information.
Award Ceremony
  1. Finalists must confirm attendance at the Award Ceremony once notified.
  2. The Authority will not be responsible for expenses incurred in any activity or service related to the Tourism Excellence Award unless stated otherwise.
Liability
  1. The Authority shall not be held liable for any loss, damage, or claim arising from participation in the Awards.
  2. Participants enter at their own volution and any associated risk.
Amendments
  1. The Authority reserve the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time, with updates posted on the official website.
  2. Continued participation constitutes acceptance of any changes.
Data Protection Disclaimer

By registering, the applicants consent to the collection and secure processing of personal data for managing the Tourism Excellence Awards. The information will not be shared except as required for verification, judging, or by law. You may request access, correction, or deletion of your data.

Contact Us for any Enquiries

awards@tra.go.ke

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