Global Youth Travel Awards
Celebrating excellence in youth, student and educational travel
About
The Global Youth Travel Awards (GYTAs) formally recognise outstanding performers in 14 fields of international youth travel and reward WYSE Travel Confederation members and other stakeholders in the youth, student and educational travel industry who make an outstanding contribution to our industry.
The GYTAs began at the World Youth Student and Educational Conference (WYSTC) 2011 in Barcelona, with a focus on bringing to light the great experiences being provided by members of our community.
In subsequent years – 2012 in San Diego, 2013 in Sydney, 2014 in Dublin, 2015 in Cape Town, 2016 in Belgrade, 2017 in Montreal and 2018 in Edinburgh – the awards have evolved to include members of the wider youth travel industry and a greater number of awards.
As the prestige of the GYTAs has grown, so has the awards ceremony, which will take place on the final night of every WYSTC Conference.
Join us at the Global Youth Travel Awards gala dinner at WYSTC.
Sponsored by: 
Meet the judges
Fifteen industry experts were chosen as judges of this year’s Global Youth Travel Awards (GYTAs). To assure the integrity of the evaluation process, each judge was asked to declare any conflicts of interest with applicants, even if the conflict was considered to be remote, contingent or apparently insubstantial. No judge was allowed to evaluate an award category that his/her own organisation had entered. The identity of each judge was unknown to other judges until the completion of the evaluation.
Thank you to all of our judges:
Here are our GYTA 2019 finalists:
Nominated categories
Best Education Abroad Provider
EDU Africa
Envoys
Rustic Pathways
Best Marketing Campaign
African Impact
Contiki
Rustic Pathways
Best Social Responsibility Initiative
Barcelona Pere Tarrés
GROUND Asia
Kiwi Experience
Best Social Space in a Hostel
Casa Pepe Hostel
Lub d Patong
Once in Joburg
Best Sustainable Organisation
Camps International
GROUND Asia
Wildlife ACT
Best Travel Safety Initiative
EBI Consulting
The Forum on Education Abroad
World Nomads
Best Travel Technology Product
bitemojo
CoursePricer
Trip Loop
Best Work Experience Provider
Greenheart Exchange
InterExchange
Medical Projects
Extraordinary Experience
GVI
InterExchange
Roots Interns
Outstanding Volunteer Project
GVI
Pod Volunteer
Projects Abroad
Consumer-voted categories
Best Youth Travel Agent
Booking.com
STA Travel
StudentUniverse
Best Youth Tour Operator
BAMBA Experience
Rustic Pathways
SANDEMANNs New Europe
Best Youth Travel Accommodation
a&o Hostels
Generator
Selina
Meet the judges
Fifteen industry experts were chosen as judges of this year’s Global Youth Travel Awards (GYTAs). To assure the integrity of the evaluation process, each judge was asked to declare any conflicts of interest with applicants, even if the conflict was considered to be remote, contingent or apparently insubstantial. No judge was allowed to evaluate an award category that his/her own organisation had entered. The identity of each judge was unknown to other judges until the completion of the evaluation.
Thank you to all of our judges:
Nominated categories
Consumer-voted categories
FAQs
About
What are the Global Youth Travel Awards?
The Global Youth Travel Awards (GYTAs) formally recognise outstanding performers in several areas across the global youth, student and educational travel industry.
What is WYSE Travel Confederation?
The World Youth Student and Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation is a global not-for-profit membership organisation dedicated to promoting and developing opportunities for young travellers and the youth, student and educational travel industry that serves them.
Click here for more information about WYSE Travel Confederation.
How can I contact WYSE Travel Confederation regarding the GYTAs?
If you have any questions regarding the Global Youth Travel Awards, please contact awards@wysetc.org.
Entering the Awards
Do I need to be a WYSE Travel Confederation member to enter the awards?
No. However, if you are operating in the youth, student and educational travel industry we would highly recommend that you join WYSE Travel Confederation as membership offers you a range of benefits, including access to the latest research, regular webinars, news and discounts on major industry events. To learn more about membership benefits, click here.
Do I have to pay to enter the awards?
No, entry is free of charge.
Is there a deadline to submit applications?
Yes, all entries must be submitted by Thursday, 29 August 2019 at 23:59 CEST. Entries submitted afterwards will not be considered.
Can I enter more than one category?
Yes, you may enter as many as are relevant to your business.
Can I enter each category more than once?
Yes, you can.
How will I know you have received our submission?
You will receive a confirmation e-mail that your application has been received. If you don’t receive a confirmation e-mail within 24 hours, please contact us at awards@wysetc.org.
Evaluation
How will entries be judged?
Nominated Categories
WYSE Travel Confederation will shortlist a maximum of five entrants per category. A panel of industry expert judges will then assign scores to each applicant, against each category’s judging criteria. The organisation with the highest score will be the winner.
Consumer-voted Categories
For the Best Youth Travel Airline, Best Youth Travel Accommodation, Best Youth Travel Agent, and Best Youth Travel Operator awards the winners will be chosen by the consumers themselves based on the highest number of valid votes received for each award.
Who is on the judging panel?
A number of youth, student and industry professionals make up the judging panel each year. Names of the judges will be disclosed after the voting process has ended. Judges are asked to declare any business connection with shortlisted organisations.
Shortlisted entrants
When will the shortlist be announced?
Shortlisted organisations will be announced mid September 2019 on our website and social media. Shortlisted organisations will also be notified by email.
Awards Ceremony
When and where will the awards be presented?
The Global Youth Travel Awards 2019 will be presented on 11 October 2019 during a gala dinner at the SUD LISBOA, on the final night WYSTC 2019 in Lisbon.
What is the programme for the evening?
The programme of the reception will be announced shortly.
Can I attend the Awards Ceremony?
Yes. Simply register for WYSTC 2019 and your registration will include a ticket for the Global Youth Travel Awards ceremony.
If you are among shortlisted organisations and do not own a delegate ticket to the WYSTC Conference, you may purchase tickets to the Award Ceremony, subject to availability. Please, contact events@wysetc.org for further information.
Will I be able to purchase a ticket on the Awards Ceremony evening?
No, make sure you book your tickets on time and collect them from the registration booth.
Will the seating be pre-organised?
No.
Is there wheelchair access?
Yes.
What is the hashtag for this event?
#GYTA.
What is the dress code?
Black tie/smart.
What are my transport/parking options for getting to and from the event?
Parking and transportation options will be available soon.
Terms & Conditions
Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully before you enter the Global Youth Travel Awards. By submitting an entry, you accept these Terms and Conditions and agree to comply with them.
