Equality in Tourism Launches Fourth Edition of the Gender Equality Champion of the Year Award – Hospitality Net

Advancing Sustainable Development Goals through Gender Equality in Tourism

A report on the Gender Equality Champion of the Year Award, an initiative by Equality in Tourism International, which directly supports the achievement of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The award focuses on recognizing organizations that contribute significantly to Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5: Gender Equality), while also promoting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) within the global tourism sector.

The Gender Equality Champion of the Year Award 2026

Initiative Overview and Alignment with SDG 5

Equality in Tourism International has opened applications for the fourth edition of the Gender Equality Champion of the Year Award. This initiative is designed to celebrate and promote organizations in the tourism and hospitality industry that are implementing exemplary gender-equal practices.

• Objective: To highlight and encourage the adoption of practices that advance gender equality, directly contributing to the targets of SDG 5.
• Scope: A global award platform for tourism and hospitality organizations.
• Application Deadline: January 26, 2026.

Strategic Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The award is facilitated through multi-stakeholder collaborations, exemplifying the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

• Annual Sponsor: World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance.
• 2025 Supporter: Sojern.
• Presentation Venue: The award ceremony is held annually at ITB Berlin, the world’s leading tourism trade fair.

2025 Award Recipients: Case Studies in Sustainable Practices

The 2025 winners demonstrate tangible progress in integrating gender equality into their operational frameworks, thereby advancing multiple Sustainable Development Goals.

Travel & Destinations Category

• Winner: Responsible Travel (South America).
• Contribution to SDGs: The organization was recognized for deeply embedding gender equality into its business model, supported by a public declaration. This commitment aligns with SDG 5 and promotes decent work and economic empowerment, a key target of SDG 8.

Accommodation Category

• Winner: Community Homestay Network (Nepal).
• Contribution to SDGs: The social enterprise was commended for its thorough and transparent gender equality efforts. Specific initiatives contributing to the SDGs include:
  1. Gender awareness training (SDG 5).
  2. Integration of gender perspectives in disaster risk reduction and climate risk management (SDG 5, SDG 13: Climate Action).
• Highly Commended: Amba Yaalu (Mango Friends) Kandalama (Sri Lanka).
• Significance: As Sri Lanka’s first women-led hotel, this new venture demonstrates high potential for impactful contributions to female empowerment and local economic development, supporting both SDG 5 and SDG 8.

Impact and Contribution to the 2030 Agenda

Expert Assessment and Credibility

An esteemed panel of experts in gender and tourism will assess applicants’ policies and initiatives. This rigorous review process ensures the award functions as a credible and respected benchmark for progress in achieving gender equality within the industry. Dr. Stroma Cole, Co-Director of Equality in Tourism, encourages all organizations, from large chains to small community enterprises, to apply, stating their contributions are valuable for advancing SDG 5.

Catalyzing Organizational Change and Policy Development

The award process itself acts as a catalyst for organizational improvement and policy formalization, driving progress towards the SDGs.

• Self-Assessment: Past winners have noted that the application form provides a robust set of criteria for evaluating existing commitments to gender equality.
• Policy Formalization: Aayusha Prasain, CEO of Community Homestay Network, reported that the application process prompted the organization to formally document its commitments, resulting in the creation of a comprehensive gender equality policy.
• Empowerment and Resolve: Recognition through the award reinforces an organization’s belief in the power of gender equality, strengthening its resolve to empower women entrepreneurs and drive systemic change in line with SDG 5 and SDG 10.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The entire article is centered on promoting gender equality within the tourism and hospitality industry. The “Gender Equality Champion of the Year Award” is the main subject, organized by “Equality in Tourism,” a non-profit “committed to advancing gender equality.” The goal is to celebrate organizations with “gender equal practices” and support the “empowerment journey of women entrepreneurs.”

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The article discusses gender equality within the context of the tourism and hospitality industry, a significant sector for global employment and economic growth. By promoting gender-equal practices, the initiative supports inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The focus on creating a “gender-equal environment in our workplace” and recognizing “women in the industry” directly relates to providing decent work for all.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The initiative described is a multi-stakeholder partnership. The non-profit “Equality in Tourism” collaborates with sponsors like the “World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance” and “Sojern,” and presents the award at “ITB Berlin, the world’s leading tourism trade fair.” This collaboration between a non-profit, an industry alliance, private companies, and a major trade event exemplifies a partnership to achieve sustainable development goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
  
  The article highlights this target by commending “Sri Lanka’s first women-led hotel Amba Yaalu” and celebrating organizations that create change for women in the industry. The award itself aims to recognize and encourage female leadership and participation in the economic sphere of tourism.
• Target 5.c: Adopt and strengthen sound policies and enforceable legislation for the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.
  
  This target is directly addressed when the CEO of a winning organization, Community Homestay Network, states that the application process prompted them to take the “crucial step of solidifying our commitments by properly documenting them, such as with a comprehensive gender equality policy.”

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.
  
  The award celebrates “tourism and hospitality organisations spearheading more gender equal practices.” This focus on equality in the workplace directly contributes to the goal of decent work for all, particularly for women in the tourism sector.
• Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
  
  The article focuses on the tourism industry, and the winners mentioned, such as “Responsible Travel” and “Community Homestay Network,” are examples of organizations promoting sustainable tourism. Integrating gender equality is a key component of making tourism truly sustainable, and the award encourages the implementation of such policies.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
  
  The award is a clear example of this target in action. It is a partnership between the civil society organization “Equality in Tourism,” an industry body (“World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance”), a private sector sponsor (“Sojern”), and a major industry event (“ITB Berlin”) to promote a shared goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 5 Targets

• Indicator for Target 5.5: The article implies progress can be measured by the number of women in leadership roles and the number of women-led enterprises. The specific mention of “Sri Lanka’s first women-led hotel Amba Yaalu” serves as a qualitative indicator of progress in female leadership within the industry.
• Indicator for Target 5.c: A direct indicator mentioned is the existence of formal corporate policies on gender equality. The article explicitly notes that the Community Homestay Network created a “comprehensive gender equality policy” as a result of the award application process, which is a measurable outcome.

Indicators for SDG 8 Targets

• Indicator for Target 8.5: The article implies that the implementation of “gender equal practices” is a key indicator. The judging panel reviews the “impact of shortlisted applicants’ policies and initiatives,” suggesting that the measurement goes beyond policy to include concrete actions like training programs. The mention of “gender awareness training” by one of the winners is a specific example.
• Indicator for Target 8.9: An implied indicator is the number of tourism organizations that have adopted and are recognized for their sustainable and gender-equal practices. The award itself serves as a mechanism to identify and count these organizations, with the goal to “promote their adoption among industry peers,” thereby increasing this number over time.

Indicator for SDG 17 Target

• Indicator for Target 17.17: The existence and nature of the partnership itself is an indicator. The article clearly identifies the participating organizations (“Equality in Tourism,” “World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance,” “Sojern,” “ITB Berlin”), demonstrating a functioning multi-stakeholder partnership. The annual sponsorship and presentation of the award are measures of the partnership’s continuity and effectiveness.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: hospitalitynet.org