X. Awards · Category guide

Choosing your
category.

Most entries fit clearly. This page is for the rest — a quick reference to all ten categories, and closer guidance where two of them genuinely overlap.


The ten categories

One line each, for a fast scan. Full judging criteria and weightings for every category are on the methodology page.

01Destination Brand of the Year

The strongest destination brand, rebrand or brand campaign of the year. The flagship award.

02Destination Strategy

The best destination strategy or strategic plan, judged on the quality of the thinking as much as the outcome.

03AI in Destination Marketing

The most effective use of AI in destination marketing, from a single project to a programme of work.

04Digital Innovation

Original, boundary-pushing work that does something genuinely new, including work that does not fit a traditional category.

05Destination Campaign of the Year

A complete marketing campaign, judged on the whole of it, strategy, execution, delivery and measured effect.

06Content and Storytelling

The creative work itself, the idea, the message, the narrative and the quality of the craft.

07Data and Insight

Work that invests in data, technology and intelligence to make better decisions possible.

08Sustainable Innovation

An innovative, often technology-enabled, approach to sustainability in a destination.

09Breakthrough Destination

Standout work from a smaller or newer destination, judged on what it achieved with the resources it had.

10Start-up and Scale-up

A venture building tools and services for destinations. Presented with DTTT Accelerate.

Where two categories overlap

Two pairs cause most of the hesitation. Here's the actual distinction.

Campaign vs content

Destination Campaign of the Year is for the whole campaign and what it achieved — strategy, delivery, performance and creativity together. Content and Storytelling is for the craft of the creative itself — the idea, message, narrative and quality — judged regardless of reach or budget. A small team with exceptional content but limited reach belongs in Content and Storytelling. A campaign with strong end-to-end delivery and results belongs in Destination Campaign of the Year.

Data vs digital innovation

Data and Insight is for investment in data, intelligence and knowledge systems — the serious building of capability and solutions. Digital Innovation is for the genuinely new and experimental, including work that doesn't fit a traditional category, judged on originality and potential as much as on results.

Destination Strategy: new or running

Entries begin with one question: is this a new strategy or one that has been running. The panel judges on the right basis for each. The strategy need not have results yet to enter.

A new strategy

Judged on its vision, the clarity and realism of its goals and its potential impact. Evidence and impact is read as potential and likelihood rather than delivered results.

A strategy that has been running

Judged primarily on its results. The entrant says which applies at the start of the entry. The screening question lives in the entry form; this page explains the basis.