2024 TTRA Awards

2024 Award Categories and Guidelines:

J. DESMOND SLATTERY AWARD (Academic Award):

WINNER: Philip Chitaunga, University of Georgia

For his dissertation on the sustainability of seismic tourism infrastructure developments and their impact on porters and trekkers in Mount Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania.

Awarded to a master’s or doctoral student to assist with the completion of their thesis or dissertation.

Requirements: All master’s or doctoral students enrolled in a degree-granting program are eligible to submit an abstract of their proposed research. The abstract must be in English, between 1,000 and 1,500 words, and clearly describe the rationale, purpose, and methods of the study in a proposal format. Previous entries for this award are excluded, and any entry for this award may not be submitted for any other TTRA award.

Criteria: The papers will be judged by a review committee that will examine the quality of the proposed research in terms of overall writing, its relationship to travel and tourism, and its potential scholarly and practical contributions.

Award: The 2024 winning student will receive a $4,000 cash award, a plaque, and a complimentary registration to the International Conference.

KEELING DISSERTATION AWARD (Academic Award):

WINNER: Dr. Xingyu Huang, Royal Holloway, University of London

For his dissertation on the influence of social media influencers on decision-making within tourism and hospitality.

Awarded to a doctoral student for their completed thesis or dissertation.

Requirements: All doctoral students enrolled (or previously enrolled) in a degree-granting program are eligible to submit an abstract of a completed, original dissertation of 1,000-1,500 words and must include an introduction, theory, methods, results, and conclusions. On the cover page, please include your name, the university you graduated from, your advisor’s name, and the title of the dissertation. Entry for this award may not be submitted for any other TTRA award. As an enrolled doctoral student, this work should have been completed between March 31, 2022, and March 31, 2024.

Criteria: The papers will be judged by a review committee that will examine the quality of research, contribution to scholarship, relationship to travel and tourism, usefulness/applicability, and quality of the paper.

Award: The winning student will receive a plaque and a $1,000 cash award, airfare, hotel accommodations, and complimentary registration to the TTRA International Conference. The winning student will also receive a complimentary TTRA professional membership for one (1) year.

* Round-trip travel to the conference and lodging arrangements will be made and paid for by TTRA.

MMGY SHIFFLET AWARD FOR RESEARCH EXCELLENCE (Practitioner Award):

WINNER: Bryanna Kumpula, Leduc County, Alberta, Canada

For her project on the redevelopment of the Closed Nisku Recreation Centre into a business and entrepreneur centre.

Requirements: This award recognizes a practitioner or their DMO for research that resulted or contributed to key decisions or actions for their organization and/or its constituents.

Criteria: The recipient must be a tourism practitioner or DMO in good standing in the travel and tourism industry and submit a 1-2 page summary outlining: the issue being addressed; the research designed or used to address the issue (may be original or licensed from a third party research or research by a third party to which you had input); the outcome of the research; the decisions that were made, money that was saved or revenue that was earned based on the research.

A reference from someone in the organization who will be able to independently verify the impact of this work must be included.

Award: The winning practitioner will receive a complimentary registration to the TTRA Annual International Conference, a plaque, and a $500 cash award.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:

The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor the Travel and Tourism Research Association gives. It is presented at the TTRA International Conference to the individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to TTRA and the travel and tourism industry.

Requirements: The award is based on significant, long-term contributions to the industry and/or TTRA, including but not limited to outstanding service; record of publication; and Professional activity (i.e., research methodologies, techniques, and important positive outcomes for the industry, and/or marketing concepts, techniques and important positive outcomes for the industry).

Criteria: Submissions must elaborate on the nominee’s significant contributions to TTRA and the broader travel and tourism industry, aligning with the outlined requirements. The TTRA Executive Committee will select the award recipient based on a thorough review of the nominations.

Award: The recipient will receive a plaque, TTRA lifetime membership, and lifetime complimentary TTRA International Conference Registration.

DISTINGUISHED RESEARCHER AWARD:

Requirements: This award seeks individuals acknowledged by their peers for significant contributions to tourism research, including advancing the field and supporting community growth. Notable efforts should be detailed.

Criteria: Nominees should be highlighted for their impactful work in tourism research, including service and innovation. Submissions must include contact information, career overview, specific achievements, and endorsements from two industry professionals. Nominations must be provided by someone other than the person nominated.

Award: Awardees receive a plaque and a three-year TTRA membership. Posthumous awards are given to the nominee’s family or associate without membership benefits.

Disclaimer: The award considers national and international contributions and is open to all professionals in tourism research, not limited to TTRA members.

Other Awards (Decided by Committee):

The following awards will be decided by committee members and awarded at the conference:

CHARLES R. GOELDNER ARTICLE OF EXCELLENCE AWARD

This award is named for the long-time Journal of Travel Research editor – Charles R. Goeldner.
Awarded to recognize the most significant work in the Journal of Travel Research during the previous year.

Requirements: No entry is necessary.

Criteria: The Charles R. Goeldner Article of Excellence Award is presented to the author(s) of the article judged to be the best appearing in the Journal during the previous year. The award recipient(s) are determined by the JTR editor and his/her committee.

Award: Award recipient(s) will receive a plaque and a complimentary registration to the TTRA International Conference.

BEST RESEARCH PAPER AWARD

Awarded for the best research paper.

Requirements: For directions on how to enter your submission, please see the Call for Papers on the TTRA website. Be sure to follow the specific submission criteria (including deadline dates) outlined in the Call for Papers.

Criteria: The top three research papers will be presented at the conference; a winning paper will be named at the conference. Award: Plaques will be presented to the award winners at the TTRA International Conference.

BEST ILLUSTRATED PAPER AWARD

Awarded for the best visual paper presented at the conference.

Requirements: For directions on how to enter your submission, please see the Call for Papers on the TTRA website. Be sure to follow specific submission criteria outlined via the Call for Papers (including deadline dates).

Criteria: The top visual paper will be voted on during the Ideas Fair for Illustrated Papers; a winning paper will be named at the conference. Award: A plaque will be presented to the award winner at the TTRA International Conference.

BEST GRADUATE 3-MINUTE THESIS AWARD

Awarded to the best graduate colloquium paper presented at the conference.

Requirements: All submissions will be considered for this award.

Criteria: A panel of three judges will evaluate papers recommended by reviewers according to the following criteria: theoretical innovation, methodological rigor, and potential for changing the travel and tourism industry and/or the communities in which tourism takes place.

Award: A plaque will be presented to the award winner at the TTRA International Conference

BEST QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS AWARD

Awarded to the best qualitative research methods paper presented at the conference.

Requirements: All submissions will be considered for this award.

Criteria: A panel of three judges will evaluate papers recommended by reviewers according to pre-determined criteria.

Award: A plaque will be presented to the award winner at the TTRA International Conference.

Don’t miss your chance to shine at the 2024 TTRA Awards. Submit your groundbreaking research and participate in an event that sets the standards for excellence in the travel and tourism industry. Elevate your research, gain industry recognition, and join us in shaping the future of travel and tourism at the TTRA 2024 International Conference.

We look forward to your contributions to the 54th Annual TTRA International Conference!

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