Greenville, South Carolina
At TTRA, we believe in celebrating excellence that advances the strategic use of research to create positive impact on people, places, and society. Our annual awards recognize the scholars, practitioners, reviewers, and institutions who embody our values of thought leadership, collaboration, rigor, and innovation.
Award recipients will be recognized at the TTRA International Conference in Greenville, South Carolina.
How to Apply
🔗 Submit your application here: Apply Now
📅 Submission Deadline: March 31, 2026
2026 Awards chair: Dr. Shuangyu Xu, University of Missouri
Award Categories and Guidelines
DISTINGUISHED RESEARCHER AWARD (Academic or Practitioner)
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.
Disclaimer: The award considers national and international contributions and is open to all professionals in tourism research, not limited to TTRA members.
J. DESMOND SLATTERY AWARD (Academic)
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 (excluding references), 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 winning student will receive a $4,000 cash award, a plaque, and a complimentary registration to the International Conference.
KEELING DISSERTATION AWARD (Academic Award):
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 (excluding references) 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, 2024, and March 31, 2026.
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 $4,000 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.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (Academic or Practitioner)
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.
MMGY SHIFFLET AWARD FOR RESEARCH EXCELLENCE (Practitioner)
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.
Committee-Selected Awards (No Application Required)
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.
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.
Winners will be announced and awarded at the TTRA International Conference in Greenville, South Carolina.
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.
Winners will be announced and awarded at the TTRA International Conference in Greenville, South Carolina.
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.
BEST REVIEWERS’ AWARD
Awarded in recognition of outstanding service and excellence in the peer-review process for the TTRA International Conference.
Requirements: All individuals who serve as reviewers for conference submissions and complete their assigned reviews by the designated deadlines will be eligible for consideration.
Criteria: Reviewers will be evaluated based on the quality, constructiveness, rigor, professionalism, and timeliness of their reviews. Special consideration will be given to feedback that is developmental in nature and meaningfully strengthens the scholarly contributions of submitting authors.
🏆 Award: A plaque will be presented to three award winners at the TTRA International Conference.
BEST PRESENTATION AWARD
Awarded to the most outstanding presentation delivered at the TTRA International Conference.
Requirements: Eligibility is limited to the three finalists for the Best Research Paper Award. Finalists must present their papers in person during the designated award session at the conference.
Criteria: The award recognizes excellence in presentation quality, clarity of communication, audience engagement, visual and/or media effectiveness, and overall delivery.
🏆 Award: A plaque will be presented to the award winner at the TTRA International Conference.
Voting Method: The recipient will be selected through attendee voting via onsite ballot.
Winners will be announced and awarded at the TTRA International Conference in Greenville, South Carolina.
COLLABORATIVE IMPACT AWARD
Awarded to an institution that demonstrates outstanding commitment to participation and engagement in support of the TTRA International Conference in 2026.
Requirements: All institutions represented through conference submissions, participation, and related engagement activities are eligible for consideration. No separate application is required.
Criteria: The award recognizes an institution that exemplifies strong support for tourism research and practice through active participation, submissions, and engagement with the TTRA conference in 2026. Consideration will be given to breadth of involvement, collaborative initiatives, and overall contribution to advancing the conference mission and theme.
🏆 Award: A plaque will be presented to the award recipient at the TTRA International Conference.
The winning institution will be announced and recognized at the TTRA International Conference in Greenville, South Carolina.
All winners will be announced and awarded at the TTRA International Conference in Greenville, South Carolina.
Why Apply?
✅ Industry Recognition – Be recognized as a leader in travel and tourism research.
✅ Networking Opportunities – Connect with top industry professionals and academics.
✅ Career Advancement – Gain visibility, credibility, and exclusive opportunities.
✅ Financial Rewards – Receive cash prizes, conference registrations, and plaques.
We invite our global community of researchers, practitioners, partners, and institutions to participate in the 2026 Awards process. Together, we continue to elevate research that informs decisions, strengthens destinations, and shapes the future of tourism.
Apply Today!
📩 Have questions? Contact us at co********@**ra.com
🔗 Submit your application here: Apply Now
📅 Submission Deadline Extended: March 31, 2026
📍 Join us in Greenville, South Carolina, on June 24-26, 2025, to celebrate research excellence! 🎉
Questions? Contact us
Become a Sponsor:
Unlock Opportunities as a Conference Sponsor
Sponsoring the TTRA Annual International Conference is your exclusive chance to shine a spotlight on your brand while championing the world of tourism and travel research. Here’s what’s in it for you:
Connect and Elevate: Forge connections with industry decision-makers and rub shoulders with seasoned professionals. Dive into the latest research and trends that are reshaping tourism and travel.
Fuel Progress: Your support fuels the advancement of our field and enables TTRA to offer invaluable educational and professional growth experiences to its members.
Join the Community: Become a sponsor and immerse yourself in a dynamic community of researchers, practitioners, and industry trailblazers. Together, we’re driving the future of tourism and travel.
Ready to make an impact? Be a TTRA Conference Sponsor.
Contact Elizabeth Pike, ep***@**ra.com, for more information and to secure your sponsorship.
Get In Touch
TTRA is a highly respected and established organization dedicated to advancing the standards of travel and tourism research and analysis. With its focus on excellence, professionalism, quality, and inclusivity, TTRA is the go-to source for professionals in the industry seeking to stay ahead in their field.