March 5, 2026
Celebrating Excellence in tourism research and practice
The Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) is proud to recognize the recipients of the 2026 Marketing Outlook Forum (MOF) Awards, honoring individuals whose work exemplifies excellence in travel and tourism marketing, research, and leadership. These awards celebrate meaningful contributions that strengthen destinations, inform decision making, and advance the connection between research and practice across the industry.
The Marketing Outlook Forum brings together researchers, destination professionals, and industry leaders from around the world to explore timely insights shaping the future of travel and tourism. Within this collaborative and forward-looking setting, TTRA is pleased to highlight this year’s award winners, whose achievements reflect the innovation, rigor, and impact that define the MOF community.
Recognizing excellence is central to TTRA’s mission to advance research that creates positive impact on people, places, and society.
The submission deadline is March 24, 2026, and award recipients will be honored during the International Conference in Greenville.
2026 Awards Chair
Dr. Shuangyu Xu, University of Missouri
Award Categories
Applications are currently open for several award categories recognizing academic and practitioner excellence.
Distinguished Researcher Award
Recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to tourism research and demonstrated leadership in advancing the field.
J. Desmond Slattery Award
Supports a master’s or doctoral student completing a thesis or dissertation related to travel and tourism research.
Keeling Dissertation Award
Recognizes an outstanding completed doctoral dissertation that contributes meaningful scholarship and practical insights to the tourism industry.
Lifetime Achievement Award
TTRA’s highest honor, presented to an individual or organization whose long-term contributions have significantly advanced tourism research and the broader travel and tourism industry.
MMGY Shifflet Award for Research Excellence
Recognizes a practitioner or destination marketing organization whose research directly informed important strategic decisions or outcomes.
Committee-Selected Awards
Additional honors will be awarded during the conference through committee selection, including:
- Charles R. Goeldner Article of Excellence Award
- Best Research Paper Award
- Best Illustrated Paper Award
- Best Qualitative Research Methods Award
- Best Reviewers’ Award
- Best Presentation Award
- Collaborative Impact Award
These awards celebrate outstanding scholarship, innovative research methods, impactful collaboration, and excellence in peer review and presentation.
Why Apply?
Participating in the TTRA Awards program offers several benefits for both researchers and practitioners:
- Financial rewards and conference benefits, including cash prizes and complimentary registrations for select awards
- Industry recognition among global tourism leaders
- Professional visibility within the TTRA research community
- Networking opportunities with academics, DMOs, and industry partners
Apply Now
Applications must be submitted through the official awards page.
TTRA invites researchers, practitioners, students, and institutions from around the world to participate in the 2026 awards process.
Submission deadline: March 24, 2026
Award winners will be announced and recognized at the TTRA International Conference in Greenville, South Carolina, June 24–26, 2026.
For questions, contact co********@**ra.com