EXECUTIVE SUMMERY

• The first Annual Durban Tourism Business’ Awards that was held on the 15th June 2022 was a major success.  The awards made headlines on the 16th June 2022 in all major newspapers.
• 155 product owners in Durban entered the awards with 22 323 public votes views of the website. 10 000 public votes were received with votes from global destinations such as USA, Ireland and Sweden.
• The categories for the second Annual Durban Tourism Business’ Awards are similar to the first Annual Durban Tourism Business’ Awards except for some slight amendments.

Under Focus Area 2 - Service Excellence, an additional category called :  Event Owners and Promotors: that conceptualize, promote the destination and stage annual events that attract mega numbers to the destination with high socio economic impact of:  boosting accommodation occupancy; visitor numbers; spend; job creation; brand exposure, media exposure and attracts diverse spectators. 

Under Focus area 3 – Sustainable Tourism:Universal Accessibility and Green Tourism will be combined. 

Under the Mayoral Achievement Awards:

Township Economy and Rural Investment will be combined as Township and Rural Economy Investment. 

An addition as the 5th category will be Product Owners with Disabilities in the Tourism Sector. 
The categories for the 2nd Annual Durban Tourism Business’ Awards with clear definitions is as follows:

Focus Area and Category: Upcoming Film-Makers Award

It recognizes upcoming, outstanding, unique, impactful people and organisations that have produced, script written and directed films in the past 5 years that have showcased Durban in their film as the destination of choice including documentaries and adverts. 

Focus Area: Service Excellence

The Accommodation Awards are based on the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa’s (TGCSA) definition of accommodation establishments. Accommodation awards includes Backpacker & Hostels, Bed & Breakfast, Caravan & Camping, Country House, Game Lodge, Nature Reserve, Guest House, Hotel, Lodge, Self-catering: Exclusive Use, Self Catering: Shared vacation.(Please see definition of TGCSA under terms and Conditions) 

a)         Sub-category: Hotels

b)         Sub-Category : Non-Hotels

MESE Awards will include Meetings, Exhibitions, and Special Events venues.

Visitor Experiences and Resturants Awards will include Scenic Beauty, Roots and Culture, Adventure and Activities, Wildlife, Lifestyle, Beach Experience and Lap of Luxury and restaurants

Tourist Guides Awards will include Nature Guides, Adventure Guides and Culture Guides.

Tour Operators Awards - inbound international tour operators and professional conference organisers that bring in an international foot print. 

Rickshaw Pullers – on the beachfront 

Crafters – bead work, sand sculptors, artists (paint) and sculptors (please see definition of Crafter under Terms and Conditions)

Event Owners and Promotors: that conceptualize, promote the destination and stage annual events that attract mega numbers to the destination with high socio economic impact of:  boosting accommodation occupancy; visitor numbers; spend; job creation; brand exposure, media exposure and attracts diverse spectators. 

Focus Area: Sustainable Development 

Universal Accessibility Awards are based on the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA) definition of Universal Accessibility (Hearing, Mobility, Visual and General) and Green Tourism  are based on products that have adhered to the impact of climate change and have placed emphasis on the environmental impact and green sustainable solutions in their businesses. 

Focus Area and Category: Entrepreneurship 

(Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year Award) recognizes black owned SMMEs who have achieved notable success since starting up of not more than 5 years. 

Special Achievement Award

This award will not be contested but it will be a prestigious award to recognizing a tourism products and business that has done exceptional well within the tourism space in various fronts of remaining ahead in their business. The criteria will include:-

• Consistent Business Retention and Business Expansion
• Business Model and brand Sustainability
• Consistent Job Creation
• Remaining Competitive in offering and extent of putting Durban destination the tourism Competition edge
• The extent of the radical economic transformation role played by the business.
• The extent of business resilience under the Covid 19 circumstances.
• The legacy mark by that tourism product/ business

1. Investment
2. Township and Rural economy development and Investment
3. Creative Industry 
4. Hospitality 

Product Owners with disabilities in the tourism sector. 

Judges

The external panel of judges for the second annual Durban Tourism Business’ awards are the same as last year with an additional guest judge. (please see Meet the judges for further information). 

Auditing of the Awards

The entries, public votes and the overall adjudication of the awards will be audited by the eThekwini Municipality Audit Department). 

Prize Matrix

The benefits of these awards are the prizes of up to the value of  R 50 000  for winners, with the 1st Runner up receiving a prize to the value of R 35000 and the 2nd Runner up receiving a prize up to the value of R 25000. All winners and runner ups will receive a trophy and certificate. 

Marketing and Profiling of participants

Another benefit of participation in these awards are the marketing of the awards on provincial and international platforms on all Durban Tourism Social media handles, radio, television and print.  Entrée to the awards guarantees that your business will be profiled on all Durban Tourism social media handles and print in major local and national newspapers to give your business extensive coverage.