Nominations open for Aspire Awards 2026

Unsung heroes from across the sector will be recognised at this year’s annual Aspire Awards.

 

The event, to be held at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester on December 14, will once again celebrate the achievements of the luxury travel industry, with this year’s event set to include several new awards across both agent and supplier categories.

 

After gathering feedback from luxury agents, the Aspire team has reinvented the popular Unsung Hero supplier category, dividing it into five sub-categories to ensure those working behind the scenes are honoured in the following areas: On the Road; Sales Support; Product; After-sales and Concierge; and Leadership.

 

Agents are being asked to nominate their favourites in each category.

 

Also new are three agent awards that recognise individuals as opposed to businesses. Homeworker of the Year, Cruise Agent of the Year and Concierge Agent of the Year join the roster of agent gongs up for grabs.

 

The homeworking business categories have been divided further to honour Small, Medium and Large size operations.

 

The entry process will once again combine a written submission and a short, recorded piece to camera, both of which will be shown to judges.

 

There will be multiple judging panels, some of which will take place virtually and some in person, to ensure there is no bias in the process.

 

Judges will submit their top choices individually and the Aspire team will combine the results to establish the winners.

 

As always, judges of each category will not know who has won until the results are announced on the night.

 

Aspire editor Hollie-Rae Brader said: “We’re delighted to be returning to Manchester later this year. Every year the event grows in size – a reflection of how prestigious the Aspire Awards are – and we can’t wait to host hundreds of agents and suppliers once again.

 

“Our new categories are the perfect way to honour individuals who shine in our sector and thoroughly deserve more recognition. The Unsung Hero category in particular has always been a firm favourite with more and more agents submitting votes each year. Splitting it into five separate awards means we can celebrate more agents who are working behind the scenes to ensure our industry continues to grow and excel.”

 

Virgin Atlantic is headline sponsor of the Aspire Awards for the first time, with other sponsors including Above by CV Villas; AMOH, a Luxury Collection Resort, Rhodes; Domes Resorts; easyJet holidays; Explora Journeys; Grecotel Hotels & Resorts; Kerzner International; Oceania Cruises; Pure Luxury; Regent Seven Seas Cruises; and Silversea.

 

Tables of 10 cost £3,500 and individual tickets cost £350. For more information or to enter the awards or nominate, please visit aspireluxuryevents.co.uk

Aspire Awards 2026 categories

 

Agent categories

◗ Concierge Agency of the Year

◗ NEW Concierge Agent of the Year

◗ Luxury Homeworking Business of the Year: Large

◗ NEW Luxury Homeworking Business of the Year: Medium

◗ Luxury Homeworking Business of the Year: Small

◗ NEW Luxury Homeworker of the Year

◗ Independent Luxury Retail Business of the Year

◗ NEW Luxury Retail Agent of the Year

◗ Luxury Seller of the Year

◗ Rising Star of the Year: Agency

◗ Rising Star of the Year: Individual

◗ Sustainability Champion of the Year

◗ Inclusivity Champion of the Year

◗ Luxury Cruise Agency of the Year

◗ NEW Luxury Cruise Agent of the Year

◗ Aspire Supporter of the Year

◗ Outstanding Contribution to Luxury

 

Supplier categories

◗ Luxury Tour Operator of the Year

◗ Premium Tour Operator of the Year

◗ Specialist Luxury Tour Operator of the Year

◗ Luxury Tourist Board of the Year

◗ Luxury Air Service of the Year

◗ Luxury Hotel Group of the Year: Large

◗ Luxury Hotel Group of the Year: Small

◗ Luxury Hotel of the Year: Independent

◗ Luxury Adventure Brand of the Year

◗ Ultra-Luxury Ocean Cruise Line of the Year

◗ Luxury Ocean Cruise Line of the Year

◗ Luxury Expedition Line of the Year

◗ Luxury River Cruise Line of the Year

◗ Sales Representation Company of the Year: Large

◗ Sales Representation Company of the Year: Small

◗ Sustainability Initiative of the Year

◗ Inclusivity Initiative of the Year

◗ Trade Initiative of the Year

◗ Luxury Team of the Year

◗ NEW Unsung Hero of the Year: On The Road

◗ NEW Unsung Hero of the Year: Sales Support

◗ NEW Unsung Hero of the Year: Product

◗ NEW Unsung Hero of the Year: After Sales/Concierge

◗ NEW Unsung Hero of the Year: Leadership

◗ Aspire Supporter of the Year

◗ Outstanding Contribution to Luxury