ENTER THE AWARDS

Every year we review each of our categories to make sure we have represented the managed travel industry and given all those within the community an opportunity to shine and celebrate their triumphs.

Entry Process Information

A company can enter as many categories as it wishes subject to eligibility as long as each entry is unique. A panel of industry judges comprised of experienced travel buyers and independent consultants will be looking at the wide range of factors that contribute to an organisation’s overall success, from performance to partnership and innovation. The Business Travel Awards Europe judges and editorial team are particularly keen to understand how your company has worked to serve European corporate travel buyers and/or pushed to advance best practices and innovation in the European business travel Industry.

To that end, the awards entry process will ask specifically about the outcome of partnerships and the effects of innovation. We are looking for tangible, documented results – and not only the aspirations that underpin an applicant’s products and services. Good luck!

In 2025, the entry process for ALL categories takes place in two stages:

Stage One: You will submit a short entry answering several questions around collaboration and/or innovation. Please note strict word limits apply. The entry should be seen as a detailed summary of your performance over the last 12 months.

Finalists announced: Monday, 12 May

  • Stage Two: Travel Partner and Innovation categories - If you are named as a finalist, you will have eight weeks to submit a short case study or provide customer testimonials expanding further on your entry, allowing judges to decide an overall winner. At this stage, you will also be able to upload supporting evidence and videos, if necessary. Case study submissions and testimonials should focus on a customer headquartered in Europe or efforts to advance the European region of a global travel programme.

Travel Buyer and Travel Team categories - If you are named as a finalist, the Business Travel News Europe editorial team will conduct extensive interviews with you and any key suppliers that have supported your efforts.

Winners announced: Tuesday, 21 October at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House London

Please note:

  • An organisation may enter multiple categories, subject to eligibility, as long as each submission is unique. The BTN Group reserves the right to recategorise submissions.
  • Sustainability efforts should NOT be the primary focus of submission entries, case studies and/testimonials. Organisations with submissions that focus on sustainability are encouraged to submit an entry into the BTN Group’s Business Travel Sustainability Awards Europe.
  • The awards are free to enter.
  • A logo licensing package is available to the finalists and winners. View licensing packages here. 
  • All companies named finalists are requested to have a representative in attendance at the awards ceremony.
  • Submit your entry here. 
  • All entrants (companies, teams, individuals) must agree to coverage by Business Travel News Europe if named a Business Travel Awards Europe winner.

Timeline:

  • Stage 1 submissions open: 13 January
  • Submission process call: 4 February
  • Stage 1 submissions close: 11 April, 5 p.m. GMT
  • Finalists Announced: 12 May
  • Stage 2 submissions open: 12 May
  • Stage 2 submissions close: 11 July, 17:00 BST
  • Winners Announced: 21 October

Entry tips

1. Carefully read the questions and ensure your answers are clear, concise, and targeted to the criteria. Remember, the judges will be looking through hundreds of entries, so:

  • Be concise, clear and focused – with clean, easy-to-digest copy.
  • Make it easy for them to make sense of your entry.
  • Avoid jargon, inflated claims, unexplained acronyms, and unedited copying and pasting.
  • Set the scene – provide insight into your business/product, with context where appropriate.

2. Leave enough time

  • Enter early – a last-minute rush is likely to impact on the quality of your submission.
  • The process invariably takes longer than expected, particularly if you need signoffs.
  • Allocate yourself more time than you think you will need.
  • The deadline to get your submission in is 11 April, 17:00 GMT

3. Assign somebody to the job

  • Designate someone in your company as the awards coordinator – responsible for collating information, contacting referred customers, consulting colleagues, checking facts, chasing up, writing the initial draft and keeping an eye on timeline and deadline.

4. Plan Ahead

  • Plan which corporate customer(s) to feature in stage two case studies if selected as a finalist.

Using these guidance notes will not guarantee success, but it will give your entry the best possible chance of making compelling reading for the judging panel.

WHAT IF I HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AWARDS?

Contact Jen Bankard, BTN’s Sr. Director, Content Solutions & Conferences at jbankard@thebtngroup.com OR join us on Tuesday, 4 February 2025 at 14:00 GMT/15:00 CT for a quick and insightful overview of the entry process. Sign up here. The call will be recorded for those who can’t attend.

Our 2024 Winners
Visit our FAQs Page
Category Information
Judging Process

2025 Categories

This award goes to the meetings & events agency that has best demonstrated leadership, development of products/services and partnership to their corporate meetings customers over the past 12 months.
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This award goes to the hotel group or venue group that has best demonstrated leadership, partnership, and development throughout the last year. Submissions should not come from individual properties unless they are NOT part of a hotel/venue group.
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This award goes to the company that has demonstrated dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion within its organisation. It is open to business travel industry suppliers and intermediaries.
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This award goes to the operators of non-hotel accommodation offerings that has best demonstrated leadership, development of products/services and partnership to their corporate travel customers over the past 12 months. It is open to all non-hotel operators with more than five properties in Europe. It is NOT open to agencies.
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This award goes to the car rental company that has best demonstrated leadership, development of products/services and partnership to their corporate travel customers over the past 12 months.
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This award goes to the chauffeur or taxi provider that has best demonstrated leadership, development of products/services and partnership to their corporate travel customers over the past 12 months. Entrants in this category must own and/or manage a fleet.
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This award recognises the duty of care provider or risk management company that has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and partnership with corporate travel customers over the past 12 months. Eligible organisations must have a primary focus on delivering duty of care and risk management services for corporate travel programmes.
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This award goes to the airline that has best demonstrated leadership, development of products/services and partnership to their corporate travel customers over the past 12 months. It is open to airlines with either an origin or destination point within Europe that operated at least one service with a flight time of more than six hours.
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This award goes to the airline that has best demonstrated leadership, development of products/services and partnership to their corporate travel customers over the past 12 months. It is open to airlines that serve 18 or more destinations within Europe.
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This award goes to the ground transportation platform that has best demonstrated leadership, development of products/services and partnership to their corporate travel customers over the past 12 months. Entrants in this category must own and/or operate a travel mobility distribution platform.
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This award goes to the hotel brand that has best demonstrated leadership, development of products/services and partnership to their corporate travel customers over the past 12 months. It is open to all hotel brands with more than ten properties in Europe.
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This award goes to the travel management company that has best demonstrated leadership, development of products/services and partnership to their corporate travel customers over the past 12 months. It is open to TMCs that had more than €750 million in 2024 annual sales booked in Europe.
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This award goes to the travel management company headquartered in Europe that has best demonstrated leadership, development of products/services and partnership to their corporate travel customers over the past 12 months. It is open to TMCs that had €201 million to €750 million in 2024 annual sales booked in Europe.
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This award goes to the rail operator that has best demonstrated leadership, development of products/services and partnership to their corporate travel customers over the past 12 months. It is open to all rail operators from across Europe.
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This award goes to the travel management company headquartered in Europe that has best demonstrated leadership, development of products/services and partnership to their corporate travel customers over the past 12 months. It is open to TMCs that had up to €200 million in 2024 annual sales booked in Europe.
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This award goes to the accommodation provider, brand, agency or technology provider that has successfully solved a market challenge for corporate travel buyers, business travellers and/or industry partners. This solution could be technology, service or product. Submissions should focus on solutions that have moved beyond the pilot or beta stage and demonstrate proven impact and tangible results over the past 12 months. Responses should highlight measurable outcomes and evidence of success at scale and must be unique from previous year’s submissions.
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This award goes to the company that has best demonstrated the development and delivery of a technology solution to enhance the booking of business travel. It is open to TMCs, travel suppliers and technology providers. Submissions should focus on solutions that have moved beyond the pilot or beta stage and demonstrate proven impact and tangible results over the past 12 months. Responses should highlight measurable outcomes and evidence of success at scale and must be unique from previous year’s submissions.
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This award goes to the company that has best demonstrated the development and delivery of a data and reporting platform to improve the management of corporate travel and expense data. Submissions should focus on solutions that have moved beyond the pilot or beta stage and demonstrate proven impact and tangible results over the past 12 months. Responses should highlight measurable outcomes and evidence of success at scale and must be unique from previous year’s submissions.
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This award goes to the company that has best demonstrated the development and delivery of a technology solution to improve the booking and management of meetings and events in a live or virtual environment. Submissions should focus on solutions that have moved beyond the pilot or beta stage and demonstrate proven impact and tangible results over the past 12 months. Responses should highlight measurable outcomes and evidence of success at scale and must be unique from previous year’s submissions.
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This award goes to the company that has best demonstrated the development and delivery of a solution to enhance the traveller experience. It is open to all suppliers and intermediaries excluding booking tool platforms. This category can include specific desktop or mobile apps for travellers, AI-augmented solutions at the agency level, behind-the-scenes profile or data-sharing innovations that drive smoother traveller experiences. Other examples include, but are not limited to innovative payment, expense, duty-of-care or traveller well-being solutions. Submissions should focus on solutions that have moved beyond the pilot or beta stage and demonstrate proven impact and tangible results over the past 12 months. Responses should highlight measurable outcomes and evidence of success at scale and must be unique from previous year’s submissions.
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This award goes to a travel or meetings buyer/manager who is based in Europe and/or oversees a global travel/meetings programme or is responsible for the European region of the travel/meetings programme, who excels in the work they have done for their organisation. We are seeking travel and meetings managers who have significantly advanced corporate travel and meetings practices through innovation and a commitment to pushing boundaries. Submissions should reflect the buyer’s specific achievements over the past 12 months.

Please note: Travel managers who submit for a regional award will not be considered for BTN’s marquee Travel Manager of the Year or Best Practitioners awards.

Self-nominations, as well as nominations from supplier partners are encouraged! If you are making a submission for the Travel Buyer of the Year category, we ask that you not make a submission to the Travel Team of the Year category.
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This award goes to a European-based travel team that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the evolution and enhancement of their travel programme and has led the industry in a particular practice or had led an industry innovation. The submission can be made by a corporate buying team, or a corporate buying team and their supplier, such as their TMC.

If you are making a submission for the Travel Team of the Year category, we ask that you not make a submission to the Travel Buyer of the Year category.
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