Sustainability just got its red carpet moment and it was brilliant. The world’s top changemakers in eco-conscious travel gathered in Dubai to honour the innovators turning net positive tourism from a buzzword into a business model at the 2nd annual World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards.
Hosted at Terra, Expo City Dubai, itself a living, breathing sustainability icon, the event proved that going green can also mean going glamorous.
A celebration of innovation and impact
With 30 trailblazing winners representing everything from grassroots artisan initiatives to global hotel powerhouses, there’s no mistake that sustainability has well and truly gone mainstream – and it’s got style.
ITC Hotels scooped the World’s Leading Sustainable Organisation for its impressive projects in water and energy conservation. Over in the Mediterranean, Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor made waves (literally) by winning the World’s Leading Sustainable Water & Waste Innovation award, thanks to its advanced rainwater harvesting and recycling systems.
Meanwhile, Green Ramadan, a Hilton-backed initiative, earned the title of World’s Leading Sustainable Partnership for slashing waste by 26% during the holy month, proof that mindful hospitality doesn’t mean missing out on the feast.
The Croatian gem Dubrovnik walked away as the World’s Leading Sustainable Destination, while individual honours went to Mariana Domingues of Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, who claimed the Wolfgang Neumann Sustainability Leader of Tomorrow Award, and Siew Kim Beh of The Ascott Limited, named World’s Leading Sustainability Leader.
Mandarin Oriental and Dubai take centre stage
It was also a triple win for Mandarin Oriental, which bagged the World’s Leading Sustainable Energy Efficiency Initiative, World’s Leading Sustainable Cultural Heritage Project, and World’s Leading Sustainable Policy Initiative. Clearly, sustainability and sophistication make quite the pairing.
Dubai, never one to sit quietly on the sidelines, clinched two of the night’s most prestigious accolades, including World’s Leading Sustainable City and World’s Leading Sustainable Venue for Terra, Expo City Dubai.
Justin Cooke, Executive Vice-President, World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, said:
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate and acknowledge the winners of the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025, each with fascinating stories of how they are positively impacting change. The standard has proved exceptional, and serves as a healthy indicator of the momentum, drive and innovation towards creating a net positive travel industry.”
Purpose meets performance
This year’s winners were selected through a rigorous process overseen by an Advisory Board of thought leaders from travel, academia, and government. Entries were assessed by students in Sustainable Business from Nova School of Business & Economics, with additional votes from industry professionals, the media, and the public.
The ceremony itself was as sustainable as the winners it honoured – a carbon-neutral, farm-to-table, zero-waste menu crafted by Official Culinary Partner Fresh On Table and curated by Chef Sarthak. Proof that sustainability can taste every bit as good as it sounds.
The business of building better travel
The awards are powered by the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance representing more than 66,000 hotels, 8 million rooms, 300+ brands and supply chain partners worldwide.
Glenn Mandziuk, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance, said:
“Tonight’s winners represent the very best of what our industry can achieve when purpose and performance come together. Their innovations show that sustainability is not a side project, it is the foundation of lasting success in travel and hospitality. I congratulate each of the award recipients for setting a powerful example of leadership, collaboration, and impact. Together, they are redefining what it means to build a truly sustainable, inclusive and net positive future for our sector and our planet.”
Supported by partners including Biosphere, Tourism Economics, FHS World, TravelUni, Pinwheel, BE WTR, Bulla Co., Diageo, MMI, DrinkIQ, La Pochette, Zamna, and Newby London, the event showed that sustainable travel is not just about doing less harm, but about creating more good.
Now in its second year, the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards, the sister event to the iconic World Travel Awards, celebrating its 32nd anniversary, continues to champion the trailblazers proving that sustainability is the ticket to travel’s future.
Winners of the World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards 2025:
- World’s Leading Sustainable Organisation: ITC Hotels
- World’s Leading Small Sustainable Organisation: ECOFRY
- World’s Leading Sustainable Partnership: Green Ramadan
- World’s Leading Sustainability Leader: Siew Kim Beh, The Ascott
- Wolfgang Neumann Sustainability Leader of Tomorrow Award: Mariana Domingues, Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon
- World’s Leading Sustainable Employer: ITC Hotels
- World’s Leading Sustainable Destination: City of Dubrovnik
- World’s Leading Small Sustainable Destination: El Albergue Ollantaytambo
- World’s Leading Sustainable Hotel or Resort Development: Peninsula Papagayo
- World’s Leading Indigenous Community Tourism Initiative: Four Seasons Resort & Residences Whistler
- World’s Leading Sustainable Guest Experience: Ecoventura
- World’s Leading Conservation Programme: Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps – Selenkay Conservancy
- World’s Leading Marine & Biodiversity Conservation Programme: Iberostar Group – Coastal Ecosystem Restoration Strategy
- World’s Leading Climate Action Initiative: Accor Supply Chain Decarbonization Program: “Achieving Net Zero Together”
- World’s Leading Sustainable Energy Efficiency Initiative: Mandarin Oriental
- World’s Leading Sustainable Water & Waste Innovation: Four Seasons Resort Mallorca at Formentor
- World’s Leading Sustainable Circular Economy Initiative: SM Hotels and Conventions: “Plate for the Planet”
- World’s Leading Sustainable Health & Well-being Initiative: NEOM Operations – Hospitality Services
- World’s Leading Sustainable Female Empowerment Initiative: Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board
- World’s Leading Sustainable Community Empowerment Programme: Peninsula Papagayo
- World’s Leading Sustainable Accessibility & Inclusion Initiative: The Ascott
- World’s Leading Sustainable Education & Training Programme: Employability Program in the Hospitality Sector
- World’s Leading Sustainable Cultural Heritage Project: Mandarin Oriental
- World’s Leading Sustainable Supply Chain Programme: Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris
- World’s Leading Sustainable Technology Initiative: FortyGuard
- World’s Leading Sustainable Policy Initiative: Mandarin Oriental
- World’s Leading Sustainable Food & Nutrition Initiative: ITC Hotels
- World’s Leading Sustainable Marketing Campaign: ITC Hotels
- World’s Leading Sustainable City: Dubai
- World’s Leading Sustainable Venue: Terra, Expo City Dubai
Also read: How MENA’s travel industry is embracing sustainability
