Award Categories
Five categories.
42 award recipients.
The Karnataka Tourism Awards 2026 recognise achievement across hospitality, travel trade, education, visitor infrastructure and responsible tourism. Nominations for the 2026 awards are now closed.
Awards and Eligibility
Explore the award categories.
Open an award to read its purpose, eligibility highlights and base application fee. GST is added where applicable. Nominations for the 2026 awards are now closed.
Accommodation & Hospitality
Hotels, resorts, wellness retreats and regional cuisine establishments recognised for service, guest satisfaction and responsible operations.
Best Five Star Hotel
Recognises excellence in luxury hospitality with sustainable and eco-friendly practices.
Eligibility highlights: Must be a 5-star hotel with a minimum of 2 years in operation. Demonstrate superior service quality, premium amenities, guest satisfaction and energy-efficient or eco-friendly initiatives. Provide Ministry of Tourism certification.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Four Star Hotel
Honours high-quality service and comfort in the mid-luxury segment with a focus on sustainability.
Eligibility highlights: Must be a 4-star hotel with a minimum of 2 years in operation. Demonstrate consistent service standards, guest satisfaction and eco-friendly or energy-efficient practices. Provide Ministry of Tourism certification.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Three Star Hotel
Celebrates reliable, affordable hospitality with consistent standards.
Eligibility highlights: Must be a 3-star hotel with a minimum of 2 years in operation. Demonstrate affordability, reliability and guest satisfaction. Provide Ministry of Tourism certification.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Heritage Hotel
Acknowledges hotels preserving Karnataka’s cultural and architectural heritage.
Eligibility highlights: Must be a heritage hotel with a minimum of 2 years in operation. Demonstrate preservation of architecture, cultural storytelling and guest engagement.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Boutique Hotel
Rewards unique, design-driven properties offering personalised experiences.
Eligibility highlights: Must have fewer than 100 rooms, a minimum of 2 years in operation and not be part of a large chain. Demonstrate distinctive design and personalised service.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Hotel Chain
Recognises consistency and excellence across multiple properties in Karnataka.
Eligibility highlights: The chain must operate at least 3 properties under the same brand and have a minimum of 2 years in operation. Demonstrate standardised service and brand identity.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Wellness Retreat
Celebrates resorts and retreats offering holistic wellness and rejuvenation.
Eligibility highlights: Must primarily operate as a wellness retreat with a minimum of 2 years in operation. Offer therapies, spa services, fitness programmes and a serene environment.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Resort
Recognises resorts that combine leisure, nature and exceptional guest service.
Eligibility highlights: Must operate as a resort with a minimum of 2 years in operation. Demonstrate leisure facilities, integration with nature and guest satisfaction.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Business Hotel
Celebrates hotels excelling in corporate hospitality and MICE facilities.
Eligibility highlights: Must primarily cater to business travellers and have a minimum of 2 years in operation. Provide meeting rooms, conference spaces and business centres.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Eco-Friendly Resort
Rewards sustainable practices in hospitality and eco-conscious design.
Eligibility highlights: Must demonstrate eco-certification or sustainability initiatives and have a minimum of 2 years in operation. Showcase energy efficiency, waste management and eco-friendly practices.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Regional Cuisine Restaurant
Rewards authentic promotion of Karnataka’s local flavours.
Eligibility highlights: Must specialise in Karnataka cuisine and have a minimum of 2 years in operation. Demonstrate authenticity, cultural preservation and guest satisfaction.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Adventure & Theme Park
Recognizes leading adventure and theme parks that provide exceptional recreational experiences, combining thrill, safety, innovation, and family-friendly entertainment while contributing to Karnataka’s tourism growth.
Eligibility highlights: Must be established adventure or theme parks in Karnataka with at least two years of operation. They should demonstrate strong visitor engagement, maintain safety standards, and showcase initiatives that enhance tourism or community impact.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Tour Operators & Travel Agents
Domestic, inbound, transport, adventure and MICE operators, along with tourism businesses demonstrating innovation and effective use of technology.
Best Domestic Tour Operator
Recognises excellence in organising tours within India.
Eligibility highlights: Must be registered and have a minimum of 2 years in operation. Demonstrate domestic tourism expertise, quality service and guest satisfaction. Provide recognition from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, or the Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Inbound Tour Operator
Celebrates operators bringing international tourists to Karnataka.
Eligibility highlights: Must be registered and have a minimum of 2 years in operation. Demonstrate inbound tourism expertise, multilingual services and guest satisfaction. Provide tourism authority recognition, foreign exchange earnings certification or a balance sheet certified by a chartered accountant, and details of inbound tours handled during the previous year.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Tourist Transport Operator
Honours safe, reliable and innovative tourist transport services.
Eligibility highlights: Must be licensed and have a minimum of 2 years in operation. Demonstrate safety, reliability and customer satisfaction. Provide tourism authority recognition and documents for at least 5 vehicles, including registration and insurance, or vendor certification for hired vehicles.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Tourist Transport Bus Operator
Honours excellence in tourist bus services ensuring safety, comfort and reliability.
Eligibility highlights: Must be a licensed bus operator with a minimum of 2 years in operation. Demonstrate safety, service quality and customer satisfaction. Provide documents for at least 5 vehicles, including registration and insurance, or vendor certification for hired vehicles.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Luxury Tourist Transport Operator
Honours excellence in luxury tourist transport services ensuring safety, comfort and reliability.
Eligibility highlights: Must be licensed and have operated luxury vehicles for a minimum of 2 years. Demonstrate safety, reliability and customer satisfaction. Provide documents for at least 5 vehicles, including registration and insurance, or vendor certification for hired vehicles.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Adventure Tour Operator
Recognises operators excelling in adventure and outdoor tourism.
Eligibility highlights: Must be registered and have a minimum of 2 years in operation. Demonstrate safety, innovation and guest satisfaction in adventure activities.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best MICE Agency
Celebrates excellence in meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.
Eligibility highlights: Must be registered and have a minimum of 2 years in operation. Demonstrate expertise in MICE planning and execution.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Education, Publications & Individuals
Guides, naturalists, tourism educators, startups, writers and industry professionals contributing knowledge, leadership and fresh ideas.
Best Guide
Rewards licensed guides delivering exceptional visitor experiences.
Eligibility highlights: Must be licensed and have a minimum of 2 years in practice. Demonstrate knowledge, communication skills and guest satisfaction.
Application fee: ₹1,000 + GST
Best Naturalist
Celebrates naturalists delivering eco-aware, nature-based experiences.
Eligibility highlights: Must operate nature tours and have a minimum of 2 years in operation. Demonstrate eco-awareness and guest satisfaction.
Application fee: ₹1,000 + GST
Best Tourism Startup
Rewards emerging enterprises offering innovative tourism solutions.
Eligibility highlights: Must be a registered startup launched within the last 3 years. Demonstrate innovation and measurable impact.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Educational Institute in Tourism Sector
Rewards institutions excelling in tourism education.
Eligibility highlights: Must be a recognised institute with a minimum of 5 years in operation. Demonstrate academic excellence and industry linkages.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Excellence in Publication in Tourism
Recognises impactful tourism journalism and publications.
Eligibility highlights: Must be a published work that demonstrates originality, impact and contribution to tourism promotion.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Travel Writer of the Year
Rewards writers promoting Karnataka through travel narratives.
Eligibility highlights: Must be a published writer and demonstrate originality, impact and contribution to tourism promotion.
Application fee: ₹1,000 + GST
Best Influencer
Recognizes individuals who have significantly promoted Karnataka’s tourism through digital influence, authentic storytelling, and impactful engagement.
Eligibility highlights: Applicants must be active influencers with at least two years of consistent content focused on Karnataka’s tourism, culture, or hospitality. They should show measurable audience engagement across digital platforms and provide signature posts with analytics or testimonials demonstrating impact on tourism promotion.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Video Creator
Recognizes outstanding creators who use video content to promote Karnataka’s tourism, culture, and destinations with creativity, authenticity, and measurable impact.
Eligibility highlights: Applicants must be active video creators with at least two years of consistent content focused on Karnataka’s tourism, culture, or hospitality. They should demonstrate measurable audience engagement and provide three signature video links with supporting analytics or testimonials to show impact on tourism promotion.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Woman in Tourism Excellence
Honours women leaders driving change in the tourism sector.
Eligibility highlights: Must be an industry professional and demonstrate leadership, innovation and contribution to tourism.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Events, Venues & Infrastructure
Heritage monuments, museums and venues that strengthen visitor facilities, interpretation, accessibility and memorable events.
Best Tourism-Friendly Heritage Monument
Rewards monuments with outstanding visitor facilities.
Eligibility highlights: Must be a recognised heritage monument and demonstrate visitor amenities, accessibility and preservation.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Outstanding Museum Practice Award
Recognises innovation in museum curation and visitor engagement.
Eligibility highlights: Must be operational and demonstrate innovative curation, visitor engagement and educational impact.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Best Wedding Venue
Honours venues excelling in destination weddings and hospitality.
Eligibility highlights: Must operate as a wedding venue with a minimum of 2 years in operation. Demonstrate facilities, ambience and guest satisfaction.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
Sustainability & Rural Tourism
Rural tourism projects, homestays and civic initiatives creating responsible experiences and local benefit.
Best Rural Tourism Project
Recognises initiatives promoting rural tourism and livelihoods.
Eligibility highlights: Must be operational for a minimum of 2 years and demonstrate community engagement and tourism impact.
Application fee: ₹2,500 + GST
Best Homestay Establishment
Celebrates authentic, community-driven homestay experiences.
Eligibility highlights: Must be a registered homestay with a minimum of 2 years in operation. Demonstrate authenticity and guest satisfaction.
Application fee: ₹2,500 + GST
Best Civic Management of a Tourist Destination
Honours civic bodies ensuring clean and safe destinations.
Eligibility highlights: Must be a civic body or authority and demonstrate cleanliness, safety and visitor satisfaction.
Application fee: ₹5,000 + GST
2026 Award Winners
Meet this year’s award recipients.
The 2026 winners have been announced. Explore all 42 award recipients across five categories.







