The Bessie Awards honor women and gender-diverse people, as well as organizations and companies, that are propelling the travel industry forward for women. We are thrilled to recognize the finalists for the 2026 Bessies!
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The excitement is building as we proudly reveal the finalists for the 2026 Bessie Awards! This year, the competition has been fierce, with creators, brands, and innovators across the travel industry making a remarkable impact. Join us on May 30, 2026 in Chattanooga, TN as we honor the trailblazers shaping the future of travel.
The Bessie Awards: Celebrating Women Shaping Travel
Named after the pioneering aviator Bessie Coleman, the Bessie Awards recognize women and organizations pushing boundaries in the travel industry. From storytelling to innovation, these awards celebrate excellence, creativity, and influence across multiple categories.
Voting for the 2026 Bessies is open to past Women in Travel Summit (WITS) attendees and members of the Bessies Society, a distinguished committee of past winners.
And if you haven’t secured your spot at the WITS Travel Creator Summit, now is the time! The Bessies serve as a special gathering right in the middle of a weekend of inspiration, collaboration, and connection with top travel content creators and industry leaders. Grab your ticket here.
Without further ado, let’s unveil the finalists in each category!
Creator of the Year
Honoring a creator who has gone beyond content to build a career and brand that inspires, influences, and drives meaningful change in travel.
Imani Bashir
Imani Bashir has built a multifaceted travel career that extends far beyond content creation. As a journalist and founder of Takeoff Travel Mag and The Takeoff Collection, she has combined editorial storytelling with entrepreneurship to expand representation for Black travelers and traveling families. Her work challenges who gets centered in travel media while creating tangible platforms that amplify diverse voices. By blending creativity, advocacy, and business leadership, Imani exemplifies what it means to turn storytelling into industry impact.
Anela Malik
Through her brand Feed the Malik, Anela Malik has transformed food and travel storytelling into a platform that centers culture, identity, and the human stories behind what we eat. From hosting immersive travel experiences to authoring American Soul with National Geographic, Anela’s work bridges scholarship, media, and community. She moves beyond content into cultural preservation and advocacy, challenging narratives around American food history while building a career rooted in purpose and influence.
Eva zu Beck
Eva zu Beck has built a global career defined by bold exploration and cinematic storytelling. Known for immersive journeys to remote and misunderstood regions, her work — including collaborations with National Geographic — pushes audiences beyond surface-level tourism into deeper cultural curiosity. Eva has turned adventure into a platform for reflection and cross-cultural understanding, using her global reach to challenge perceptions and expand how travel stories are told.
Trailblazer Award
Recognizing rising stars who are carving unique paths and paving the way for future leaders in travel.
Rachel-Jean Firchau
Rachel-Jean Firchau is the creator behind the travel and lifestyle blog Rachel Off Duty, a destination for career-minded women who want to see the world without giving up their ambitions. With a background in marketing and advertising, Rachel has carved out a unique niche by showing that travel doesn’t have to be reserved for break-ups or sabbaticals, it can happen between the 9-to-5, on weekends, and around a life in motion. Since starting her blog in 2015, she has empowered a community of ambitious travelers with deeply practical travel guides, itineraries, and career-travel balance advice that make global adventure feel achievable and real. Her perspective that adventurous living and professional success can coexist has redefined what it means to be a new leader in the travel space.
Lauren Gay
Lauren Gay, founder of Outdoorsy Diva and a founding board member of the Black Travel Alliance, has carved out a distinct and powerful voice in solo and adventure travel for Black women. In the past year alone, she has led transformative group experiences, shared her personal origin story of resilience on national platforms, and been invited to keynote TBEX 2026, marking a full-circle moment a decade after first stepping into content creation. Lauren’s authenticity, advocacy, and commitment to expanding representation in outdoor recreation position her as a rising force shaping the future of inclusive adventure travel.
Eileen Ivette
Eileen Ivette is redefining cultural travel storytelling through her award-winning series Black Latin History, which uplifts Afro-Latino narratives and confronts anti-Black erasure in the Latin American diaspora. With a journalism background and experience across major media platforms, she brings investigative depth and joy to her storytelling while mentoring fellow creators on ethical historical reporting. As both a speaker and cultural curator, Eileen is rapidly carving out a space that centers identity, history, and belonging — paving the way for more Afro-Latino voices in travel media.
Lifetime Achievement Award (presented by JourneyWoman)
Honoring individuals with decades-long impact on the travel industry, in memory of JourneyWoman’s Evelyn Hannon.
Samantha Brown
For 25 years, Samantha Brown has shaped how audiences see the world — hosting 14 television series, filming more than 338 episodes, and traveling millions of miles across 65 countries. Known for her warmth and relatability, she has consistently centered local people and cultural connections in her storytelling. Beyond her longevity, Samantha continues to amplify underrepresented creators and communities, using her platform to elevate others. Her enduring commitment to inclusive, human-centered travel makes her a transformative force in the industry.
Lou Hammond
Lou Hammond is a trailblazer in travel public relations and communications, having founded one of the industry’s most influential agencies and championed destinations and hospitality brands for decades. Her leadership helped shape modern travel marketing and media strategy, while mentoring generations of professionals in the field. Through sustained excellence and industry stewardship, Lou’s career reflects long-term dedication to strengthening and elevating the travel ecosystem.
Dr. Sian Proctor
Dr. Sian Proctor is a geoscientist, explorer, artist, and the first Black woman to pilot a spacecraft. As a commercial astronaut and science communicator, she has expanded the very definition of exploration and representation. Her work bridges space travel, sustainability, and creative expression, inspiring a new generation to see exploration — whether on Earth or beyond — as accessible and inclusive. Dr. Proctor’s lifelong commitment to expanding who belongs in exploration embodies the spirit of this award.
Storyteller Award
For a single piece of content—written, audio, or visual—that sparks dialogue, inspires connection, and moves the travel community.
Rory Buccheri – Meet the family pioneering the Caribbean’s first ‘climate-smart islands’
Rory Buccheri’s feature for Adventure.com examining Grenada’s climate-smart initiatives delivers a nuanced, forward-thinking portrait of how island nations are confronting the climate crisis. By spotlighting local leadership and sustainable innovation, their reporting reframes the Caribbean narrative from one of vulnerability to one of resilience. The piece sparks dialogue around responsible tourism and positions storytelling as a catalyst for environmental awareness and systemic change.
Gerry Isabelle – “Mushroom Foraging Women, Oaxaca, Mexico”
Through a visually rich Instagram reel spotlighting women mushroom foragers in Oaxaca, Gerry Isabelle captures an intimate look at cultural tradition, livelihood, and ecological stewardship. The piece honors Indigenous knowledge and women’s labor while inviting audiences to see food systems and travel experiences through a lens of respect and reciprocity. In a short-form format, Gerry delivers storytelling that feels immersive, human, and deeply connective.
Chloe Jade Travels – “Everything In This Video Is Now Ill3g4l in Afghanistan”
@chloejadetravels Everything in this video is ill3g4l in Afghanistan. I haven’t been back to Afghanistan since October, but the laws keep getting stricter and life is harder for both Afghan men and Afghan women. Don’t forget about the people of Afghanistan ❤️🇦🇫 #afghanistantiktok #afghanistan🖤❤️💚 #visitafghanistan #traveltheworld #darktravel #afghangirls #saveafghanistan🇦🇫 @chloejadetravels ♬ The Champion – Lux-Inspira
Chloe Jade Travels created a powerful TikTok that juxtaposes past travel footage with the stark reality of changing laws and freedoms in Afghanistan. By framing everyday experiences through the lens of political upheaval, her video sparked urgent conversations about women’s rights, memory, and the fragility of cultural access. The piece demonstrates how digital storytelling can transcend aesthetics and become a vehicle for awareness and collective reflection.
Social Impact Award
Celebrating individuals, brands, or initiatives making meaningful change through DEI, environmental justice, or community uplift.
Kai Bouhmad, Black Girls Shoot Too
Kai Bouhmad is a multidisciplinary creator, photographer, and advocate whose work bridges travel, art, and community empowerment. As the founder of Black Girls Shoot Too, she champions representation and opportunity for Black women and women of color in photography — a field where these voices have historically been underrepresented. Her humanitarian outreach includes youth empowerment initiatives in Nairobi and collaborations with global nonprofits. Through her travel photography and community work, Kai highlights authentic cultural narratives and inspires others to engage thoughtfully with the world, making her a powerful force for inclusive impact in travel.
Amy Tarpein, Elijah’s Baby Bucket List
Amy Tarpein’s work with Elijah’s Baby Bucket List redefines accessibility in travel by spotlighting what it takes for families with unique medical needs to explore the world. Her deeply empathetic storytelling and advocacy have made the realities of accessible travel more visible and actionable, helping families find resources, community, and confidence on the road. By fostering industry collaborations and raising awareness of travel accessibility, Amy offers guidance, hope, and tangible change — expanding who gets to experience travel and how.
Abigail Vacca, The Global Treasures Podcast
Abigail Vacca is a writer, researcher, and the voice of The Global Treasures Podcast, where she brings UNESCO World Heritage Sites to life through stories that celebrate cultural heritage and community stewardship. Her work goes beyond travel inspiration to emphasize preservation, inclusion, and respect for the places and people that shape our shared global legacy. By weaving together history, legend, and modern lived experience, Abigail encourages listeners to view travel not as passive sightseeing but as active engagement and cultural solidarity.
Innovation in Travel Marketing Award
Recognizing campaigns that push creative boundaries and set new standards in engaging travelers.
A&O Hostels – “Where to Go in 2025” TikTok Campaign
A&O Hostels’ “Where to Go in 2025” campaign is a powerful example of what happens when brands treat creators as strategic partners — not just content vendors. With a $40,000 initial investment, A&O seeded a TikTok trend with 100 paid creators, sparking an additional 400 organic creators to join in. The result: 30 million impressions, a 10% boost in direct website traffic, and approximately $705,000 in attributed revenue.
For creators, this campaign signals something bigger: brands are moving toward measurable, ROI-driven partnerships where creator work directly influences bookings — and is tracked accordingly. Instead of scattershot influencer outreach, A&O built a cohesive, trend-based strategy that amplified creator creativity while delivering real business results. It sets a new standard for how creator campaigns can be structured for scale, cultural relevance, and measurable impact.
Read about the campaign in Travel Weekly
TUI Accessible Holidays – Accessibility Ambassadors Program
TUI’s Accessibility Ambassadors program shows what meaningful creator collaboration looks like when lived experience leads the story. Rather than simply marketing accessible travel, TUI partnered directly with disabled and neurodivergent creators to authentically showcase their holiday experiences and shape the narrative with their voices. For creators, this campaign represents a shift from tokenized representation to long-term ambassador relationships built on trust and credibility. By centering creators as experts — not just promoters — TUI demonstrates how brands can move beyond performative inclusion toward sustained partnership. It’s a model that elevates community voices while proving that accessibility is essential, not niche.
Spice of Europe – Budapest Influencer Trip (Visit Hungary & PFR Group)
The Spice of Europe – Budapest Influencer Trip redefined what large-scale creator activation can look like. Fifty top-tier influencers were invited to Budapest for a three-day immersive experience designed for real-time storytelling. The campaign generated more than 2,100 posts, 150 million reach, and 170 million impressions. Within five days, bookings from target markets increased by more than 40%.
But what makes this campaign particularly relevant for creators is its operational sophistication. Influencers received optimized content within 12 hours, contracts and reporting were streamlined through a tech-driven system, and production support ensured creators could focus on storytelling. With 84 professionals supporting the experience, this campaign treated creators like global media partners rather than attendees on a press trip.
It signals a future where destination marketing isn’t just about hosting influencers — it’s about building production-level creator collaborations that drive measurable tourism outcomes.
See this write-up in the Shorty Awards
Travel Startup of the Year
For startups changing the way we travel with innovation, engagement, and impact.
Greether (Vanessa Karel)
Greether is a travel platform that connects women travelers with vetted local female “Greeters” who serve as personalized guides, companions, and cultural insiders. Through Meet & Greether experiences, travelers enjoy secure, enriching, and tailored encounters that combine exploration with companionship, ethical support for the local female economy, and culturally meaningful connections. Founded by Vanessa Karel, who transitioned from corporate life to travel entrepreneurship, Greether leverages technology to bridge online connection with real-world experiences, empowering women to travel confidently while building lasting bonds. By prioritizing trust, safety, and community, Greether is not just innovating travel logistics—it’s redefining how women experience and relate to the world.
Still Waters Safaris (Amanda & Asnath Kessy)
Still Waters Safaris is an ethical safari company based in Tanzania that champions community-led wildlife experiences rooted in conservation and cultural respect. In a world where only 10% of safari companies are led by women and only 15% of safari companies are Black-owned, Still Waters leans into its assets as a local woman-owned business created by two sisters, developing tailor-made safaris that prioritize local guides, responsible tourism practices, and immersive storytelling. Amanda and Asnath’s leadership in creating sustainable safari offerings that balance wildlife protection with economic empowerment reflects a new model of travel entrepreneurship that honors place, people, and purpose.
HerHouse (Tess Millhollon)
HerHouse represents a bold reimagining of what community-driven travel can look like for women. Through its home-sharing, home-sitting, and background-checked hosting network, HerHouse gives women a trusted, affordable, and community-oriented way to explore the world. From its global reach across more than 70 countries to the thousands of women it has brought together, the startup reinforces that safety, belonging, and shared experience are core to travel’s future — not just amenities.
Allyship Award
Honoring individuals who are not women but champion and elevate women in travel.
Stuart Greif, Forbes Travel Guide
Stuart Greif is a respected travel and hospitality leader whose decades-long career spans strategy, innovation, and customer experience across the industry, including senior roles at Forbes Travel Guide, Microsoft, and J.D. Power’s Global Hospitality & Travel group. At Forbes Travel Guide, he drives global strategy and standards that uplift the guest experience around the world, and he actively mentors and champions innovation, diversity, and inclusive leadership by helping cultivate opportunities for underrepresented founders, leaders, and voices in travel and hospitality.
Danny Guerrero, The Culturist Group
Danny Guerrero is a thought leader and founder of The Culturist Group, a travel marketing and communications agency focused on multicultural inclusion and equitable representation. His work in multicultural research and strategic brand partnerships has helped destinations and travel brands better understand, engage and welcome diverse audiences, while his advocacy in advertising, DEI education, and inclusive storytelling has activated industry-wide shifts toward more culturally resonant travel marketing.
Mikey Sadowski, Intrepid Travel
Mikey Sadowski drives global communications and community engagement for Intrepid Travel. There, he leads initiatives that build meaningful connections and amplifies voices through empathetic storytelling and thoughtful brand strategy. His work at Intrepid — a certified B Corp committed to sustainable, equitable tourism — focuses on supporting community-led travel experiences, elevating underrepresented travelers and creators, and shaping how travel brands foster belonging at scale.
Wanderful Award (presented by Wanderful)
This award will be announced live during the Bessie Awards by the Wanderful team.
A heartfelt congratulations to all the nominees and a special shout-out to the finalists listed above. Your dedication and contributions to the travel industry are truly commendable. We eagerly anticipate a night of celebration and recognition on May 30, 2026! ✨️
Learn More About Bessie Coleman
The Bessie Awards are named after the iconic Bessie Coleman. Bessie was denied entry into the American aviation schools because of both her race and gender. Despite this, in 1921, she became the first American to earn an international pilot’s license from the prestigious Federation Aeronautique International in France.
Bessie Coleman defied the odds, earning this license two years before her more famous contemporary, Amelia Earhart. Wanderful and the Women in Travel Summit honor her legacy and encourage all women to defy the odds.
Learn More About WITS
The WITS Travel Creator Summit is the premier event for travel’s top marketing talent. Creative entrepreneurs, influencers, DMOs, and industry come together to discuss future innovations, build dynamic collaborations, and change travel worldwide. They do this all while supporting and empowering a diverse community of women. Click here to learn more about WITS.
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