MADRID – The International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) held its annual awards ceremony to honour global excellence in tourism, recognising institutions, companies, and individuals for their contributions to industry innovation, sustainability, diversity, and academic research. The 2025 edition of the FITUR Awards took place at the Teatro Real in Madrid, following the main trade fair event held in January at IFEMA MADRID.
Each year, the awards highlight best practices in tourism development and promotion, focusing on sustainable growth, the diversification of the tourism offer, and the advancement of research-based knowledge. The event was attended by key stakeholders including Ana Muñoz Llabrés, Director General for Tourism Policy at Spain’s Ministry of Industry and Tourism; Quirino Ordaz, Mexican Ambassador to Spain; Marco Sansavini, Chairman of Iberia and of the FITUR Organising Committee; Daniel Martínez, Executive Vice-President of IFEMA MADRID; and Arancha Priede, Director General of Trade Fair and Congress Business at IFEMA MADRID.
In the words of Daniel Martínez, Executive Vice-President of IFEMA MADRID, “these awards represent the best of a dynamic, resilient and constantly evolving sector and are an inspiration for its great work in promoting and projecting tourism; an industry that makes FITUR its privileged platform for opening up new paths for growth and opportunities in the global market”.
This year’s awards featured a specially designed trophy by artist Teresa Sapey, titled “The Worlds that Unite at FITUR”. The sculpture, made of interlocking birch wood rings and a brass base, symbolises global interconnectedness and the balance between cultural diversity and tradition.
Award categories and winners
- Best Stand Awards: In the category of Spanish Autonomous Communities and Institutions, awards went to the Canary Islands, Cantabria, and the Basque Country. Among international destinations, Oman, the Dominican Republic, and Thailand were recognised. Corporate winners included Sandos Hotels – ZEM Wellness Clinic, Iberia, and Hesperia World for their creative stand design and execution.
- Sustainable Stand Awards: Stands by Grupo Piñero, Castelldefels City Council, Paradores, Turismo de Extremadura, and B&B Hotels were recognised for aligning their messaging and presence with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the core sustainability focus of FITUR.
- Active Tourism Awards: Jointly organised by FITUR and AireLibre Magazine, this award celebrates innovative active tourism products. National winners included Educabike: Pedal and Discover (Esport Actiu S.L.) and Spain in Bloom (Agromarketing Experiencias Turísticas). International winners were Cartagena de Indias – Religious Tourism (Corporación Turismo Cartagena de Indias) and TUI Forest Kenya (TUI Care Foundation).
- FITUR-Jorge Vila Fradera Tribune Award: This award, in collaboration with the Spanish Association of Tourism Experts (AECIT), recognises academic contributions to the tourism field. The 2024 award was given to Borja Torres Fuentes for his research on cross-border destination management titled “The planning, governance and cross-border management of a tourist destination: the New Aquitaine-Euskadi-Navarre Euroregion.”
The FITUR Awards continue to serve as a key platform for acknowledging the efforts of tourism professionals, public institutions, and researchers in shaping the future of a more resilient and knowledge-driven tourism sector.
Source: https://www.traveldailynews.com/
