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Judging

Learn how entries are evaluated and the travel industry experts behind every decision.

Meet the Judges

Hand-selected by Travel Weekly, our panel of industry experts brings decades of experience in hospitality, tourism, media, and marketing, evaluating each entry with a shared commitment to recognizing the very best in travel.

Bob Lambert

Bob Lambert

Managing Director

Harvard Group International

Bio
Brian Robb

Brian Robb

Former Board Chair

The Travel Institute

Bio
Bruce Beckham

Bruce Beckham

Former CEO

Tourism Cares

Bio
Bruce Shulman

Bruce Shulman

Former Group Publisher

Travel Weekly and TravelAge West

Bio
Dorothy Dowling

Dorothy Dowling

Bio
Elizabeth Mayo Filippi

Elizabeth Mayo Filippi

Bio
Jean-Claude Baumgarten

Jean-Claude Baumgarten

CEO, Crewe Associates

Former CEO, WTTC

Bio
Jeanne Colombo

Jeanne Colombo

Bio
Kathy Misunas

Kathy Misunas

Bio
Marilyn Macallair

Marilyn Macallair

Bio
Mike Foster

Mike Foster

Retired President

Nexion Travel Group Canada

Bio
Norie Quintos

Norie Quintos

Communications Consultant, Journalist, Editor

Editor at Large, National Geographic Travel Media

Bio
Paula Hayes

Paula Hayes

Bio
Peter Greenberg

Peter Greenberg

Travel Editor

CBS News Travel Editor

Bio
Richard Bangs

Richard Bangs

Executive Producer & Host

Richard Bangs' Quests

Bio
Rudy Maxa

Rudy Maxa

Bio
Wayne Wielgus

Wayne Wielgus

Bio

Judging Process

Judged Against Excellence

No entry competes against another. Each is measured against a rigorous standard of excellence, meaning the best work always wins regardless of who else enters.

Scoring System

Each entry is individually scored by the judging panel and evaluated for Gold or Silver recognition. A category may have multiple winners or none at all—there are no shortcuts to a Magellan Award.

Expert Panel

Industry leaders are hand-selected by Travel Weekly for their expertise. To ensure impartiality, no judge evaluates entries from sectors in which they work or have worked.

What Judges Look For

Relevance to the sector
Innovation and creativity
Quality of execution
Impact and effectiveness
Strength of supporting materials
Overall positive contribution to travel

Timeline

Step 1
Judging Opens
August 2026
Step 2
Judging Closes
September 2026
Step 3
Winners Notified
October 2026
Step 4
Winners Announced
November 2026

Submit Your Best Work

A Magellan Award is how the industry's best make their mark, so show the travel world exactly what you can do.

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Gold