The Accommodation Awards are based on the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa’s (TGCSA) definition of accommodation establishments. Accommodation awards includes Backpacker & Hosteling, Bed & Breakfast, Caravan & Camping, Country House, Game Lodge, Nature Reserve, Guest House, Hotel, Lodge, Self-catering: Exclusive Use, Self Catering: Shared vacation. (Please see definition of TGCSA under terms and Conditions) 

a)         Sub-category: Hotels

b)         Sub-Category : Non-Hotels

MESE Awards will include Meetings, Exhibitions, and Special Events venues.

Visitor Experiences and Resturants Awards will include Scenic Beauty, Roots and Culture, Adventure and Activities, Wildlife, Lifestyle, Beach Experience and Lap of Luxury and restaurants

Tourist Guides Awards will include Nature Guides, Adventure Guides and Culture Guides.

Tour Operators Awards  - inbound international tour operators and professional conference organisers that bring in an international foot print. 

Rickshaw Pullers – on the beachfront 

Crafters – bead work, sand sculptors, artists (paint) and sculptors (please see definition of Crafter under Terms and Conditions)

Event Owners and Promotors: that conceptualize, promote the destination and stage annual events that attract mega numbers to the destination with high socio economic impact of:  boosting accommodation occupancy; visitor numbers; spend; job creation; brand exposure, media exposure and attracts diverse spectators. 

Category: Entrepreneurship 

(Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year Award) recognizes black owned SMMEs who have achieved notable success since starting up of not more than 5 years. 

Focus Area and Category: Upcoming Film-Makers Award

It recognizes upcoming, outstanding, unique, impactful people and organisations that have produced, script written and directed films in the past 5 years that have showcased Durban in their film as the destination of choice including documentaries and adverts. 

Special Achievement Award

This award will not be contested but it will be a prestigious award to recognizing a tourism product and business that has done exceptional well within the tourism space in various fronts of remaining ahead in their business. The criteria will include:-

• Consistent Business Retention and Business Expansion
• Business Model and brand Sustainability
• Consistent Job Creation
• Remaining Competitive in offering and extent of putting Durban destination the tourism Competition edge
• The extent of the radical economic transformation role played by the business.  
• The extent of business resilience under the Covid 19 circumstances.
• The legacy mark by that tourism product/ business 
• investment
• Township and Rural economy development and Investment
• Creative Industry 
• Hospitality  
• Product Owners with disabilities in the tourism sector 

Universal Accessibility and Green Tourism are now combined.