Guidelines and Instructions

The GRIT Awards celebrate tourism achievement in three distinct categories:

  • Growth: recognizes the purposeful expansion of Alberta's tourism industry through innovative product development, infrastructure investment, and market diversification.
  • Resilience: celebrates the innovative approaches tourism businesses employ to evolve, adapt and thrive in the face of challenges.
  • Inspiration: honours a tourism employee (age 18-30) that has inspired others through passion and leadership to that tourism is a viable and rewarding career.

The Growth or Resilience Award applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • The business must have been in operation for at least two years prior to the date the nomination submission.
  • The business must be actively conducting operations within Alberta and duly registered as a legal entity within the province, unless the business operates as a partnership or, proprietorship.
  • The business must be financially stable, demonstrating ongoing viability and sustainability. It must not be subject to any active legal actions that could compromise its operations, reputation, or, standing in the community.
  • The business must be a member in good standing of its local Destination Marketing/Management Organization (DMO) as of the date of application for an award.
  • Nominees can be self-nominated or nominated by another organization, or individual. A Nominee may not be nominated in more than one of the two business nomination categories in the same Award year.
  • At least one letter of recommendation (pdf) format must accompany the application.
  • A non-refundable application fee of $100 (+GST) must accompany the application.

The Inspiration Award applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • The individual must reside in the Province of Alberta.
  • The individual must be nominated by their employer, a work colleague, and industry partner, but not by themselves, nor an immediate family member.
  • The individual must be between the ages of 18 and 30 at the time of the nomination application.
  • The individual must have worked in Alberta's tourism industry at least on a one-year full-time equivalency basis over the course of the 2-years immediately preceding the date of the nomination.
  • The individual must be employed by a business that is a member in good standing of their local destination marketing/management organization.
  • A non-refundable application fee of $100 (+GST) must accompany the application..
  • *Note that self-nominations and nominations by immediate family members are prohibited in this category*