Top Tour Guide
INTRODUCING
THE CANBERRA
REGION TOUR
GUIDE AWARD
The Canberra Region Tourism Industry Council (CRTIC) is proud to launch the inaugural Canberra Region Top Tour Guide Award to be delivered alongside the Canberra Region Top Tourism Town Awards in 2026, with both awards feeding into the national program administered by the Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC).
Why Enter?
This award acknowledges exemplary tour guides in the Canberra Region and raises the profile of the tour guiding sector, recognising the significant contribution quality tour guides make in providing memorable experiences to visitors. Eligibility includes tour guides working in the natural, cultural, and heritage environments, in either a paid or volunteer capacity. The process requires operators to nominate a guide, with the guide then providing a written submission (3000 – 5000 words) addressing set criteria, followed by an online interview with three independent judges. The written submission and interview hold equal weighting. The Canberra Region Tour Guide winner is announced at the Top Tourism Town/Guide Awards to be held in July. The winner will go on to represent the Canberra Region as a finalist in Australia’s Top Tour Guide Awards at Parliament House in Canberra , whilst raising the profile of our outstanding Canberra Region tour guides.
Recognise excellence
nominees receive recognition for their outstanding performance within the guiding sector and their contribution to the tourism industry.
Benchmarking opportunity
nominees will be measured against a benchmark, fostering personal development and growth.
Receive actionable feedback
nominees will be provided with valuable and in-depth feedback by experienced judges who are industry leaders, driving self-improvement to benefit both the nominee and their employer.
Build business morale and showcase commitment to quality tourism experiences
the awards provide tourism businesses and operators the opportunity to make their staff feel valued and appreciated, with nominees able to publicly showcase their commitment to providing a high-quality tourism experience.
Self-reflection
the nomination process promotes self-reflection on the role the individual plays within both the guiding community and the broader tourism industry.
2026 Key Dates
Read through our key dates for the Top Tourism Guide Awards in 2026.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Nominations open | Monday 23 March 2026 |
| Nominations close | Thursday 30 April 2026 |
| Submissions close | Friday 5 June 2026 |
| Interviews Conducted | June (online) |
| Winners Announced | July TBA |
| Australian Top Tour Guide Winners Announced | Early September, Parliament House, Canberra |
* Dates subject to change
Entry Requirements
Eligibility includes tour guides and driver guides working in the natural, cultural and heritage environments, in either a paid or volunteer capacity.
The nominee must be an employee or volunteer of a business holding current Sustainable Tourism Accreditation.
Nominations are made through the Quality Tourism Framework (QTF) portal. A nomination should be made under the account of the business the nominee is employed by, although the nomination can be made by the nominee or someone else within the same company. The business must hold QTF Accreditation to nominate the guide.
A written submission addressing set criteria must be completed in the QTF portal by the close date. All finalists will then undertake an online interview with the panel of judges – questions will be provided in advance.
CRITERIA AND QUESTIONS
Criteria and questions for the Canberra Region Tour Guide Award can be viewed here.
Nomination Fee
- $99 per entry
- Nomination fees should be paid at time of nomination and are required to proceed into the awards program
- Nominations have to be done by the guide’s business or the guide themselves if they own the business
- Qualifying period – The Submission should focus on activities that took place in the 2025 calendar year
All submissions must be completed via the Quality Tourism Framework portal.
Judging Process
The judging process will be overseen by the state/territory Chair of Judges. There are two components to the judging process that will determine each entrant’s overall score:
- Submission Review – a panel of three experienced judges will review the written submission and score it individually. These scores will be combined and averaged to determine the submission score. The submission review is worth 50% of the total score available.
- Interview – finalists will be required to attend an online interview (approx. 30 minutes) with the judging panel. All finalists will be asked the same set of questions, which will be provided in advance. The interview is worth 50% of the total score available
Nominate now for the Top Tourism Guide Award 2026
Click the button below and nominate now for the Top Tourism Guide Award 2026.