The fifth annual “Heroes of Tourism” poll is entering its decisive phase. Until July 17, 2026, people can vote for their favorites from the list of finalists, who were selected from nominations by experts in the tourism industry. This prestigious award is presented annually by the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism.
Three categories, three stories that are changing Czechia for the better
The poll highlights inspiring individuals and projects that, according to the public and experts alike, contribute most significantly to the development of tourism in Czechia. The purpose of the awards is to draw attention to people whose work has a real impact on destination development, service quality, and collaboration across the industry. It’s not just about large projects or high-profile campaigns, but also about long-term work, the ability to connect partners, and bringing new ideas to the table.
The public selects the winners from three finalists in three categories:
Greatest Contribution to Tourism in the Past Year
This category honors individuals who, in recent months, have come up with new initiatives, bold projects, notable activities, campaigns, events, or effective solutions and have helped take Czech tourism another step forward.
Lifetime Contribution to Tourism
This award is given to those who have long and systematically worked to build high-quality and sustainable tourism—whether in the regions, at the national level, or in the international arena. It recognizes individuals who, through their experience, expertise, and many years of work, have helped shape the industry and strengthen Czechia’s reputation both at home and abroad.
Community Hero of Tourism
This category highlights those who are able to connect local stakeholders—municipalities, organizations, entrepreneurs, the local community, and the public sector. It recognizes individuals who strengthen cooperation, communication, and a shared vision for a destination or region.
“Tourism Heroes are, above all, about people. Behind every nomination is a specific story of a person who is helping to transform their city, region, or destination for the better. Some come up with bold projects, while others build long-term collaborations, connect partners, or help improve the quality of services. The results of their work benefit not only visitors but also local residents and entire regions. We believe that these are the very people who deserve recognition and gratitude. Moreover, the award is determined by a public vote, which gives it a unique dimension. The winners are not decided by a panel of experts behind closed doors, but by the people who are best able to appreciate the true value of their work. “We want to emphasize that the development of tourism is driven not only by strategies, investments, or marketing campaigns, but above all by people who, through their work, transform the places around them and leave a positive mark on regions and the lives of their residents,” says František Reismüller, Director of the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism.
Professionals nominated, the public will decide
“We reached out to professional organizations across the tourism sector and asked them to compile nominations based on specific practical experience. The finalists were proposed by organizations that, thanks to their expertise and day-to-day work, are well-acquainted with the tourism sector and are best able to identify individuals who have achieved tangible results and made a real contribution to tourism. However, the final say will rest with the professional community—representatives of travel agencies, hotels, and destination management organizations—as well as everyone else who knows the region and is best positioned to assess the significance of specific activities and projects,“ explains Tereza Hofmanová, Director of the B2B Cooperation and Research Department at CzechTourism.
The final winners will now be decided by the public through online voting on the CzechTourism website. Anyone can participate and support their favorite in one of the announced categories.
The awards ceremony will take place in September
The Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism will announce the winners of this year’s awards during a gala evening to be held on September 9, 2026, in Prague. The event will be attended by representatives of the Ministry of Regional Development, the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism, including the directors of its overseas offices, professional associations, destination management organizations, and the business sector.
Voting Schedule for “Tourism Heroes 2026”
Category: Greatest Contribution to Tourism in the Past Year
The poll highlights inspiring individuals and projects that, according to the public and experts alike, contribute most significantly to the development of tourism in Czechia. The purpose of the awards is to draw attention to people whose work has a real impact on destination development, service quality, and collaboration across the industry. It’s not just about large projects or high-profile campaigns, but also about long-term work, the ability to connect partners, and bringing new ideas to the table.
The public selects the winners from three finalists in three categories:
Greatest Contribution to Tourism in the Past Year
This category honors individuals who, in recent months, have come up with new initiatives, bold projects, notable activities, campaigns, events, or effective solutions and have helped take Czech tourism another step forward.
Lifetime Contribution to Tourism
This award is given to those who have long and systematically worked to build high-quality and sustainable tourism—whether in the regions, at the national level, or in the international arena. It recognizes individuals who, through their experience, expertise, and many years of work, have helped shape the industry and strengthen Czechia’s reputation both at home and abroad.
Community Hero of Tourism
This category highlights those who are able to connect local stakeholders—municipalities, organizations, entrepreneurs, the local community, and the public sector. It recognizes individuals who strengthen cooperation, communication, and a shared vision for a destination or region.
“Tourism Heroes are, above all, about people. Behind every nomination is a specific story of a person who is helping to transform their city, region, or destination for the better. Some come up with bold projects, while others build long-term collaborations, connect partners, or help improve the quality of services. The results of their work benefit not only visitors but also local residents and entire regions. We believe that these are the very people who deserve recognition and gratitude. Moreover, the award is determined by a public vote, which gives it a unique dimension. The winners are not decided by a panel of experts behind closed doors, but by the people who are best able to appreciate the true value of their work. “We want to emphasize that the development of tourism is driven not only by strategies, investments, or marketing campaigns, but above all by people who, through their work, transform the places around them and leave a positive mark on regions and the lives of their residents,” says František Reismüller, Director of the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism.
Professionals nominated, the public will decide
“We reached out to professional organizations across the tourism sector and asked them to compile nominations based on specific practical experience. The finalists were proposed by organizations that, thanks to their expertise and day-to-day work, are well-acquainted with the tourism sector and are best able to identify individuals who have achieved tangible results and made a real contribution to tourism. However, the final say will rest with the professional community—representatives of travel agencies, hotels, and destination management organizations—as well as everyone else who knows the region and is best positioned to assess the significance of specific activities and projects,“ explains Tereza Hofmanová, Director of the B2B Cooperation and Research Department at CzechTourism.
The final winners will now be decided by the public through online voting on the CzechTourism website. Anyone can participate and support their favorite in one of the announced categories.
The awards ceremony will take place in September
The Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism will announce the winners of this year’s awards during a gala evening to be held on September 9, 2026, in Prague. The event will be attended by representatives of the Ministry of Regional Development, the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism, including the directors of its overseas offices, professional associations, destination management organizations, and the business sector.
Voting Schedule for “Tourism Heroes 2026”
- May 15 – June 3, 2026: Nominations by professional organizations
- June 17 – July 17, 2026: Public voting
- September 9, 2026: Awards ceremony
Category: Greatest Contribution to Tourism in the Past Year
- Kamil Schaumann
- Jaroslav Plesl
- Roman Muška
- Stanislav Voleman
- Zuzana Vojtová
- Jaromír Polášek
- Alena Jančíková
- Jiří Zámečník
- Jana Adamcová
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