Tourism Management Institute (TMI) announces winners of the 2026 Student Awards after a record number of entries!

15 September 2026

Tourism Management Institute (TMI) announces winners of the 2026 Student Awards after a record number of entries!

The TMI is delighted to announce the winners of the 2026 TMI Student Awards. These annual awards are an important way for the TMI to recognise the outstanding student contributions made to the tourism industry by showcasing their work, gaining important recognition both for themselves and their university, and illustrating how they make an impact in the evolving world of travel and tourism.

The 2026 TMI Awards are the‘TMI Tourism Student Inspiration Award’ (undergraduates) and the ‘TMI Simon Curtis Postgraduate Prize’ (postgraduates).  Each Award provided students with the opportunity to deliver a narrated powerpoint video presentation (5-minute) on a relevant topic.

Attracting a record 22 high quality entries, the videos showcased the high calibre of students studying tourism management on TMI recognised courses.  So much so, the judges ‘were extremely impressed by the exceptional quality’ of applications this year.  The students delivered exciting and engaging presentations on key challenges which the industry faces including AI enabled destination management and how to successfully manage over-tourism.

TMI President Kathryn Davis commended this year’s applicants for their submissions and comments:

‘Our judging panel was so very impressed and inspired by the creativity displayed with the students demonstrating such a mature understanding, passion and enthusiasm for the sector. Our annual awards are a key way for us to support students in their development giving them an opportunity to showcase their achievements to a wide audience.’

TMI is delighted that VisitEngland was part of our TMI Awards judging panel this year.  Anke Monestel, Head of Regional Development comments:

‘VisitEngland is very pleased to support the 2026 TMI Student Awards.  Taking part in the judging panel enabled us to fully appreciate the very high quality of the applications and we warmly congratulate all the winners and finalists.’

TMI Tourism Student Inspiration Award 2026

The joint winners of the ‘TMI Tourism Student Inspiration Award 2026’ for undergraduate students studying on a TMI accredited tourism management course are:

• Rhiannon Rose Mckeown who has just graduated in International Tourism Management from Liverpool John Moores University.

Rhiannon’s outstanding presentation - ‘AI-powered Liverpool 2030’ - delivered a compelling case for the city of Liverpool to adopt AI, explaining how personalised visitor itineraries could be created and how intelligent destination management – including a community voice ‘app’ - could deliver many benefits.

• Linet Isapuke, a second-year International Hospitality and Tourism Management student from Arden University, delivered an outstanding presentation on how to tackle over-tourism in the Maasai-Mara. She explained how conservation, community wellbeing and visitor experience could be balanced through AI-enabled destination management and how the development of a digital campaign promoting innovative ‘Slow Travel Experiences’ (#MaraMoments) would deliver enormous benefits.

The joint runners-up of the ‘TMI Tourism Student Inspiration Award 2026’ are:

• Lucy Poppy Read, a third-year student studying International Tourism Management at Teesside University delivered a powerful presentation - ‘Smart Palma’ – combining her passions for Palma, sustainability and innovation.  She demonstrated how developing an AI visitor companion app for Palma, Majorca could support more sustainable tourism practices very effectively which would enhance the visitor experience, support local communities and help protect the destination for future generations.

• Anna Williams, a third-year Sustainable Tourism Management student at Falmouth University, presented a very well thought through initiative capitalising on the global growth of wellness tourism. Her business case proposal centred on developing the ‘Falmouth Wellness Trail’ which could unlock the year-round potential for wellness tourism in the Falmouth area.  The benefits for key stakeholders were clearly outlined and the recommendations highly realistic.

TMI Simon Curtis Postgraduate Prize 2026

The winner of the ‘TMI Simon Curtis Postgraduate Prize 2026’ for postgraduate students studying on a TMI accredited tourism management course is:

• Marina Kisliuk – who is in the final stage of her MSc International Tourism & Events Management degree (with professional practice) at Glasgow Caledonian University. She delivered a very professional presentation based on a consultancy project for a real industry client – Glasgow City Region.  She demonstrated an impressive level of strategic destination management thinking involving in-depth research with stakeholder groups and potential visitors and proposed developing 3 new curated visitor experience packages to target new visitor markets for the wider river Clyde region.

The 2 joint runners up for the Postgraduate Prize are:

• Kumba Tamba, studying for an MSc International Tourism, Hospitality & Events Management degree at the University of Lincoln, delivered a very good presentation on ‘Why Melton Mowbray should be the UK Town of Culture 2028’. Kumba gave a very clear overview of the value and benefits for Melton and proposed 3 key signature ideas themed under food, culture and entertainment, drawing from successful experience in Lincoln which could be applied to Melton.

• Hieu Minh Tran, studying for an MSc International Tourism, Hospitality & Events Management degree at Middlesex University, delivered a high quality and very well constructed presentation based on a business proposal for the FarmStay Lush Valley Retreat (eco-friendly) for an under-developed destination in Vietnam. He highlighted how the product could also be adapted to the UK market as the sustainability, authenticity and community engagement elements are equally applicable for the UK, to capitalise on the global growth in wellness tourism and agritourism.

All 3 award winners will receive a one-to-one professional mentoring session with a senior member of TMI as well as a complimentary place at the TMI Annual Convention hosted this year by Weston super Mare on 15 October. They also have the opportunity to write a blog to showcase their project and the professional skills and experience they have gained, as well as one year’s associate membership of TMI.

Finally we would like to thank the many tourism organisations and the wider industry for their ongoing support of our students by offering meaningful placements and actively supporting consultancy and research projects within their destinations.

Further information: 

• Joyce Cawthorpe, Project Manager, TMI Recognition Scheme E: joyce@rjcconsulting.co.uk