Announced on 2 September 2026 by the Inverness-based operator, the award follows a full assessment against Green Tourism’s 15 sustainability criteria across its three pillars of People, Places and Planet — a holistic check on social, economic and environmental performance. For visitors planning a Highland trip this autumn and beyond, it is a clear signal of where sustainable tourism on Loch Ness is heading.

What Gold Actually Means

Green Tourism is widely regarded as the global benchmark for sustainable tourism accreditation. Its audit looks beyond carbon alone — examining how a business treats its people, supports its place and protects the planet.

• 15 criteria grouped under People, Places and Planet
• Assessment of community contribution, environmental impact reduction, and accessibility and inclusion for staff and visitors
• Gold is the top award — only around one-third of tourism and hospitality businesses that apply achieve Gold, with the remainder split between Silver and Bronze

Gold recognises businesses that operate responsibly and sustainably, contribute meaningfully to their communities, and make themselves welcoming and accessible to all.

Not Easy for a Cruise Operator — And That’s the Point

Running cruises on Loch Ness comes with a higher sustainability bar — fuel use, visitor volumes and pressure on fragile rural roads and facilities around Dochgarroch Lock, Inverness all count against you if not managed well.

“We are thrilled to have been awarded a Gold Green Tourism Award again! Being a cruise business, it can be challenging to meet the high sustainability standards we and Green Tourism strive for, so to be awarded Gold in our assessment is really satisfying and shows we are doing the right things.”

Alison Daun, Managing Director, Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises

Daun singled out Ranald Fettes, Visitor Experience and Sustainability Manager, for leading the evidence-gathering and sustainability improvements that secured the re-accreditation.

What Jacobite Is Doing Differently

Beyond the certificate, the work is deliberately visible to guests and staff:

• Rewilding and biodiversity awareness woven into onboard interpretation and team training
• Accessibility and responsible tourism — making cruises inclusive and educating visitors on respectful travel around Loch Ness
• Collaborating locally — working with other tour operators and Highland attractions to spread bookings and reduce congestion on local roads and honeypot sites
• Building sustainability awareness among both crew and passengers, rather than treating it as a back-office exercise

What the Assessor Said

“Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises has attained the Green Tourism Gold Award, recognising its commitment to running its business in a sustainable way. Not only does it have first class sustainable actions and projects in place, but the business is also looking ahead to identify further actions it can undertake to reinforce its already excellent approach.”

Euan Haggart, Environment and Sustainability Assessor, Green Tourism

Haggart added that the team’s local knowledge of Loch Ness’s cultural and natural heritage is “second to none”, complemented by strong customer care and safety standards — a key reason the operator was “incredibly deserving” of Gold and one to watch as its sustainability journey develops.

Why It Matters for UK Travellers

For domestic visitors weighing a Scottish break, the award offers practical reassurance:

• Highlands without the guilt: Choose a Loch Ness cruise already vetted against independent environmental and social criteria
• Support for the local economy: Gold requires demonstrable benefit to the community around Inverness and Loch Ness
• More comfortable visits: Joint working to stagger bookings should ease pressure on roads, piers and facilities — particularly important in shoulder season
• Accessible by design: Inclusion is part of the standard, not an add-on

Jacobite operates from Dochgarroch Lock and Clansman Harbour, with departures linked to Inverness city centre — making it an easy add to itineraries exploring the Great Glen, Urquhart Castle and the wider Highlands.

Source: Jacobite Loch Ness Cruises official announcement (2 Sept 2026) via Green Tourism. For bookings and sustainability details see jacobite.co.uk.

At Cover Page Media, we bring the top stories from the global travel world.

To explain in simple terms, the World Travel Awards is to the travel industry what the Oscars are to film. It is the most widely recognised benchmark of excellence across hotels, airlines, destinations, cruise lines, and hospitality groups globally. Winning a World Travel Award carries the level of marketing weight that money can’t simply buy. And hosting the ceremony carries even more.

On June 17th, 2026, Visit Maldives Corporation (VMC) and CROSSROADS Maldives made it official: the World Travel Awards Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony will take place at CROSSROADS Maldives on the 27th of September 2026, bringing together the region’s most influential and important tourism decision-makers, hoteliers, airline executives, DMOs, stakeholders and travel media all under one roof and in one of the world’s most aspirational destinations.

What CROSSROADS Maldives Actually Is

For those unfamiliar with the venue, CROSSROADS Maldives is not a single resort but it is the Indian Ocean’s first fully integrated tourism destination. It spans a multi-island development that combines three distinct hotel brands under one address. SAii Lagoon Maldives anchors the leisure proposition while Hard Rock Hotel Maldives brings entertainment and lifestyle energy. And the center of it all, The Marina at CROSSROADS functions as a social and retail hub connecting the islands, with restaurants, a dive centre, water sports, and the region’s only international maritime cultural centre.

This is the venue that will host the industry’s most senior executives on September 27th. As a backdrop for an awards ceremony designed to celebrate the best of Asian, Oceanic and Indian Ocean travel, it is, frankly, a very strong and unique choice.

Why This Matters for the Maldives

“Hosting an event of such global prestige is not only an honour, but a clear reflection of the strength and appeal of our destination on the global stage. The World Travel Awards represents excellence in travel and tourism, and bringing this event to the Maldives reinforces our position as a leading global destination, defined by world-class hospitality, distinctive island experiences and consistent service excellence.”- speaking at the signing ceremony, Visit Maldives Corporation CEO and Managing Director Ibrahim Shiuree was direct about what this means for him and for Maldives.

The language is polished, as you’d expect, but the strategic logic behind it is also sound. The Maldives is fighting on multiple fronts simultaneously in 2026. The Indian Ocean region has faced demand softening as geopolitical instability across the Middle East disrupted long-haul routing and traveller confidence. Meanwhile, there is undeniable competition from emerging Indian Ocean rivals, namely the Seychelles, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and a rapidly developing Oman coastal tourism sector has intensified.

Hosting the World Travel Awards Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean creates a visible, industry-wide statement: the Maldives is not retreating. It is in fact, doubling down on its status as the region’s defining luxury destination.

What Happens On The World Travel Awards Day- September 27

The World Travel Awards Asia, Oceania & Indian Ocean 2026 Gala Ceremony at CROSSROADS Maldives will bring together nominees and winners from across the Asia Pacific, Australasia and Indian Ocean region. It will be covering best airline, best hotel, best cruise line, best destination, best airport, and dozens of subcategories that shape procurement decisions and traveller choices across the entire region.

For Maldives-based hospitality businesses that is resorts, liveaboards, dive operators, transfer providers, and destination management companies, this is a wonderful direct opportunity. World Travel Award nominations and wins are among the highest-return marketing assets available to independent hospitality operators in the region. The ceremony happening in-country maximises the visibility of Maldivian nominees before the industry audience that matters most.

For the global travel trade watching from outside the Indian Ocean: nominations are open, and the deadline matters. Voting closes well before September. If your property, airline, or service operates in the Asia, Oceania or Indian Ocean region and you haven’t submitted, the time to move is now.

The Bottom Line

The Maldives hosting the World Travel Awards 2026 is a exceptionally well-timed, strategically coherent move by a destination that knows exactly what it is and knows that being seen matters as much as being beautiful. CROSSROADS Maldives provides the infrastructure and Visit Maldives Corporation provides the mandate. September 27th provides the moment.

In an Indian Ocean region navigating real uncertainty in 2026, the Maldives has chosen confidence. The industry will be watching.

Editorial Disclaimer: All event details, quotes, and partnership information in this article are sourced from the official VMC and CROSSROADS Maldives announcement as reported by Breaking Travel News on June 17, 2026. Cover Page Media has not independently verified delegate attendance projections. Event details are subject to change — readers should confirm current information at worldtravelawards.com.