The City is ready to host the first annual Durban Tourism Business Awards which aims to recognise businesses in tourism that portrayed innovation and managed to adapt and thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The awards ceremony will be held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre from 6.30pm on 15 June. It will be streamed live on the Durban Tourism Facebook page @DBNTourism with Metro FM broadcasting live from the awards from 6pm to 9pm. 

With only a few days left before the awards show, excitement is mounting among the 51 finalists in anticipation of who will be taking home cash prizes up to R50 000 per category along with business development prizes. 

The 51 finalists are businesses in the following categories: Service Excellence (Accommodation - hotels and non-hotels), Meeting, Exhibition and Special Events Venues, Tourist Guides, Tour Operators, Rickshaw Pullers, Visitors Experience, Sustainable Development, Entrepreneurship, Upcoming Filmmakers and the Mayors Choice. 

EThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda said: “With the tourism and hospitality sector being the hardest hit by the devastating pandemic and floods, the inaugural awards are set to honour and reward outstanding businesses that were innovative in adapting to the new conditions. We intend to utilise this platform to ensure that Durban remains the destination of choice for visitors whether intra-provincially, domestically, and when borders open, internationally. We want to keep Durban top of mind for international visitors.” 

The journey to the award’s final night began in December 2021 with an entries callout which closed in February this year. This was followed by a public voting process for the service excellence category where over 9 500 votes were recorded. 
The adjudication process then took place in April and May featuring an independent panel of judges. This process included an onsite inspection of all the nominated products under the service excellence categories (accommodation, experiential, and meetings, exhibitions, and special events). The last step is the final adjudication scores that will go to auditors to be presented at the awards night. 

ENDS. 

Issued by eThekwini Municipality’s Communications Unit. For media enquiries, contact the Municipal Spokesman, Msawakhe Mayisela on 060 966 4220.