Applications and nominations are now open for the 2026 Hospitality Education Awards (HEA), which recognise excellence in tourism education in Portugal. The aim of these awards is to honour the teachers, emerging talents, projects and organisations that have distinguished themselves most in the hospitality and tourism sector.
Organised annually by the Associação Fórum Turismo, the Tourism Training Awards in Portugal receive institutional support from Turismo de Portugal, I.P., the National Association of Vocational Schools (ANESPO), the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP) and the Network of Public Higher Education Institutions offering courses in the field of tourism (RIPTUR).
The mission of the awards is to recognise and raise the profile of teachers, young professionals, projects and organisations – whether public or private – that are dedicated to promoting excellence in education in Portugal, thereby ensuring the sector’s standards.
The 2026 edition continues to highlight six categories:
- Best Teaching Career in Higher Education
- Best Teaching Career in Vocational Education
- Best Innovation Project
- Best Educational Project
- Best Young Professional
- Best Stakeholder
In addition to these, the “Fórum Turismo” Career Award is also presented, an honorary award granted directly to pay tribute to a former education professional with a career marked by excellence.
The process for participating in the HEA can be done via a Nomination, Application and/or Reapplication.
Recommendations period – until 15 May
The Recommendations period runs until 15 May, allowing the community to suggest names of teachers, young professionals, projects and/or organisations they consider worthy of this recognition. This step serves as an incentive for potential candidates to feel valued and motivated to submit their official application. Recommendations can be made via a dedicated form -
Hospitality Education Awards - Recomendações 2026 Applications and re-applications – open until 15 June
At the same time, the application and re-application process is also open until 15 June. During this period, teachers, young professionals, project leaders and organisations may formally submit their track record or initiative for consideration in the various categories. To simplify the process, those wishing to re-apply may retrieve their details from previous editions.
For further information on the rules and how to apply, please see: www.hea.pt.
