What are the Onboard Hospitality Awards?
Launched in 2014, the Onboard Hospitality Awards are widely renowned as the most prestigious and reputable awards in the onboard hospitality sector. They recognise onboard F&B, amenities, bedding, pyjamas, tableware, inflight entertainment, apps and more.
Why should I enter?
Entering the Onboard Hospitality Awards brings global exposure and opens doors to new global business opportunities and partnerships. Being associated with the awards elevates your brand image and sets you apart as a leader in the industry.
Winning an award is a seal of approval, letting buyers know which products are the very best in the business. It’s a testament to the quality, innovation and excellence of a product and provides a competitive advantage which resonates with both airline, cruise, ferry and rail buyers and their passengers.
The judging process of the Onboard Hospitality Awards includes feedback from experts. Whether you win or not, this constructive criticism can be invaluable for product refinement and development, ensuring continuous improvement.
Finally, all entrants are invited to attend the awards celebration in Hamburg on Tuesday, April 14, the first day of World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) 2026. This is an annual gathering of industry leaders, experts and influencers, so a fantastic networking opportunity.
How are the winners chosen?
Once the entry deadline closes in early December, all entries are listed on our global website – onboardhospitality.com – and are voted for by our international readership of 25,000. This initial vote opens on January 1 2026 and is used to select the finalists. Finalists are then invited to send in samples of their products to be judged by a panel of 24 esteemed industry experts, selected because of their knowledge and good standing within the industry. This takes place in the United Kingdom on February 26 2026, giving you plenty of time to get your samples sent.
Why is there a cost to enter these awards?
All entrants – not just the finalists and winners – benefit from coverage on our global website onboardhospitality.com, with a description of the entry and photographs. Our engaged readership of buyers will be encouraged to view awards submissions via regular newsletters, social media posts and promotions in the magazine (25,000+ international).
All entries also receive a free standard listing on our global directory, Onboard Finder, for one year, worth £300.
Finalists get coverage in Onboard Hospitality magazine and in a special awards supplement which is distributed with the March issue of the magazine at the World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) in Hamburg in April, where the awards ceremony takes place.
The winners are announced on our global website onboardhospitality.com and on our dedicated awards website awards.onboardhospitality.com, where they feature for at least 12 months. They are also featured, with images, in the June issue of Onboard Hospitality magazine, and widely shared on our social media channels.
What is the cost to enter?
The cost to enter the Onboard Hospitality Awards is £470, with a series of discounts for multiple entries. This offers tremendous value for money when you factor in the promotional activity, a FREE Finder listing and FREE attendance at the Awards celebration in Hamburg at WTCE 2026.
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What are the categories?
There are 32 categories to enter. Due to a high level of entries in the food and beverage categories in recent years, this section has been expanded for 2026. For the first time, there will be an award for the Best Chef Collaboration/Catering Concept, plus awards for Best Onboard Breakfast Food Service (all classes) and Best Low-Cost F&B Buy-on-board Menu. A category for Best for Full-Service Food Service – Lunch & Dinner has been split into three categories for Economy, Business class and First class. There are now four beverage categories Best Onboard Beverage – Alcoholic (beers, cocktails, spirits), Best Onboard Wine/Champagne (red, white, rose, sparkling, Champagne), Best Onboard Beverage – Non Alcoholic and Best Onboard Beverage – Hot Drinks. The popular Ones to Watch category has been separated into two awards – F&B and non-F&B.
How many categories can I enter?
You can enter as many categories as you like. The more you enter, the cheaper each entry gets. If you’re not sure which category to enter, please contact Sue.Williams@onboardhospitality.com. For all F&B categories, please contact CraigMcQuinn@onboardhospitality.com.
Who can enter?
Entries can come from onboard suppliers, caterers, brokers or designers or from airlines, cruise and ferry companies and rail operators themselves. If preferred, an entry can come from multiple organisations who can share the entry cost. For example, it might be a product designed in collaboration with an airline and a supplier, so the entry can be jointly submitted.
What is the entry process?
The first step is to register by completing a simple form, which requires basic details including your name, company name, address, email, and (if applicable) confirmation of who you are entering awards on behalf of. At this stage, you will also be asked to indicate how many and which categories you are entering.
Once you have paid for your entry/entries, you will be sent a link to our submission form where you can supply information about your product, including brief descriptions of your company and your product, at least one high-resolution image of your product and your company logo.
You can also submit additional information, such as social media URLs and details about which airline/train operator/ferry or cruise your product is featured on.
Do I need to provide samples?
If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to provide samples of your products within two weeks of notification. These must be sent to an address in the United Kingdom. Please DO NOT send samples unless you have been notified to do so.
What about for F&B Food Service categories, where there is the potential to send more than one sample?
For these categories, please include details of all of the relevant dishes/trays on the entry form. If you are selected as a finalist, please choose just one dish/tray to send as a sample. For example, if you are entering the Business Class Food Service – Lunch and Dinner, please choose your best lunch dish/tray and your best dinner dish/ tray to send as samples. If you are entering the Onboard Breakfast Food Service category, please share details of all breakfast options in your submission but if you are chosen as a finalist, please only send one breakfast try/item as a sample for the judges to consider on the judging day. Likewise, if you are entering Best Chef Collaboration/Catering Concept, only one sample is required.
Are there any categories where samples are not required?
Yes, samples are not mandatory for the Technology categories or for Best for Accessibility Onboard, Best Sustainability Product, Best Sustainability Programme or Best Onboard Service Equipment: Crew, although they are welcome if you feel it will support your submission.
What is the criteria for the Ones to Watch categories?
These categories are for NEW products targeting the onboard hospitality sector in all classes for rail, ferry, cruise or air, not yet onboard. Products entered in this category must not be onboard before the judging day on February 26, 2026. Samples will be required if shortlisted.
See our guide to entering the Cabin Concept of the Year Award
