While the first-place destinations and organizations always stand to benefit from some form of reputation boost, this year takes on special prominence as it marks the 25th edition of the global awards. The voting began on March 26 and will remain open through August 5. The final winners will be named during a ceremony in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on September 15.

Photo: Medellín, known the City of Eternal Spring, offers beautiful Andean mountain landscapes in central Colombia. (Photo credit: Jared Wade)

This will be the World Travel Awards first time hosting the event in Guayaquil, which the organization called the nation’s most vibrant city, commercial heart, and gateway to the Galapagos Islands.

“It will be a real honor to welcome the major players of the tourist industry to Guayaquil,” said Gloria Gallardo, president of Guayaquil Tourist Board. “Guayaquil is your destination to visit and enjoy. We are sure that WTA delegates will fall in love with the city and, hopefully, return.”

Among the nominees, Colombia is in the running, along with most countries on the continent, in the categories of “Leading Cultural Destination,” “Leading Culinary Destination,” “Leading Adventure Tourism,” and “Leading Green Destination.”

READ MORE: Colombia Brought In Record $5.8 Billion USD in Foreign Tourism Revenue in 2017

In terms of cities, the national capital, Bogotá, is up for the top prize for “South America’s Leading Destination,” while both Bogotá and Medellín got the nod in the categories of “Leading City Break Destination” and “Leading Meetings & Conference Destination.”

Among the country’s coastal locations, the faraway island of San Andres faces tough competition — against the likes of Rio de Janeiro, the Galapagos Islands, and Easter Island — in the esteemed “Leading Beach Destination” category. The Port of Cartagena, for its part, is up for “Leading Cruise Port.”

In terms of organizations and companies, Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport is up for the top airport in South America, and Avianca has a shot at winning best airline.

Colombia fared less favorably in terms of hotels and resorts, however, with only a relative few entrants making the cut when stacked up against high-end options in Brazil and Argentina, among other locations. But the following are in the running in various categories: B.O.G. Hotel, Click Clack Hotel, Hotel 101 Park House Suites & Spa, Hotel San Fernando Plaza Medellín, Hotel 101 Park House Suites & Spa, and Hotel San Fernando Plaza Medellín.

Finally, two promotion agencies in the country, the national ProColombia and the capital’s District Institute of Tourism of Bogotá, were nominated in their respective categories.

The full list of nominees are as follows:

Destination

South America’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination 2018
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Peru
Uruguay

South America’s Leading Beach Destination 2018
Easter Island, Chile
Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Máncora, Piura, Peru
Mar del Plata, Argentina
Margarita Island, Venezuela
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
San Andrés, Colombia

South America’s Leading Business Travel Destination 2018
Bogotá, Colombia
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Lima, Peru
Medellin, Colombia
Montevideo, Uruguay
Quito, Ecuador
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
São Paulo, Brazil

South America’s Leading City Break Destination 2018
Bogotá, Colombia
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cuenca, Ecuador
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Lima, Peru
Medellin, Colombia
Montevideo, Uruguay
Quito, Ecuador
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

South America’s Leading City Tourist Board 2018
Buenos Aires Turismo
District Institute of Tourism of Bogotá
Fundación Municipal Turismo para Cuenca
Guayaquil Convention & Visitors Bureau
Lima Convention and Visitors Bureau
Medellin Convention & Visitors Bureau
Quito Turismo
Rio Convention & Visitors Bureau
São Paulo Convention & Visitors Bureau

South America’s Leading Culinary Destination 2018
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela

South America’s Leading Cultural Destination 2018
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Peru
Uruguay

South America’s Leading Destination 2018
Bogotá, Colombia
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Lima, Peru
Quito, Ecuador
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
São Paulo, Brazil

South America’s Leading Green Destination 2018
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Paraguay
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela

South America’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination 2018
Bogotá, Colombia
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Lima, Peru
Medellin, Colombia
Quito, Ecuador
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
São Paulo, Brazil

South America’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination 2018
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Lima, Peru
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Santiago, Chile
São Paulo, Brazil

South America’s Leading Tourist Board 2018
Argentina Government Tourist Office
Ecuador Ministry of Tourism
EMBRATUR – Brazilian Tourist Board
ProColombia
PromPeru – Peruvian Tourism Board
SERNATUR – National Tourist Board of Chile

Hotels & Resorts

South America’s Leading Airport Hotel 2018
Costa del Sol Wyndham Lima Airport, Peru
Holiday Inn Santiago – Airport Terminal, Chile
Hotel Panamby, São Paulo, Brazil
Pullman São Paulo Guarulhos Airport, Brazil
Sao Paulo Airport Marriott Hotel, Brazil
Venezuela Marriott Hotel Playa Grande, Venezuela
Wyndham Quito Airport, Ecuador

South America’s Leading Beach Resort 2018
Dom Pedro Laguna, Beach Villas & Golf Resort, Brazil
Enjoy Punta del Este, Uruguay
Sheraton Colonia Golf & Spa Resort, Uruguay
Suites Beach Park Resort, Brazil
Tivoli Ecoresort Praia do Forte Bahia, Brazil

South America’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2018
Casa Gangotena, Ecuador
Correntoso Lake & River Hotel, Argentina
Design Suites Buenos Aires, Argentina
Esplendor El Calafate, Argentina
Explora Patagonia, Chile
Hotel 101 Park House Suites & Spa, Colombia
Hotel Cocoon, Brazil
Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Hotel Fasano São Paulo, Brazil
Hotel Plaza Grande Quito, Ecuador
Hotel-Art & Spa Cumbres, Uruguay
L’Hotel PortoBay São Paulo, Brazil
La Mirage Garden Hotel & Spa, Ecuador
Las Balsas, Argentina
Saint Andrews Gramado, Brazil
Tcherassi Hotel & Spa

South America’s Leading Boutique Resort 2018
Aldebarán Hotel & Spa, Argentina
Charming Luxury Lodge & Private Spa, Argentina
Correntoso Lake & River Hotel, Argentina
Cumbres Hotel-Art & Spa, Uruguay
explora Patagonia, Chile

South America’s Leading Business Hotel 2018
Belmond Copacabana Palace, Brazil
Belmond Miraflores Park, Peru
Grand Hyatt São Paulo, Brazil
Hilton Bogota, Colombia
Hilton Lima Miraflores, Peru
Hotel Oro Verde Guayaquil, Ecuador
Hotel San Fernando Plaza Medellín, Colombia
JW Marriott Hotel Lima, Peru
Swissôtel Lima, Peru
The Ritz-Carlton Santiago, Chile

South America’s Leading Casino Resort 2018
Delfines Hotel & Convention Center, Peru
Enjoy Punta del Este, Uruguay
Iguazú Grand, Argentina
Park Hyatt Mendoza, Argentina

South America’s Leading City Hotel 2018
Belmond Miraflores Park, Peru
Grand Hyatt São Paulo, Brazil
Hilton Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hotel San Fernando Plaza Medellín, Colombia
Radisson Blu São Paulo, Brazil
Sofitel Bogotá Victoria Regia, Colombia
The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago, Chile
Wish Hotel da Bahia, Brazil
Wyndham Guayaquil, Ecuador

South America’s Leading Conference Hotel 2018
Grand Hyatt São Paulo, Brazil
Hilton Buenos Aires, Argentina
Los Tajibos Hotel & Convention Center, Bolivia
Sheraton Santiago Hotel and Convention Center, Chile
Sofitel Rio de Janeiro Ipanema, Brazil
Swissôtel Lima, Peru
Swissôtel Quito, Ecuador

South America’s Leading Design Hotel 2018
Atix Hotel, Bolivia
B.O.G. Hotel, Colombia
Carlota, Ecuador
Click Clack Hotel, Colombia
Hotel B, Peru
Hotel Pulitzer Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hotel Unique, Brazil
Kenoa – Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort, Brazil

South America’s Leading Eco-Lodge 2018
Cristalino Lodge, Brazil
Don Enrique Lodge, Argentina
Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica, Peru
Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador
Merecumbe, Colombia
Napo Wildlife Center Luxury Eco-lodge

South America’s Leading Family Resort 2018
Hotel Casa da Montanha, Brazil
Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, Golf-Spa, Argentina
Sheraton Colonia Golf & Spa Resort, Uruguay
Suites Beach Park Resort, Brazil
Tivoli Ecoresort Praia do Forte Bahia, Brazil
Wish Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil

South America’s Leading Green Hotel 2018
Finch Bay Galapagos Hotel, Ecuador
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, Peru
Kiaroa Eco-Luxury Resort, Brazil
Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador
Pikaia Lodge, Galapagos Islands
Posada Amazonas Lodge, Peru
The Singular Patagonia, Chile
Tivoli Ecoresort Praia do Forte Bahia, Brazil

South America’s Leading Heritage Hotel 2018
Belmond Copacabana Palace, Brazil
Belmond Hotel Monasterio, Peru
JW Marriott El Convento Cusco, Peru
Pestana Convento do Carmo Bahia, Brazil
Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena, Colombia

South America’s Leading Hotel 2018
Belmond Copacabana Palace, Brazil
Belmond Hotel Rio Sagrado, Peru
Faena Hotel Buenos Aires, Argentina
Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires, Argentina
JW Marriott Hotel Lima, Peru
Mandarin Oriental Santiago, Chile
Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires, Argentina
Palácio Tangará São Paulo, Brazil
Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena
Swissôtel Lima, Peru
Swissôtel Quito, Ecuador
The Brick Hotel Buenos Aires Mgallery by Sofitel, Argentina
The Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center, Peru

South America’s Leading Hotel Brand 2018
Four Seasons
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Marriott Hotels
Meliá Hotels & Resorts
Radisson
Sofitel
Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts

South America’s Leading Hotel Suite 2018
Enrique Grau Suite @ Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena, Colombia
Penthouse Suite @ Belmond Copacabana Palace, Brazil
Presidential Suite @ JW Marriott Hotel Quito, Ecuador
Presidential Suite @ The Ritz-Carlton Santiago, Chile
St. Regis Suite @ Park Tower, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Suite Plunge Pool @ Hotel Paracas, A Luxury Collection Resort, Peru
The Presidential Suite @ San Cristobal Tower, Chile
The Suite @ Hotel Cartagena Plaza

South America’s Leading Luxury All Suite Hotel 2018
Hotel 101 Park House Suites & Spa, Colombia
Hotel Plaza Grande, Ecuador
Saint Andrews Gramado, Brazil

South America’s Leading Luxury Boutique Hotel 2018
Aranwa Cusco Boutique Hotel, Peru
Casas da Vila, Brazil
Cavas Wine Lodge, Argentina
Grace Cafayate, Argentina
Los Cauquenes Resort & Spa, Argentina
Pousada Estrela d’Agua, Brazil
Saint Andrews Gramado, Brazil
Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel, Peru

South America’s Leading New Hotel 2018
Alvear Icon Hotel & Residences, Argentina
Awasi Iguazú, Argentina
Casa Republica, Barranco Boutique Hotel, Peru
Conrad Cartagena, Colombia
Illa Experience Hotel, Ecuador
Park Inn by Radisson Santos, Brazil
Radisson Hotel Guayaquil, Ecuador
Tierra Chiloé Hotel & Spa, Chile

South America’s Leading Resort 2018
Arasha Tropical Forest Resort & Spa, Ecuador
Carmelo Resort & Spa. A Hyatt Hotel, Uruguay
Costão do Santinho Resort, Brazil
Dom Pedro Laguna, Brazil
Enjoy Punta del Este, Uruguay
Hotel Paracas, A Luxury Collection Resort, Peru
Iguazú Grand, Argentina
Llao Llao Resort, Golf & Spa, Argentina
Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Valle Sagrado, Peru
Termas Papallacta, Ecuador

South America’s Most Romantic Resort 2018
Belmond Miraflores Park, Peru
Carmelo Resort & Spa, A Hyatt Hotel, Uruguay
Charming Luxury Lodge & Private Spa, Argentina
Hotel Casa da Montanha, Brazil
UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa, Brazil

Meetings & Conventions

South America’s Leading Meetings & Conference Centre 2018
Fiesta Convention Center, Brazil
Iguazú Grand, Argentina
La Rural, Predio Ferial de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Riocentro Convention & Event Center, Brazil
Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel & Convention Center, Argentina
Sheraton Lima Hotel & Convention Center, Peru
Wish Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil

Travel Agencies & Tour Operators

South America’s Leading Business Travel Agency 2018
Rotamund
Sintectur
Turismo Pecom

South America’s Leading Expedition Company 2018
Blue Parallel
Explora
Latin Excursions
Nomads of the Seas
The Singular Patagonia

South America’s Leading Green Tour Operator 2018
Explorandes
TERRA Group
Tucan Travel
Yampu Tours

South America’s Leading Tour Operator 2018
Adios Adventure Travel
Chimu Adventures
CTM Tours
CVC
Latin Trails
Luxury Latin America
Metropolitan Touring
Say Hueque Argentina Adventures
Terra Group
Tucan Travel
Yampu Tours

South America’s Leading Travel Agency 2018
Costamar Travel
CVC
Exito Travel
Turismo Pecom

South America’s Leading Travel Management Company 2018
Aviatur
Carlson Wagonlit Travel
CVC
FCM Travel Solutions
Rotamund

Air

South America’s Leading Airline 2018
Aerolineas Argentinas
Avianca
GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes
LATAM Airlines

South America’s Leading Airline Brand 2018
Aerolineas Argentinas
Avianca
GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes
LATAM Airlines

South America’s Leading Airport 2018
Aeropuerto Internacional de Guayaquil – José Joaquín de Olmedo, Ecuador
Aeropuerto Internacional El Dorado, Bogotá – Colombia
Brasilia International Airport, Brazil
Carrasco International Airport, Uruguay
Ezeiza International Airport, Argentina
Jorge Chavez International Airport, Peru
Mariscal Sucre International Airport, Quito, Ecuador
Rio de Janeiro Galeao – Antonio Carlos Jobim Airport, Brazil
Santiago International Airport, Chile

South America’s Leading Private Jet Charter 2018
American Jet
ATSA
Jetstream Air Services
Líder Aviação
Privé Jets

Cruise

South America’s Leading Boutique Cruise 2018
Anakonda Amazon Cruises
Aria Amazon
Galapagos Legend Boutique Expedition Cruise Ship
Galapagos Sea Star Journey
Ocean Adventures
Santa Cruz II

South America’s Leading Cruise Line 2018
Carnival Cruise Line
Celebrity Cruises
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
MSC Cruises
Regent Seven Seas Cruises

South America’s Leading Cruise Port 2018
Pier Mauá International Cruise Terminal, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Port of Buenos Aires
Port of Cartagena, Colombia
Port of Montevideo, Uruguay
Port of Valparaíso, Chile

Rail

South America’s Leading Luxury Train 2018
Belmond Andean Explorer
Belmond Hiram Bingham
Serra Verde Express
Tren Crucero

Car

South America’s Leading Car Rental Company 2018
Avis
Budget
Dollar
Hertz