First ever Karnataka Tourism Awards honour 42 winners from across the state

Hotels, resorts, tour operators, guides, naturalists, content creators, startups, and institutions from across Karnataka were honoured at the first ever Karnataka Tourism Awards. Chief Minister Shri D.K. Shivakumar and Tourism Minister Shri K.J. George handed over the awards to the winners at a grand ceremony held at Bangalore Palace Grounds on 27 September 2026, coinciding with World Tourism Day.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of Bangalore Palace Grounds, the maiden Karnataka Tourism Awards arrived as a timely celebration on World Tourism Day. While travelers worldwide commemorated the global day of exploration, Karnataka turned the spotlight inward, honoring the local hoteliers, visionary tour operators, dedicated naturalists, and grassroots innovators who transform the state’s diverse landscapes into unforgettable journeys. This World Tourism Day milestone marked a historic turning point, institutionalizing an official platform to celebrate the true architects of Karnataka’s thriving visitor economy.

The landmark event was ceremoniously inaugurated by Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri D.K. Shivakumar and Hon’ble Minister for Tourism Shri K.J. George, who graced the occasion as chief guests. The ceremony also witnessed the esteemed presence of Shro. M. Srinivas, Chairman, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, Mr. Syama Raju. K, President, Karnataka Tourism Society, Dr. Ram Prasath Manohar, alongside the officials of Tourism departments, notable executive members of the Karnataka Tourism Society (KTS) and distinguished leaders from the state’s travel trade and hospitality fraternity.

As Karnataka continues to scale new heights as a premier global destination, state leadership is aggressively backing the tourism sector with landmark infrastructure and visionary policy frameworks. Highlighting this forward-looking vision, Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri D.K. Shivakumar said, “Our state’s tourism strength is powered by the resilience and passion of our private trade community. To further elevate our global footprint, the government is committed to building world-class infrastructure, including plans to construct a grand ‘Karnataka Mandapa’ modeled after the Bharat Mandapam. Through these strategic investments and the maiden Karnataka Tourism Awards, we are ensuring that our tourism ecosystem receives the scale of recognition and growth it truly deserves.”

In an era where modern travel is driven by digital transformation, Karnataka is pioneering the integration of technology to make visitor experiences smarter and more inclusive. Emphasizing this digital push, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism Shri K.J. George said, “To make Karnataka’s tourism more inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready, we must actively leverage artificial intelligence and cutting-edge digital technologies. From smart booking engines to AI-driven heritage interpretation and digital marketing tools, our operators are setting new benchmarks. The Karnataka Tourism Awards celebrate these exact innovators who are modernizing the traveler’s journey across our 31 districts.”

Reflecting on the significance of the inaugural platform, Shri K. Syama Raju, President of the Karnataka Tourism Society (KTS), said, “For more than six years, stakeholders across Karnataka’s travel and hospitality sector have requested a dedicated platform to recognize excellence. Seeing this long-felt need become a reality in partnership with the Department of Tourism is immensely gratifying. With more than 175 entries evaluated across 35 categories in this maiden edition, the overwhelming response proves that our industry was ready and eager for this benchmark. We look forward to institutionalizing these awards annually to continuously elevate service standards and hospitality quality across Karnataka.”

In this maiden edition, 42 awards were given across five categories: Accommodation & Hospitality, Tour Operators & Travel Agents, Events, Venues & Infrastructure, Sustainability & Rural Tourism, and Education, Publications & Individuals. Two special awards went to the best units of KSTDC and Jungle Lodges & Resorts. The Lifetime Achievement Award was conferred posthumously on the late Mr. H.T. Ratnakar.

The awards cover every part of a traveller’s time in Karnataka, from where they stay and how they travel to who shows them around. Apart from hotels, resorts, and travel companies, the list of winners includes heritage sites in Hampi and Bidar, wildlife stays in Kabini, a homestay in Dandeli, and a museum in Chikkamagaluru. Nearly a third of the awards went to guides, naturalists, writers, video creators, a startup, and a university, the people and institutions who help visitors discover the state.

Full List of Winners

Accommodation & Hospitality

Best Five Star Hotel: Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway

Best Four Star Hotel: Peninsula Del Mar

Best Three Star Hotel: Hotel Malligi Private Limited

Best Heritage Hotel: Taj West End, Bengaluru

Best Business Hotel: Taj M.G. Road, Bengaluru

Best Hotel Chain: Evolve Back Resorts

Best Boutique Hotel: Cintacor Island Resort, The Littlearth Group

Best Resort: Trivik Hotels and Resorts Private Limited

Best Resort: Coorg Wilderness Resort & Spa

Best Resort (Kalyana Karnataka Region): Inspira by SRS Resort & Convention

Best Wellness Retreat: SwaSwara

Best Eco-Friendly Resort: SwaSwara

Best Regional Cuisine Restaurant: Karavalli, Vivanta Bengaluru Residency Road

Best Adventure & Theme Park: Wonderla Holidays Limited

Special Government Category

Best KSTDC Unit: Mayura Pine Top, Nandi Hills

Best JLR Unit: Kabini River Lodge

Tour Operators & Travel Agents

Best Domestic Tour Operator: Nirmala Travels

Best Inbound Tour Operator: Essel Leisure Services Pvt. Ltd. (Panache)

Best Adventure Tour Operator: Outback Adventures

Best MICE Agency: Narayani Holidays and Hospitality

Best Luxury Tourist Transport Operator: Ramesh Tours and Travels Private Limited

Best Tourist Transport Bus Operator: Ramesh Tours and Travels Private Limited

Best Tourist Transport Operator: Arjun Tours and Travels Private Limited

Events, Venues & Infrastructure

Best Wedding Venue: Vimal Hospitality Private Limited

Outstanding Museum Practice Award: Freedom Fighters Memorial, Chikkamagaluru

Best Tourism-Friendly Heritage Monument: Archaeological Survey of India, Bidar Sub Circle, Hampi Circle

Sustainability & Rural Tourism

Best Homestay Establishment: Dandeli Chalet

Best Rural Tourism Project: Payana Car Museum

Education, Publications & Individuals

Best Guide: Mr. S. J. Ashok

Best Guide: Mr. G. Manjunatha Gowda

Best Naturalist: Mr. Chamaraja

Best Naturalist: Mr. Karthikeyan

Best Video Creator: Mr. Srihari Karanth

Best Video Creator: Ms. Nandini K. L.

Best Destination Video: Visit Mysuru

Best Influencer: Mr. Kim Aswani

Travel Writer of the Year: Mr. Sreenivasa Murthy N. S.

Woman in Tourism Excellence: Ms. Shruti Shibulal

Excellence in Publication in Tourism: DIGITOUR

Best Tourism Startup: OpenStays Private Limited

Best Educational Institute in Tourism Sector: Karnatak University, Dharwad

Lifetime Achievement Award: Late Mr. H. T. Ratnakar

As the evening drew to a triumphant close, a special note of appreciation was proposed to acknowledge the collaborative backbone of the event. Organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, in association with the Karnataka Tourism Society (KTS), the grand ceremony paid tribute to the true architects of our tourism economy.