CHATTANOOGA, TN – Wanderful has announced the finalists for the 2026 Bessie Awards, the annual celebration recognizing women and gender-diverse creators, founders, and community leaders making a meaningful impact in the travel industry. Winners will be revealed at the WITS Creator Summit in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Saturday, May 30, 2026.

Named after Bessie Coleman, the first woman of African American and Native American descent to hold a pilot's license, the Bessie Awards honor individuals and organizations who empower others to travel boldly and who champion a more inclusive, equitable travel space.

“The Bessie Awards are a reflection of Wanderful's mission to elevate women and diverse voices in travel,” said Beth Santos, Founder and CEO of Wanderful. “This year's finalists are pushing boundaries, redefining storytelling, and building communities that make travel better for everyone—and we're thrilled to celebrate their work.”

2026 Bessie Awards Finalists

Creator of the Year

• Imani Bashir – Founder of Takeoff Travel Mag, Imani uses storytelling and entrepreneurship to amplify representation for Black travelers and families, turning content into advocacy and influence.
• Anela Malik – Creator of Feed the Malik and author of American Soul, Anela blends food, culture, and media to preserve heritage and elevate diverse voices.
• Eva zu Beck – Adventure storyteller known for exploring remote regions, Eva's cinematic content encourages cross-cultural understanding and inspires curiosity in global audiences.

Trailblazer Award

• Rachel‑Jean Firchau – Founder of Rachel Off Duty, Rachel empowers travelers to integrate adventure into daily life, carving out space for women to explore confidently.
• Lauren Gay – Founder of Outdoorsy Diva and founding board member of the Black Travel Alliance, Lauren inspires Black women to embrace adventure while building inclusive travel communities.
• Eileen Ivette – Creator of Black Latin History, Eileen amplifies Afro-Latino voices through immersive, educational content, setting a new standard for ethical storytelling in travel.

Storyteller Award

• Rory Buccheri – Adventure.com feature on Grenada's climate-smart islands, highlighting sustainable travel innovation.
• Gerry Isabelle – Instagram reel “Mushroom Foraging Women, Oaxaca, Mexico,” showcasing Indigenous women's cultural expertise.
• Chloe Jade Travels – TikTok “Everything In This Video Is Now Ill3g4l in Afghanistan,” sparking urgent conversations about women's rights and cultural access.

Lifetime Achievement Award (Presented by JourneyWoman)

• Samantha Brown – Celebrating 25 years connecting audiences to people and places worldwide, while uplifting underrepresented creators.
• Lou Hammond – Influential travel PR leader who has mentored generations and strengthened travel communications globally.
• Dr. Sian Proctor – Geoscientist, artist, and astronaut inspiring inclusion and representation in science, space, and travel.

Social Impact Award

• Kai Bouhmad – Founder of Black Girls Shoot Too, empowering women of color in photography and championing human rights through travel storytelling.
• Amy Tarpein – Creator of Elijah's Baby Bucket List, making travel accessible for families with unique medical needs.
• Abigail Vacca – Host of The Global Treasures Podcast, highlighting UNESCO World Heritage Sites and underrepresented communities to foster cultural preservation.

Innovation in Travel Marketing Award

• A&O Hostels – “Where to Go in 2025” TikTok Campaign – Leveraging 100 creators and a viral audio trend that grew to 400 organic participants, the campaign generated 30M impressions, $705K in revenue, and a 10% increase in direct website traffic, showcasing the power of strategic, ROI-driven creator partnerships.
• TUI Accessible Holidays – Accessibility Ambassadors Program – Partnered with disabled and neurodivergent creators to authentically showcase accessible travel, redefining inclusive marketing with creators at the center.
• Spice of Europe – Budapest Influencer Trip – 50 influencers, 2,100+ posts, and 150M+ reach. This immersive, production-level campaign transformed Budapest into a trending travel destination while setting a new standard for large-scale creator activation.

Travel Startup of the Year

• Vanessa Karel – Greether – Connects travelers with vetted local hosts to make safe, social travel experiences possible.
• Amanda Kessy – Still Waters Safaris – Ethical, community-led safaris in Tanzania that empower local guides and showcase wildlife responsibly.
• Tess Millhollon – HerHouse – Home-sharing, home-sitting, and community-driven travel platform enabling safe, affordable, women-centered exploration worldwide.

Allyship Award

• Stuart Greif – Forbes Travel Guide – Elevates underrepresented entrepreneurs and inclusive hospitality practices.
• Danny Guerrero – The Culturist Group – Amplifies cultural diversity and underrepresented voices in travel storytelling.
• Mikey Sadowski – Intrepid Travel – Champions ethical tourism and inclusive travel opportunities for creators and travelers alike.

The finalists were selected from nominations submitted by the global travel community, with winners determined through a combination of community voting and a jury panel of industry experts.

The Bessie Awards ceremony will take place during the WITS Travel Creator Summit on Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

For the full list of finalists and more information, visit www.bessieawards.org/finalists.

About Wanderful

Wanderful is a leading global community for women and gender-diverse travelers and travel content creators. Started as a blog in 2009 by Beth Santos, Wanderful exists to make travel better for all women by increasing representation, expanding economic opportunity, and fostering meaningful community across the travel industry.

With thousands of members in more than 50 countries, Wanderful connects creators and travelers through professional development programs, curated small-group trips, local chapters, and industry-leading events. Through programming like the WITS Creator Summit, the Bessie Awards, plus a year-round membership and online events, Wanderful champions inclusive storytelling, equitable partnerships, and sustainable growth in travel.

Learn more at www.sheswanderful.com.

About WITS 

The WITS Creator Summit is the premier event for women and gender-diverse travel creators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. Produced annually by Wanderful, WITS brings together hundreds of digital creators, destination marketers, travel brands, and media professionals for three days of education, community-building, and collaboration.

Since its launch in 2014, WITS has become a cornerstone gathering for the travel creator economy — offering hands-on workshops, industry insights, brand partnerships, and conversations shaping the future of travel media. Learn more at www.witsummit.com.