First-ever awards honour 42 winners from across the state; Shruti Shibulal honoured with Woman in Tourism Excellence award and Lifetime Achievement Award conferred posthumously on H.T. Ratnakar
Hotels, resorts, tour operators, guides, naturalists, content creators, startups and institutions from across Karnataka were honoured at the first Karnataka Tourism Awards. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Tourism Minister K.J. George presented the awards at a ceremony at Bangalore Palace Grounds on 27 September, coinciding with World Tourism Day.
While the world marked the day, Karnataka turned the spotlight on the hoteliers, tour operators, naturalists and grassroots innovators who shape the state’s visitor economy. The awards create an official platform to recognise them.
Ceremony in Brief
The Chief Minister and the Tourism Minister inaugurated the programme as chief guests. Also present were M. Srinivas, Chairman of the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC); K. Syama Raju, President of the Karnataka Tourism Society (KTS); Dr. Ram Prasath Manohar; officials of the Tourism Department; KTS executive members; and leaders of the state’s travel trade and hospitality sector.
After the addresses, the Chief Minister and the Minister handed over the awards to the winners. The evening closed with a note of thanks to the state leadership, the independent jury, the secretariat team and the event’s supporters and partners.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the state’s tourism strength is “powered by the resilience and passion of our private trade community.” He said the government is committed to world-class infrastructure, including plans for a grand “Karnataka Mandapa” modelled on Bharat Mandapam. “Through these strategic investments and the maiden Karnataka Tourism Awards,” he said, the government is ensuring that the sector receives the recognition and growth it deserves.
Tourism Minister K.J. George said Karnataka must use artificial intelligence and digital technologies to make tourism more inclusive, sustainable and future-ready, from smart booking engines to AI-driven heritage interpretation and digital marketing. He said the awards celebrate the innovators who are modernising the traveller’s journey across the state’s 31 districts.
K. Syama Raju, President of KTS, said stakeholders had sought a dedicated platform to recognise excellence for more than six years. Seeing it become a reality in partnership with the Department of Tourism was “immensely gratifying,” he said. More than 175 entries were evaluated across 35 categories, which he said proved the industry was ready for such a benchmark. He added that KTS looks forward to holding the awards every year to raise service standards and hospitality quality.
Winners at a Glance
Leading names:
- Sheraton Grand Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway: Best Five Star Hotel
- Taj West End, Bengaluru: Best Heritage Hotel
- Taj M.G. Road, Bengaluru: Best Business Hotel
- Evolve Back Resorts: Best Hotel Chain
- SwaSwara: Best Wellness Retreat and Best Eco-Friendly Resort
- Arjun Tours and Travels Private Limited: Best Tourist Transport Operator
Lifetime Achievement Award: The late H.T. Ratnakar, the veteran KSTDC official and former Project Director of the Golden Chariot, was honoured posthumously.
Full List of Winners
Accommodation & Hospitality
| Award | Winner |
| 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
| Award | Winner |
| Best KSTDC Unit | Mayura Pine Top, Nandi Hills |
| Best JLR Unit | Kabini River Lodge |
Tour Operators & Travel Agents
| Award | Winner |
| 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
| Award | Winner |
| 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
| Award | Winner |
| Best Homestay Establishment | Dandeli Chalet |
| Best Rural Tourism Project | Payana Car Museum |
Education, Publications & Individuals
| Award | Winner |
| Best Guide | S. J. Ashok and G. Manjunatha Gowda |
| Best Naturalist | Chamaraja and Karthikeyan |
| Best Video Creator | Srihari Karanth and Nandini K. L. |
| Best Destination Video | Visit Mysuru |
| Best Influencer | Kim Aswani |
| Travel Writer of the Year | Sreenivasa Murthy N. S. |
| Woman in Tourism Excellence | 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 H. T. Ratnakar |
The Karnataka Tourism Awards are instituted by the Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, in association with the Karnataka Tourism Society. They recognise people and businesses doing good work in hospitality, visitor experience, responsible tourism and innovation.
In this first edition, 42 awards were presented across five categories, along with two special awards for the best units of KSTDC and Jungle Lodges & Resorts. The winners cover every stage of a traveller’s stay, from where they sleep and how they travel to who guides them. They include 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.
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