Nominations for the 2009 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards closed yesterday, the number of nominations is significantly up on last year: we have had nominations for nearly 600 organisations and individuals.

Students and associates from the International Centre for Responsible Tourism are now working through each of the categories and coming up with a long list for each category. Each of the nominees on the long list will then be sent an extensive questionnaire, references will be taken up and the judges will then create short lists which go to the full panel for debate and decision later in the year. Chairing the debate is an enjoyable challenge.  Read about who the judges are and  how the awards are judged.

The Responsible Tourism Awards are the most prestigious awards of their kind in the world and are a collaboration between online travel directory responsibletravel.com, who founded and organise the Awards, UK media partners Telegraph Travel and Geographical Magazine, BBC World News, and World Travel Market, who host the Awards ceremony

The 2009 Responsible Tourism Award winners will be announced at World Travel Market on Wednesday 11 November, and in The Daily Telegraph the following weekend.