And the 2025 Bessie Award winners are…
Every year, the Bessie Awards honor those who continue to positively impact the travel industry through their work. From entrepreneurs to content creators, influencers to travel representatives—the Bessie Awards acknowledge the contributions and creative work of women and other gender-diverse folks who are pushing for a more inclusive travel community, all the while inspiring our next adventures.
Named after the iconic Bessie Coleman—the first woman of African American and Native American descent to earn a pilot’s license—the Bessie Awards were created by the Wanderful community and take place as part of the larger Women in Travel Summit.
For those unfamiliar with Wanderful, this sisterhood of travelers was founded by entrepreneur and author Beth Santos with a mission to create safe spaces for travelers to share resources, grow community, and encourage the success of other women and marginalized people across the globe. With over 45,000 members worldwide, the Wanderful community has expanded into a veritable universe that encompasses meaningful on-and-offline events dedicated to fostering authentic connection and driving positive change.
“We are not a niche. We are not even an exception to the rule. We are the rule,” writes CEO Beth Santos. “Women are traveling more than ever before. We are making the decisions; we are spending money. Yet the world has never been designed for women. But it can be. That’s why Wanderful exists.”
This year, the Bessie Awards were hosted in New York City, bringing together a diverse group of people from across the industry to celebrate those who continue to inspire us with their work.
Here, Fodor’s shares an exclusive first look at the 2025 winners of the Bessie Awards. You can learn about past Bessie Award winners here.
