Who presented the award to Dubrovnik?

The award was presented by Matthew D. Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso, and accepted on behalf of the city by Ivan Rudolf Gajić, Director of Sales and Marketing at Villa Dubrovnik.

Which project was key to winning the award?

The application was based on the Respect the City project, which represents a model of responsible destination management and reducing the negative impacts of tourism.

Who were the finalists alongside Dubrovnik?

Alongside Dubrovnik, the finalists in the Destination category were the Slovenian Tourist Board and the Czech Tourist Board.

Travel

Dubrovnik Celebrated in Las Vegas: Prestigious Global Award

Q: Which award did Dubrovnik win?

The Dubrovnik Tourist Board won the Virtuoso Global Stewardship Award 2026 in the Destination category for sustainable tourism.

P.U. · Prije 17h | 2 min

The Dubrovnik Tourist Board has won the Virtuoso Global Stewardship Award 2026, beating over 300 nominations and confirming its status as a leader in responsible destination management.

Summary

Dubrovnik won the Virtuoso Global Stewardship Award for sustainable tourism in Las Vegas on August 10, 2026.
The award was decided by a live audience vote among three finalists, selected from over 300 nominations.
The key asset was the responsible destination management strategy, particularly the Respect the City project.
The award was accepted by Ivan Rudolf Gajić from Villa Dubrovnik and presented by Virtuoso CEO Matthew D. Upchurch.

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Dubrovnik has won the prestigious international Virtuoso Global Stewardship Award 2026 in the Destination category. At the Under One Sky event, held in Las Vegas during Virtuoso Travel Week on August 10, 2026, the Dubrovnik Tourist Board was presented with the award for its continuous progress in sustainable tourism and responsible destination leadership.

The Road to Victory: Three Finalists and Audience Vote

This year's competition received over 300 nominations from across the global Virtuoso network. All applications were evaluated by members of the Virtuoso Sustainability Guild, which brings together more than 20 experts dedicated to sustainability, along with the Virtuoso Sustainability team. Based on their assessment, Dubrovnik made the shortlist of three finalists, alongside the Slovenian Tourist Board and the Czech Tourist Board.

The final decision was made by the audience through a live vote during the event. Before more than 700 attendees, Dubrovnik was declared the best in its category for 2026.

The "Respect the City" Project in Focus

The Dubrovnik Tourist Board's application focused on sustainable tourism, with special emphasis on the Respect the City project. Through this initiative, the system of responsible destination management continues to be improved. As part of the final presentation, a short video was produced showcasing Dubrovnik's key activities and results in the field of sustainability.

Award Presented by Virtuoso CEO

The award was accepted on behalf of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board by Ivan Rudolf Gajić, Director of Sales and Marketing at Villa Dubrovnik. In addition to the Tourist Board itself, Villa Dubrovnik is the only entity from the Dubrovnik region that is part of the prestigious Virtuoso network. The award was presented by Matthew D. Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso.

Since 2026, the Virtuoso Global Stewardship Awards highlight the importance of responsible tourism, cultural heritage protection, and support for local communities. Winning this award represents another significant international recognition for Dubrovnik and confirms its ongoing efforts in developing sustainable and responsible destination management.