A complete entry is short, factual and about one person. Nominations are open now, and a GM Awards nomination 2027 entry needs a role, one named category, and three to five numbers someone else could verify. Most general managers finish in 20 minutes once those numbers are to hand.
We score the general manager, not the hotel. What earns a score is what changed while you held the chair.
What counts as a complete GM Awards nomination for 2027
Four blocks make an entry complete: who you are, the category, the results, and the evidence. Everything else on the form is optional.
| Block | What we need | Enough detail |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Name, title, property, country, years in post | Cluster GM, Qatar, since 2023 |
| Category | One category, chosen before you write | Best Emerging General Manager |
| Commercial | Three to five figures, each with a baseline | RevPAR up 14% on prior year |
| Guests | A satisfaction score and its trend | Brand survey 8.9 to 9.3 |
| Team | Retention, promotions, openings staffed | Turnover 31% down to 18% |
| Evidence | Something from the property, not a CV | Signed owner letter, one page |
| Nominator | Owner, HR head, colleague, or the GM | Self-nomination scored identically |
One pattern shows up in every intake. A large share of entries lead with a career story and carry no numbers. The jury cannot score a story. Our panel rarely argues about whether a GM is good, only about whether the file proves it.
The figures need not flatter you. A GM who held revenue flat through a refurbishment and kept the team scores well, if the entry says so. Our guide to writing a winning award nomination covers the same evidence in detail.
How to finish in 20 minutes
Gather four things before you open the form: your last full-year performance summary, your guest score trend, your turnover figure, and one letter from an owner or HR head.
Pick the category first, not last. We run 109 categories, and the most-awarded titles are Best General Manager, Best Emerging General Manager, Most Valuable General Manager and Best Young General Manager. Check the full list of World GM Awards categories first, because the emerging and young titles carry different expectations.
The form saves as you go. If you stop, a resume link arrives by email and reopens the entry where you left it. Most people submit in two sittings: 15 minutes one evening, five the next morning.
Every nominee can enter one award programme in one category on the Free plan at no cost. Paid plans add programmes, categories and competition levels; the nomination plans and fees page lists each. No plan, package or payment influences the jury or the result.
After you submit
The current window closes on 15 October 2026. Later entries join the next cycle, which runs towards the 2027 galas: Dubai on 15 May, Bangkok on 15 July, and Dubai again on 10 November.
An independent jury evaluates entries between 20 September and 20 October 2026 against the published judging criteria. There is no public voting. Winners are notified internally between 3 and 30 October 2026, and the gala is on 14 November 2026 at the Westin Marina Hotel, Dubai.
We have recognised 387 general managers since 2021: 64 in the United Arab Emirates, 21 in India, 21 in Saudi Arabia and 15 in Qatar. The World GM Awards winners listing shows who won, in which category and year.
Recognition changes what follows, and what a GM award is actually worth sets that out. The organiser also publishes its award nomination process and award schedule.
FAQ
What is the 2027 deadline?
The window now open closes on 15 October 2026. Anything arriving later is held for the next cycle and judged against it. Recognition then comes at the 2027 galas in Dubai on 15 May, Bangkok on 15 July and Dubai again on 10 November.
Can I edit after submitting?
Yes, until the window closes. Use the resume link in your confirmation email to reopen the entry, replace a figure or attach evidence. After 15 October 2026 the file is locked and goes to the jury as it stands, so send corrections before then.
What happens next?
Our jury scores your entry between 20 September and 20 October 2026 against the published criteria. Winners are notified internally between 3 and 30 October 2026, and the gala follows on 14 November 2026 at the Westin Marina Hotel in Dubai.
More answers sit on our nomination FAQ. If your numbers are on the desk, start your World GM Awards nomination now and finish before the window closes.