On December 15th, the awards period comes to an end and all companies will have had a full 14-weeks (Sept 1-Dec 16) to earn as many points as possible per the competition scoring rubric.
Please note that to ensure a fair competition for all participants, the awards deadline is firm and final with NO EXCEPTIONS. Below are the processes for analyzing final data and determining winners at the end of the awards period.
Awards Closing Date Notice
Please note that while the start date for the awards is always September 1st, the awards end date is either on December 15th OR the next closest weekday. In 2024 December 15 is a Sunday so the awards will close Monday December 16 at 5pm PST.
1. Key Dates
DATE | DESCRIPTION |
December 12-13 | ✅ Review Inbox Access Period |
December 15/16 | 🏁 Competition Deadline |
December 20-22 | 🧮 Analysis and Data Audit |
December 21-31 | 🌚 Winner Determination + Dark Period |
First Week of January | 🤫 Winners Notified |
Second Week of January | 🥇 Public Announcement of Winners |
1a. Review Inbox Access Period
December 12-13
The review manager will be unlocked for all awards participants from Monday December 12th @ 8am PST until Tuesday December 13th @ 5pm PST
All companies participating in the awards will have a chance to get any unverified reviews verified in advance of the awards closing on December 15th
Companies will have one chance to submit manual verification for any rejected reviews eligible (ie. as long as the review (a) meets HTR's review guidelines and (b) was left using a valid email address that did not bounce)
Please remember that any rejected reviews have all had four available methods and 3-different chances/reminders to verify (view detail), so manual verifications are a fifth and FINAL option for eligible reviews. As long as your submission meets the required verification guidelines outlined in our help center and on the submission modal, they will be approved. If they do not meet these guidelines upon first submission, it will be rejected with no further chances to verify
1b. Competition Deadline
December 15
All data and verified reviews as of 5pm on December 15th will be frozen and exported for analysis
Any unverified reviews as of 5pm on December 15th will not count towards the competition under any circumstances
End Date Notice
Please note that while the start date for the awards is always September 1st, the awards end date is either on December 15th OR the next closest weekday. In 2024 December 15 is a Sunday so the awards will close Monday December 16 at 5pm PST.
1c. Analysis and Data Audit (Delayed by 2 days)
December 20-22
Participating companies will be able to view their final data audit scorecard via the leaderboard after the awards have closed and data has been frozen
Each company will have until 5pm PST on December 22nd to reply with any questions about their data
1d. Winner Determination + Dark Period
December 22-31
HTR will add company culture bonus points to companies' scores who make the top 10 best places to work list and determine the competition winners
HTR will not be available for inquiry after the December 18th audit deadline through the holidays while winners are being determined
HTR will prepare all marketing and communications to notify and announce winners including marketing materials, press releases, communications and assets for winners.
PLEASE NOTE THAT HTR WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AND THE ON-SITE LIVE CHAT WILL BE DE-ACTIVATED DURING THE DARK PERIOD UNTIL AFTER WINNERS ARE NOTIFIED ON JANUARY 2ND
1e. Winners Notified
2025 Winners and finalists will be notified under embargo and sent all badges, assets and promotional schedule on Thursday January 2, 2025 and will have a week and a half through the following Friday (January 10, 2025) to prepare internal promotion strategy.
1f. Public Announcement of Winners
HTR's public announcement of winners will happen Monday January 13, 2025 at 7am PST after which the PR embargo will be lifted and winners and finalists can follow with your announcements.
2. FAQs
2a. What should I be focused on leading into the final stretch of the awards?
As you turn the corner into the final stretch of the awards period, its time to make sure you've captured as many points as you can, the below list outlines what you should review to make sure you've done so.
☑️ Make sure you have met the minimum eligibility requirement by checking the HotelTechAwards slide out
☑️ Check the leaderboard to see how much of a lead you have (or how much you need to make up)
☑️ Make sure to list and verify all of your integrations
☑️ Make sure your team has completed the employee survey for a chance to make the 10 Best Places to Work list and earn company culture bonus points
☑️ Try to maximize your partner recommendations bonus (max pts milestone = 15 partner recommendations)
2b. Will the review manager be unlocked again to submit last minute verifications for reviews where the user didn't click the verification link?
Yes. The review manager will be unlocked for all awards participants for 48-hours from Tuesday December 7th @ 8am PST until Wednesday December 8th @ 5pm PST to ensure that all companies have a chance to get any unverified reviews verified in advance of the awards closing on December 15th.
2c. If I'm showing in 1st place in the leaderboard on December 15th @ 5pm when data is frozen does that mean I've won my category?
No. Once data is frozen there are two variables that are not taken into consideration which are (1) any verified but not yet published reviews left by the 5pm deadline and (2) company culture points awarded off-platform to companies who make the 10 Best Places to Work.