Twelve categories have been established for the Barbados Tourism Awards, of those the following ten categories are available for nomination:

1. Award of Excellence – Individual
   Awarded in 11 industry categories
2. Achievement of Excellence Award – Business/ Organisation
   Awarded in 11 industry categories
3. Environmental Excellence Award – Business/ Organisation
4. Tourism Student Excellence Award – Individual
5. HIV/AIDS Award - Business/Organisation
6. Honesty/Bravery Award - Individual
7. People’s Choice Excellence Award – Business / Organisation
8. Visitors’ Choice Excellence Award – Business/ Organisation
9. Pillar of Tourism Industry Award – Individual
10. Pillar of Tourism Industry Award – Business/ Organisation
    

The eleventh category is the Minister of Tourism’s Special Commendation Award. This award will be presented to a group/individual which/who has provided exemplary service to the industry during the last year. This recipient will be selected by the Minister of Tourism and revealed only on the night of the awards event.

The twelfth category is the Lifetime Achievement Award. This award will be presented to an individual. Nominees for this award will be selected by a panel of eminent tourism personnel, based on established criteria.