For the fourth year in a row Inspiring Vacations takes the crown as Australia’s Leading Tour Operator at the 2026 World Travel Awards. To accompany the win, Inspiring Vacations has also taken the top spot as Oceania’s Leading Tour Operator for the third consecutive year – making the Melbourne born, Australian-owned company a seven-time winner.
The World Travel Awards recognise excellence across the travel, tourism and hospitality industries, with awards based on votes from travel industry representatives and travellers from around the world.
Paul Ryan, CEO and Co-Founder of Inspiring Vacations said: “We’re so proud. Winning for the fourth year in a row tells us we’re getting it right for our travellers. These votes reflect the strength of people’s experiences with us and it’s incredibly rewarding to know we’ve played a part in creating lifelong memories. A special thank you goes to our travellers. They’re what make Inspiring Vacations, Inspiring Vacations.”
Inspiring Vacations is still very much founder-led. This year, they launched Founder Escorted Tours, a hosted tour series across three destinations where travellers can join its co-founders: Paul Ryan, Brendon Cooper and James Cathie. The idea came from customers eager to travel alongside the founders themselves, and the response has been strong, with James’ Central America tour already sold out.
James Cathie, co-founder and Chief Operations Officer at Inspiring Vacations, said: “We’re so glad to be recognised for the fourth year in a row. Behind every trip is the dedication of our in-house team. What we do best is craft beautiful travel experiences that connect people with the world, its culture and each other. We’ve always aimed to offer great value and packages to suit every style of traveller, and it’s rewarding to see that recognised.”
With packages across all seven continents, Inspiring Vacations gives travellers plenty to choose from. The best sellers cover some serious ground, from Japan and South America to the Five Stans of Central Asia. Rounding out the list are Sri Lanka and Norway’s winter fjords.
