2024 TMAC National Awards Submission Guidelines

2024 TMAC National Award Submission Guidelines

The 2024 TMAC National Awards celebrate excellence in Canadian travel media, offering over $16,000 in prizes.

Click HERE for Award Submission Tutorial on FilmFreeway

Submission Timeline for Judged Awards

Submissions Open: January 20, 2025
Information Session: January 15, 2025, at 2:30 PM (Eastern)
Submission Deadline: February 20, 2025, at 11:59 PM (Eastern)
Finalists Announced: May 2025
Winners Announced: June 2025, at the TMAC National Awards Gala in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

TMAC National Award Categories

TMAC National Award categories are updated yearly to reflect member feedback and changes in travel media.

View the 13 Award Categories for 2024 HERE, including details on new and changed categories.

Key Preparation Notes

Review the guidelines thoroughly before submission.
Complete your submission through TMAC’s new Awards Portal for 2025 on FilmFreeway.
To redeem your first three entries for free, please use the following three discount codes:
- TMAC2024Submission1
- TMAC2024Submission2
- TMAC2024Submission3
You can use each waiver code only once. Your 4th – 6th entries will cost $25 CA each + a service fee of $1.79 CA / entry.
Be prepared to provide:
- Title of the submission
- Publication name or location
- Date of publication
- Relevant URLs or uploadable files (e.g., PDFs, images)

Important: Failure to follow guidelines will result in disqualification.

Eligibility and Rules

Work Eligibility:
Submissions must have been created and published between January 1 and December 31, 2024.
- Exception: Books published between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, are eligible.
Member Eligibility:
- Only current TMAC members may submit entries.
- Renew your 2025 membership before submitting. Renew HERE.
National Awards:
- Open to Media Members in good standing.
- Submissions must meet TMAC’s content and circulation requirements. View the points table HERE.
Chapter and Member-Voted Awards:
- Open to both Media and Industry Members, as outlined in category descriptions.
- Submissions for these categories open in March 2025.
Submission Limits:
- Maximum: Six submissions per member across all National Award categories.
- Per Category: Up to two entries.
- Restrictions: The same story or photo cannot be submitted to more than one category, except that photos in written submissions may also be entered into photo-specific categories.
Submission Fees:
- First three submissions are free provided you use the following three discount codes:
  - TMAC2024Submission1
  - TMAC2024Submission2
  - TMAC2024Submission3
- Additional submissions (up to six in total) cost $25 each.
Prizes:
- First Place: $650
- Second Place: $400
- Third Place: $200
- Winners and Honourable Mentions receive certificates.
Judging:
- Independent judges, bilingual where applicable, will evaluate submissions using a scoring matrix.
- Judges review and evaluate submissions individually, before collaborating in teams to make the final award decisions. All judges are external to TMAC. Meet the judges HERE.

Category-Specific Submission Details

1. Written Word Entries

Upload a single PDF with the title, publication name, and date clearly visible.

2. Self-Published Travel Website / Blog Entries

Provide URLs for three blog / story / articles entries from 2024 that are written by you, on a site that you own,
Judges will also consider the overall quality of the site.

3. Visual Entries (Photos)

Submit images as PDF, JPEG, JPG, or PNG.
Include a 25–50 word description for context.
Social media photos (e.g., Facebook, Instagram) are not eligible.
You must have taken the photograph. Images you have purchased or obtained the rights to (stock photos) are not eligible.
AI-created images or digital art are not eligible for entry. The image must have been taken with a camera or camera phone.
The photograph must be a single-capture image. Composites, HDR, and panoramas are ineligible because they combine two or more images to create a new one.
Post-production is allowed (basic adjustments to exposure, colour, cropping and sharpness) provided it does not change the integrity and subject matter of the photo. Any post-production using photo editing software must have been done manually by the photographer.

4. Best Photo Series

Upload four images from the same story.
All images must be part of a single story, not from multiple pieces.
You must have taken the photograph. Images you have purchased or obtained the rights to (stock photos) are not eligible.
AI-created images or digital art are not eligible for entry. The image must have been taken with a camera or camera phone.
The photograph must be a single-capture image. Composites, HDR, and panoramas are ineligible because they combine two or more images to create a new one.
Post-production is allowed (basic adjustments to exposure, colour, cropping and sharpness) provided it does not change the integrity and subject matter of the photo. Any post-production using photo editing software must have been done manually by the photographer.

5. All Media Forms (e.g., Articles, Podcasts, Video, XR … etc.)

For articles, upload one PDF or URL (if the article includes interactive or multi media elements)
For audio or video submissions, provide a URL.
If you are submitting some other form of immersive or interactive media, and are not sure how best to submit, please consult with Erica at erica[at]storytogo.ca

6. Books

Submit two physical copies or PDFs for judging (TMAC PO Box 332, Brighton, ON, K0K 1H0).
If two or more Media Members are listed as authors, contact Christine before submitting.

Technical Requirements

File Formats and Size for Photos:
- Accepted formats: PDF, JPEG, JPG, PNG
- Ensure all submissions are high resolution.
File Labelling:
- Label files with your name and submission title (e.g., FirstName_LastName_Title).
- Avoid emojis in file names to prevent submission errors.
Submission Process:
- All files must be uploaded through FilmFreeway. Third-party platforms (e.g., WeTransfer) are not accepted.
URLs for Multimedia or Blog Entries:
- Limit URLs to 128 characters. Use link shorteners like Bitly if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there minimum criteria for submissions?
Yes. Submissions must meet TMAC’s content and circulation requirements (see points table HERE). Sponsored content is eligible (view submission guidelines HERE)

Are there rules around the use of AI in submissions?
Yes. We recognize the potential of AI tools in refining creative work, such as editing grammar, enhancing photo quality, or polishing video presentations. However, to uphold the integrity of this contest and honour the authentic efforts of our participants, all submissions—including written works, photographs, and videos—must be entirely original and created by the submitter. While entrants may use AI for minor touch-ups, generating or significantly altering content using AI tools is strictly prohibited. By entering, participants confirm that their work is authentically their own and align with these ethical guidelines.

Can an award category be cancelled?
Yes. Categories with fewer than 10 entries will be removed from the program.

Can TMAC volunteers submit entries?
Yes. Volunteers, including Awards Committee and Board members, are eligible. Judging is conducted independently to ensure fairness.

Can I submit in French?
Yes. TMAC is a national, bilingual organisation with French-speaking judges.

We look forward to celebrating your achievements in Saskatoon!

Have Additional Questions?

Attend the Information Session: January 15, 2025, at 2:30 PM (Eastern) – RSVP

If you still have questions: Contact Christine at christine.painter@travelmedia.ca

Login