In brief. A nomination passes through seven published stages; the jury sees it at the fifth, after the awards team has completed the profile, confirmed the category and collected the evidence pack. It reads the entry against the criteria for its award, industry, category and competition level — for companies, performance, customer experience, innovation, leadership, market impact, quality, growth and sustainability; for individuals, results, leadership and contribution during tenure. It weighs what is dated, attributed and documented. It does not count votes, fees, packages or attendance.
The seven stages
New nomination → profile completion → team approval → final jury data → jury and management review → finalist → winner. The first four are administrative and collaborative: the awards team works with the nominee to complete the profile, confirm the category and gather the evidence. The jury enters at stage five. A nomination can be closed with a recorded reason at any stage — most often on eligibility. The selection process page reproduces the published stages and principles.
The criteria
For organisations: business performance, customer experience, innovation, leadership and management, market impact, quality, growth and sustainability — applied as relevant, so a hotel is not marked down for lacking a patent portfolio. For individuals: results during tenure, leadership and management, innovation, team and capability development, industry and community contribution. The criteria are the same at every competition level; the level changes only who else is in the field.
Give the jury something to read
Submit the form; the awards team completes the profile with you before the evidence pack is requested.
What counts as evidence
- Dated. "Revenue grew 40 per cent between 2023 and 2025" beats "strong growth".
- Attributed. For a leader: what they decided, not what the company did. For a regional business: what was run from Hong Kong.
- Documented. Reports, audits, certifications, review scores, references, coverage — attached, not described.
- Indexed where necessary. Year one = 100 is acceptable for confidential figures; state the period and the measure.
- Proportionate. Two or three pages of facts with documents behind them beat twenty pages of description.
Why the category matters
The jury assesses the nominee against the category's definition. A Cantonese restaurant entered as Best Fine Dining Restaurant is judged as fine dining; entered as a heritage or Chinese-cuisine category, it is judged on what it is. A chief executive entered as Best Transformational CEO must show a transformation. Choose the category the evidence answers, not the one that sounds grandest; the awards team confirms fit during profile completion, but the choice starts with the nominee. Every industry page lists the options.
What a weak entry looks like
- Plans described as achievements.
- Figures withheld rather than indexed.
- A regional headquarters presenting the global parent.
- Recognition listed without the results that earned it.
- A category chosen for its title rather than its definition.
- Everything left to the last week before 15 September.
What the jury does not do
It does not count votes; there is no public voting. It does not weigh fees, packages, sponsorship or gala attendance; the published principles exclude monetary influence. It does not rank nominees against companies that did not enter. It does not publish the shortlist. It announces winners at the gala on 14 November 2026 and assigns each a winning category.
The evidence for your industry
Each industry page lists the evidence that strengthens a nomination in that sector and the categories that apply.
- Published criteria and stages
- Indexed figures accepted
- No public vote
Awards referenced in this guide
Asia Best of Best Awards
Regional business recognition for companies across every industry in Asia, including Hong Kong.
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World CEO Awards
Recognition for chief executives whose leadership delivers measurable results.
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International Travel Awards
Recognition for hotels, resorts, travel companies, destinations and tourism businesses.
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Golden Entrepreneur Awards
Recognition for founders and growth leaders building businesses that create jobs and solve real problems.
Nominate nowFrequently asked questions
Who is on the jury?
The programme's appointed jury and, where applicable, its authorised management evaluation team; the programmes publish the principles they apply.
Does the jury contact nominees?
Shortlisted nominees may be asked for further information in October.
How long should an entry be?
Long enough to answer each relevant criterion with a dated fact and a document — usually two or three pages plus attachments.
Are indexed figures a disadvantage?
No; they are standard practice for confidential data.
Does the jury see the package we bought?
The package sets scope and level; it is not a judging factor.
Can we find out why we did not progress?
A nomination closed before jury review carries a recorded reason; contact the awards team.
Is the shortlist published?
No; results are announced at the gala.
Last reviewed: 12 September 2026 · Award facts sourced from the official programme publications.