The competition for the 2016 Sustainable Destinations Top 100 is now open. This is the follow-up to National Geographic Traveler’s Destinations Stewardship surveys and the 2014 Sustainable Destinations Global Top 100. Find out how to join!

Selection of destinations
The 2016 edition of the Sustainable Destinations Top 100 will be compiled by Albert Salman and Zainab Turay (Green Destinations) Valere Tjolle (Vision), and Jonathan Tourtellot (DSC). Selection will take into account: the 15 Core criteria of the Green Destinations Standard. In order to ensure a truly global Top 100, a minimum and a maximum amount of selected destinations will be set for each continent. The selection process will be informed and supported by an Expert Team, a special Top 100 Selection Panel, and a public vote on social media.

Eligibility criteria
Countries, states, regions, cities, towns, or protected areas are eligible if the following criteria are met:

• An administrative organization, governance structure, or a destination management organization is responsible for tourism destination management and sustainability;
• The majority of visitors make use of local accommodation;
• Many of the visitors spend a week in the destinations;
• A destination would usually not be smaller than 100sq km, and not larger than 40,000 sq km;
• Accommodations, single buildings, attractions and theme parks are considered not eligible.

How can a destination be nominated?
Please visit www.greendestinations.info/2016-top100/ or e-mail to: top100@greendestinations.info. You will be referred to an online platform, enabling to provide the information to support the nomination. This includes:

• A sustainability pitch (short text or video);
• 5 pictures illustrating the sustainability pitch;
• Brief clarification how the destination complies with the 15 Core criteria of the Green Destinations Standard.

Presentation event of the Top 100
The presentation of the Top 100 is in September 2016 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, at the occasion of Global Green Destinations Day. Ljubljana is a city that kept its historic core attractive and well preserved, and was elected as European Green Capital 2016. During these days, Top 100 Ambassadors will present the Awards to destination management officials around the world.