<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=128060241156018&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1"> Form Pop-up on Button Click
Log In
Sign up
Image_header_left2
Image_header_Mobile_3

Stay22 x TBEX 2026 Contest

 

Your Perspective Matters

We asked the travel creators community at TBEX North America to share their boldest ideas that shape the future of travel blogging – from new tools and platforms to community-building and learning. 

Thank you to everyone who joined. Over 20 submissions later, our jury has picked the winners 🎉 

 

arrow
helena-bradbury-gif6-2
Image_header_right2

3 reasons to submit

Your Ideas Matter

Your ideas matter

Stay22 is listening. This isn't a survey – it's a seat at the table. Your vision could directly shape the future of the travel creator industry.

Win Big

Win big

Top 3 ideas win cash prizes up to $2,500. All top 5 winners get a free TBEX ticket, yours to use any time.

On Stage

Go on stage

Winning ideas are unveiled live at TBEX North America in Richmond on June 25. If you're there, you’ll present your idea. It's your moment.

What made these ideas stand out

Your Ideas Matter

Bold thinking

Ideas that didn't just improve what exists — they imagined what the travel creator industry could become.

Win Big

Real impact

Submissions that addressed genuine pain points for travel bloggers, with ideas the community could actually use.

On Stage

Fresh perspective

Ideas that came from lived experience as creators — the kind of insight only someone in the trenches could have.

Animation_02

How it works

1. PICK A CATEGORY
Choose the theme that best fits your idea: Community, Learning, Tech & Product, or Wildcard if you're thinking outside the box.

 

2. SUBMIT YOUR IDEA BY JUNE 1
Fill out the form, upload your 30-second video pitch, and attach your idea submission slide. Deadline is June 1, 2026. 

You can submit multiple ideas in separate entries. 

 

3. WINNERS ARE SELECTED BY JUNE 8
Our jury reviews every submission. The 5 winners are contacted directly by June 8.

 

4. IDEAS UNVEILED AT TBEX
The winning ideas will be presented at Stay22's session on June 25 at TBEX North America (room B14, 11:35).

Animation_02

How we selected the winners

1. SUBMISSIONS REVIEWED
Our jury read through every single entry across all four categories: Community, Learning, Tech & Product, and Wildcard.

 

2. IDEAS EVALUATED BY JUNE 8
Each submission was scored on originality, real-world impact, and feasibility. The top 5 finalists were contacted directly.

 

3. WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT TBEX North America
The winning ideas were unveiled live at Stay22's session at TBEX North America in Richmond (Virginia, USA)  on June 25.

 

The Prizes

Top 5 ideas get a TBEX ticket for any future event. The top 3 win cash prizes.

The Prizes

Top 5 ideas get a TBEX ticket for any future event. The top 3 win cash prizes.

1st Place Winner

$2,500 + 1 TBEX ticket to any future event

2nd Place Winner

$1,500 + 1 TBEX ticket to any future event

3rd Place Winner

$1,000 + 1 TBEX ticket to any future event

The Winners

Top 5 winning ideas got presented at TBEX Richmond on June 25.
They all win a TBEX ticket for any future event. The top 3 win cash prizes.

TBEX Richmond x Stay22
TBEX Richmond x Stay22
TBEX Richmond x Stay22
TBEX Richmond x Stay22
TBEX Richmond x Stay22
TBEX Richmond x Stay22

Meet The Winners

With almost 20 applications, here are the winners of this year's Stay22 x TBEX Contest >>

1st Place Winner / $2,500

Match Box

Destinations need creators. Creators need work. Match Box is a global marketplace where destinations post projects, creators pitch, and both sides get exactly what they're looking for. – by Bobo and Chichi / Dave Brett (www.boboandchichi.com / www.traveldave.co.uk)

2nd Place Winner

The Lodging Recommender

Food and events bloggers rarely mention hotels. Alex's idea adds a simple location input that surfaces nearby lodging recommendations, turning any restaurant or attraction post into an affiliate opportunity. – by Alex Goodstein (www.alexeatstoomuch.com)

3rd Place Winner / $1,000

Custom Affiliate Widget Generator

Plain affiliate links get ignored. Kerry's idea is a no-code widget builder that turns Stay22 links into branded, visual placements. Paste your link, get a polished embed that actually converts. – by Kerry Ireland (www.thepetitewanderer.com)

4th Place Winner

The Travel Creator Collective

Travel blogging is isolating by design. Bianca's idea flips that – a community-first platform where creators share resources, co-work, and grow together instead of competing in silence. – by Bianca Alba (www.thislatinatravels.com)

5th Place Winner

In-destination Activity pop-up

Readers already at a destination are ready to act, not plan. Mary's idea uses geolocation to trigger a real-time experience booking pop-up, turning in-destination traffic into affiliate revenue. – by Mary Charleson (www.carryonqueen.com)

Contest Categories

Community-1

Community

Travel blogging is better together. Submit ideas that help creators connect, share insights, collaborate, and build a stronger industry for everyone.

Learning

Learning

The industry moves fast. Submit ideas that help travel creators stay ahead: new tools to master, platforms to explore, technologies to adopt.

Tech

Tech & Product

The tools don't exist yet, but they should. Submit your ideas for new tech products,  features, smarter platforms, and AI capabilities that could shape the next version of Stay22 and the creator tools you use every day.

Wildcart

Wildcard

Got an idea that doesn't fit neatly into any category? Good. Those are often the best ones. Submit it anyway.

Eligibility & rules

 

1. WHO CAN ENTER

The contest is open to the  TBEX community. You don't need to be a Stay22 partner to participate. 

 

2. DEADLINE

All submissions must be received by June 1, 2026. Winners will be contacted by June 8th and present their ideas on June 25.

 

3. SUBMISSION FORMAT

You must fill out the form on this page and submit:

• 30-second video pitch

• Idea submission template slide

 

Shape the future

The Jury

Your ideas will be reviewed by the people who build, grow, and shape Stay22.

7-Apr-15-2026-12-59-20-6213-PM

Andrew Lockhead

CEO, Stay22

Rami-1

Rami Nuseir

Head of Marketing, Stay22

Margot_headshot

Margot Lassalle

Manager Digital Success, Stay22

Youtube chanels – go

Maude-Andrée D'Amours

Group Product Manager, Stay22

Rocket (Canva Banner) (1)

Not a Stay22 partner yet?

Join Stay22 and start monetizing your content right away: Sign up here →

Submit Your Idea 

Applications are now closed. Winners will be announced on June 25 at TBEX North America