Terms & Conditions

1) By entering the Awards the applicants agree to be bound by the rules.

2) The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into in relation to any short listing or judging decision.

3) The judges, in their absolute discretion, may decide not to make an award if they believe no entrant is of sufficient quality to meet the requirements of the Awards.

4) Applications must be made on the official TOFT Wildlife Tourism Awards 2010 Application Form or by email highlighting questions and answers as per application form.

5) Applicants may be asked to submit further information as part of the judging process, failure to provide this information within the timescale stipulated at the time of the request may invalidate the application. No correspondence will be entered into in relation to such a decision to invalidate an invitation.

6) In certain categories the judges will require the applicant to supply independent references, where such references are requested these must be completed in the format requested and provided within the timescale stipulated.

7) Connections and associations (eg financial, family relationships, employment, etc) with the nominee will not invalidate an application but must be declared on the initial application. Failure to declare such interest will invalidate an application.8) Whilst information contained within application forms and assessments will be treated as far as possible as confidential, the organisers accept no responsibility for loss or damage should any information become public knowledge at any time.

9-a) Applicants agree that if they are short-listed this decision will be made public, together with outline details of their project. In addition, in some categories, a short film report may be made of the nominees and their project. The applicants agree to cooperate in such filming and to be filmed and that such film may be used to promote the Awards as the Organisers may decide. Such uses may include web, broadcast television, dvd, or other medium and may also be shown at the Awards. All Material is the sole property of TOFT.

9- b) At the Sole discretion of TOFT, TOFT can use all materials provided for Award’s promotions and publicity. TOFT does not however guarantee promotion of any winner or finalist.

10) Applicants consent to their images, trade marks, logos etc being made public in promotional material related to the Awards and this may include press, web, radio or broadcast.

11) Awards may be withdrawn in the event that information subsequently becomes available to show that information provided at the time of judging was incorrect or unavailable and that such information had it been available would have made the award inappropriate.

12) Winners of cash prizes agree to be bound by the conditions stipulated in the individual Awards in regards to acceptable uses for such cash prizes.

13) Where appropriate the Organisers may arrange for the money due in cash prizes to be paid only when appropriate invoices, and or, receipts are available, and or, that the organisers are satisfied that the goods, services etc to be provided to the person community, organisation, or group have in fact been supplied.

14) In the case of cash prizes the Organisers decision that the conditions described in Clause 10 have been fulfilled will be at the Organisers’ absolute discretion and no correspondence on its decisions in regard to these clauses will be entered into.

15) No responsibility is accepted by the organisers for any application submitted by email but not received by the organisers. Applicants concerned about whether an application has been received have to make their own enquiries to ensure their applications have been received.

16) The Organisers can terminate one or more of the Awards if they see fit or shorten or curtail the award ceremony should circumstances prevail that do not allow it to continue.

Eligibility rules of each award category

Eco lodge of the Year 2010
The lodge in question must have been in existence for at least two years. The lodge need not be a member of TOFT or be accredited to the PUG Certification scheme, but it must meet or excel the laid down PUG Certification standards.

Wildlife Guide of the Year 2010
Ideally the individual should be a local who is registered or employed by the Park authorities as a freelance guide who can be held out as an example for other guides to emulate.

Lodge Naturalist of the Year 2010
The nominee must an employee of a wildlife lodge, government or privately owned, who has been conducting visitors through a tiger reserve or habitat tiger habitat for a minimum of two years.

Visitor-Friendly Wildlife Destination of the Year 2010
The wildlife destination has to have tigers within its boundaries with sightings being documented in the 6 months prior to the closing date for nominations. The park does not have to be currently covered by TOFT. The park must be prepared to showcase its efforts.

Wildlife-Promotion Company of the Year 2010
All nominations must have a registered office in India and the company must have been a full TOFT member for at least 6 months prior to the closing date for entries, or a member of another credible Indian Travel Association. Its entry must be supported by at least 2 independent referees - both must be International Tour Operators who are accredited members of TOFT or other reputable Travel Association. The nominated Company itself must also have paid any outstanding subscriptions in full and prior to the closing date for final information.

Wildlife Tourism Community Initiative of the Year 2010
The definition of what constitutes a Community Initiative will be decided at the absolute discretion of the judges but for general guidance it would be expected that ownership of the initiative would reside within the local community (5km radius of the project) and not involve commercial operations such as a private lodge(s) having a commercial interest of greater than 49.9%. Nominations must be supported by at least one travel or service provider or lodge catering for wildlife watching tourists.

Wildlife and Tourism Award 2010
This award does not need to be tiger related but the lessons learnt must be capable of being applied in tiger viewing areas. The project or enterprise must be prepared to showcase its efforts.