You Can Enter the Skift IDEA Awards in Under 90 Minutes. Here’s How.

The biggest hesitation around entering the Skift IDEA Awards comes down to one misunderstanding: time.

It feels like a task that needs a long, uninterrupted block.

The work itself rarely holds things back. Most of it already exists across decks, campaign recaps, reports, and internal updates. What’s missing is a focused pass to shape it into a submission.

With the Skift IDEA Awards, you can secure your entry, unlock the platform, and come back to it later. Once payment is complete, your submission is created and ready to work on.

Why Starting Early Works

The submission is built to guide the process. It’s structured into clear sections with defined fields and word limits, so you’re responding to prompts instead of starting from scratch.

Before you start, it helps to see how the submission is structured.

The full entry guide walks through each section, what’s required, and how the platform works.

Once you’ve seen the format, the rest becomes straightforward.

The platform also:

• Saves your progress as you go
• Flags anything missing before submission
• Keeps your entry editable until the final deadline

Starting early gives you space to think clearly instead of rushing to finish.

90-Minute Skift IDEA Awards Submission Plan

1. Start With What’s Already There

Average Time ~ 10-15 minutes

Open the entry form and pull in what’s easiest to access.

That usually includes:

• A campaign deck or product summary
• A few performance metrics
• Screenshots or visuals

You’re building a first version, not a finished case study. The platform allows you to update and refine later, so this step is about getting a working draft live.

2. Choose Your Category

Average Time ~ 10-15 minutes

This decision slows teams down more than it should.

There are 30+ categories highlighting marketing, product, sustainability, traveler experience, and more. Pick the category where your work feels most straightforward to explain. 

If you’re stuck, use the Category Quiz to get a fast recommendation based on your work.

3. Write the Submission the Way It Happened

Average Time ~ 35-40 minutes

The form is broken into sections, with the submission tab carrying the most weight. That’s what gets judged.

Focus on three things:

• The objective: what needed to change
• The execution: outlining your team’s work 
• The impact: what moved as a result

That could be bookings, engagement, adoption, or something more specific to your business.

A past winner described it simply: 

“Look beyond just your results and focus on your ‘why’ and your ‘how’… a balance between a compelling narrative and measurable data worked best.”

That balance is what makes an entry easy to understand and hard to overlook.

4. Add Supporting Material That Clarifies the Work

Average Time ~ 10-15 minutes

You don’t need a full asset library to make your case.

To submit, you’ll need:

• A company logo
• At least one supporting image

But remember: adding more content usually strengthens your entry, like press coverage or product visuals.

Use what helps someone understand the work quickly. Each element should reinforce the result you’re claiming.

5. Submit Now. Improve Before the Deadline.

Average Time ~ 5 minutes

This is the step that drives better entries.

Once submitted, you can:

• Rewrite sections
• Replace visuals
• Strengthen your results

The platform highlights anything incomplete, so there’s no guesswork.

Getting your entry in early gives you distance and perspective. Waiting until the deadline compresses both. 

You’ve Already Done the Work. This Is the Last Step.

Your team built something worth showing. The strategy, execution, and results are already there. This process turns it into a submission.

Set aside 90 minutes and get a version in. Or secure your entry and return to it when you’re ready.

Either way, progress starts once it’s in the system.