In the second and final part of this Wave Awards judging series, judges from the 2022 event reveal their best piece of advice for making submissions stand out among the crowd.

Riviera Travel channel director Stuart Milan

What made you sign up to be a judge?
It’s always an honour to be asked to judge any awards in our beloved travel industry, but the Waves Awards is now one of the most sought-after in cruise.

Secondly, I was intrigued to understand the judging process for the Wave Awards. There’s no better place to be than on the judging panel to get a true sense of the rigour that’s behind them.

Can you tell us about the judging, and specifically how rigorous the process is?
The judging process is extremely well done. It’s ensured that there is no conflict of interest within any of the categories and the judging panel that review those entries.

There are comprehensive applications, which each judge receives for their relevant categories. Each entry is reviewed by each judge individually, who then submits a rating anonymously.

Post that process, there is a whole day dedicated to reviewing the highest scorers by each respective panel. The judges then, anonymously, once again cast their final vote.

What did you think of the calibre of the 2022 entrants?
The level of commitment to some of the applications was huge. This led to some difficult scoring decisions and deep discussion when the panels met to review the top scorers.

What’s your top tip for Wave Award 2023 entrants?
Put a lot of thought into your applications and get help from across the whole of your business. Really pull out all the details and achievements that make you stand out from the crowd – no one-word or one-sentence answers.

Avalon Waterways UK and Cosmos CEO Giles Hawke

What made you sign up to be a judge?
It’s great to be an award winner or nominee, and it is important to help others get that feeling and contribute to the fairness and equal nature of the judging process.

Being a judge means that you get to be part of the robust and challenging nature under which awards are scrutinised and given.

Can you tell us about the judging, and specifically how rigorous the process is?
The process is robust and solid, with entries reviewed in advance and each judge reviewing and awarding their scores based on a range of criteria.

What’s your top tip for Wave Award 2023 entrants?
Answer the questions and relate answers to the year in question with specifics related to that year, rather than generics and/or things that are due to happen in the future.

Seabourn director of sales UK & Europe Wendy Lahmich

What made you sign up to be a judge?
I had not judged any awards before, so I was really honoured to be asked and intrigued to see the entrants and their submissions.

Can you tell us about the judging, and specifically how rigorous the process is?
The judges were from various sectors of the cruise industry, which was a great asset.

It was a face-to-face meeting, which was honest and fair, with everyone having a chance to voice their opinions, their reasoning and choices. This part, in my opinion, is crucial to a judging process.

What’s your top tip for Wave Award 2023 entrants?
Go for it, but give yourselves time to prepare and be a little creative in order to back up your answers. Show the judges you want to win.

For the full list of winners from the Wave Awards 2022 and more information about the 2023 event, go to the official Wave Awards website.