# Tourism and cultural recognition in Santiago and Madrid

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/tourism-excellence-awards-in-santiago-and-madrid
> Updated: 2026-09-28T01:52:02.000Z. Sources: 24. Developments: 2.

Municipal authorities in Santiago, Dominican Republic, and Madrid, Spain, held ceremonies to present their 2026 tourism awards. These awards recognized various entities and individuals for their contributions to local industry growth.

In Santiago, the City Council honored several organizations and individuals, including Hotel Matum and Clúster Santiago Destino Turístico, for their role in the city’s development. Officials highlighted the economic impact of tourism and the importance of cultural, religious, and heritage sectors, alongside the integration of digital transformation and artificial intelligence. Additional recipients of the 2026 Tourism Merit awards included José Castillo (AquamanRD) and Grupo VDT.

In Madrid, Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida presented the seventh edition of the city’s tourism awards under the theme ‘El oficio de ser Madrid’. The ceremony recognized excellence in eight categories, such as sustainability and the MICE industry, with recipients including the Madrid Wine Regulatory Council and chef Sacha Hormaechea.

Beyond tourism awards, Santiago’s Association of Sports Chroniclers (ACDS) scheduled an annual ceremony at the UTESA Convention Center to honor 34 athletes and 21 sports journalists. In Madrid, the city announced the JAZZMADRID 2026 festival, running from October 2 to November 30, which will feature international artists celebrating the centenaries of Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-28: Santiago and Madrid host tourism, culture, and sports recognition events

Santiago and Madrid are hosting various cultural events, including tourism merit awards, sports journalism honors, and the announcement of the JAZZMADRID 2026 festival.

13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/santiago-and-madrid-present-2026-tourism-excellence-awards

### 2026-09-23: VIAJAR Awards honor tourism excellence and name Cáceres Best Cultural Destination

The fifth VIAJAR Awards in Madrid honored 16 tourism leaders and destinations. Cáceres was named ‘Best Cultural Destination,’ while data showed Spain saw 97 million international visitors in 2025.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/viajar-awards-honor-tourism-excellence-and-name-cceres-best-cultural-destination

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Cite as: Tourism and cultural recognition in Santiago and Madrid. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/tourism-excellence-awards-in-santiago-and-madrid