ELIGIBILITY
The App Yap Contest is open to all organisations involved in designing, building, managing, maintaining, marketing or promoting Mobile & App content for business, consumer or general audiences in the youth travel and tourism industry. Entries must have been in general use for at least part of the current calendar year. Entries do not, however, need to have been created this year.
Entries that have won awards in past App Yap Contest are not eligible for the current contest.
UNACCEPTABLE MATERIAL
Entries that contain pornographic material, propagate “hate” messages, make defamatory statements, or which are otherwise extraordinarily offensive are not eligible.
FAKE/SPEC WORK
Entries, that are fake or produced as spec work (not commissioned or paid for by a client or media entity) will not be eligible for judging.
DISQUALIFICATION
Ineligible entries may be disqualified at any phase of the App Yap Contest without notification.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ENTRIES
Entrants will receive an email acknowledgment when an entry has been received.
Terms and Conditions of Entry/Usage
The App Yap Contest assumes all entries are original and the entrant either owns the work or has permission from a client or other appropriate party to enter the work, with all rights granted therein. In the event that an entrant without such rights submits an entry, the entrant will not be eligible for the contest. The App Yap Contest is not liable for any copyright infringement on the part of the entrant.
Entries must be live and available on the Internet from the date of entry through September 2013, and accessible via http and standard Web browsers.
Submission of any entry acknowledges the right of The App Yap Contest to use it for exhibition, promotion and publication purposes in any medium.
Timely submission of an entry meeting the eligibility requirements as stated herein ensures that an entrant’s work will be reviewed and considered for recognition. No other representation or warranty is made by The App Yap Contest concerning entries and all implied warranties are hereby expressly disclaimed.
The winner of The App Yap Contest will be announced at the Global Youth Travel Awards on Friday, September 20, 2013.
If an entry receives the App Yap award, the manner and details of announcing the nomination and award is strictly within the discretion of WYSTC. Entrant understands that award may not be given or publicised in the same manner.
Foreign Language Entries
Mobile & Apps: While non-English speaking entries are not explicitly forbidden, work must be accessible to our predominantly English speaking judges. Non-English speaking sites are eligible if they are highly visual or otherwise not dependent on language.
Accepted Formats / Entry Type Info
All entries must be live and available from the date of entry through December 2014.
MOBILE & APPS
Mobile Website entries must be accessible via a smart phone, PDA or other mobile device. They will be judged on a mobile device.
Detailed Entry Instructions
Entries must be entered online using the Facebook online entry form. An entry is considered processed after a completed entry form is received by WYSTC. WYSTC reserves the right to re-categorise entries and to create new categories if appropriate.
Contact
For questions or comments related to the App Yap Contest, please contact Simon Andrew at simon.andrew@wysetc.org or call us at +31 (0)20 421 2800.
JUDGING PROCESS
How Apps are judged
From the hundreds of entries submitted via the facebook fan page, the judging panel will inspect each entry and rate them based on the judging criteria below. The entries that fare best through this process are included on category specific shortlists and further evaluated by Executive Members of WYSE Travel Confederation.
The Panel
The panel will be announced on the Facebook fan page.
The Submission and Judging Process
The submission period for Apps via the official Facebook page is from 8 April 2013 at 09:00 CET and closes on 10 June at 21:00 CET. The Panel will select the top ten finalists between the 11 and 12 June. The top ten (10) finalists will be notified by email and automatically entered into the public vote, via Facebook, which opens on 15 June and ends on 15 August.
Each of the top ten (10) finalists will receive 1 delegate pass to attend WYSTC. This again will be automatically created and an email confirmation will be issued.
The Judging panel will make their selection and the winner will be announced on 20 September 2013, at the WYSTC Global Youth Travel Awards.
DISCLOSURE
The WYSE Travel Confederation, WYSTC A/S and its personnel does not select the nominees, the winners, or influence the judges in any way. We do select a diverse body of judges who we feel are objective, respected and knowledgeable in this area.
Judges may not vote for any entry with which they have a conflict of interest; such situations are closely monitored, depending on both the personal integrity of the judges and various sources of knowledge to police such activity.
JUDGING CRITERIA
Content
Content is the information provided on the App. It is not just text, but music, sound, animation, or video. Good content should be engaging, relevant, and appropriate for the audience. Good content takes a stand. It has a voice, a point of view. It may be informative, useful, or funny but it always leaves you wanting more.
Structure and Navigation
Structure and navigation refers to the framework of a mobile site, the organisation of content, the prioritisation of information, and the method in which you move through the site. Sites with good structure and navigation are consistent, intuitive and transparent.
They allow you to form a mental model of the information provided, where to find things, and what to expect when you click. Good navigation gets you where you want to go quickly and offers easy access to the breadth and depth of the site’s content.
Visual Design
Visual design is the appearance of the mobile site. It’s more than just a pretty homepage and it doesn’t have to be cutting edge or trendy. Good visual design is high quality, appropriate, and relevant for the audience and the message it is supporting. It communicates a visual experience and may even take your breath away.
Functionality
Functionality is the use of technology on the mobile site. Good functionality means the site works well. It loads quickly, has live links, and any new technology used is functional and relevant for the intended audience. The site should work cross-platform and be browser independent. Highly functional sites anticipate the diversity of user requirements from file size, to file format and download speed. The most functional sites also take into consideration those with special access needs. Good functionality makes the experience centre stage and the technology invisible.
Interactivity
Interactivity is the way that a mobile site allows you to do something. Good interactivity is more than a rollover or choosing what to click on next; it allows you, as a user, to give and receive. It insists that you participate, not spectate.
It’s input/output, as in searches, chat rooms, e-commerce and gaming or notification agents, peer-to-peer applications and real-time feedback. It’s make your own, distribute your own, or speak your mind so others can see, hear or respond. Interactive elements are what separates the Web from other media. Their inclusion should make it clear that you aren’t reading a magazine or watching TV anymore.
Overall Experience
Demonstrating that mobile sites are frequently more — or less —than the sum of their parts, the overall experience encompasses content, structure and navigation, visual design, functionality, and interactivity, but it also includes the intangibles that make one stay or leave. One has probably had a good overall experience if (s)he comes back regularly, places a bookmark, signs up for a newsletter, participates, emails the site to a friend, or stays for a while, intrigued.
FAQ
THE ENTRY PROCESS
CAN I WITHDRAW MY ENTRY?
You may withdraw your entry by emailing simon.andrew@wysetc.org.
HOW CAN I BE SURE YOU HAVE RECEIVED MY ENTRY?
You will receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of your entry. If you do not receive an email confirmation within twenty four hours, please email simon.andrew@wysetc.org.
DO YOU HAVE TO BE BASED IN AUSTRALIA TO PARTICIPATE?
No, competition entries and judges have come from more than 60 countries around the globe. The App Yap Contest is a global award.
DOES THE ENTRY NEED TO BE IN ENGLISH?
While non-English speaking Apps are not explicitly forbidden, sites must be accessible to our predominantly English speaking judges and non-English speaking sites will be eligible if they are highly visual or otherwise not dependent on language.
JUDGING
HOW DO YOU PICK THE JUDGES FOR YOUR COMPETITIONS?
The App Yap Contest is overseen by the WYSE Travel Confederation. Visit WYSE Travel Confederation to learn more.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE SITES ARE JUDGED?
Please see judging process and judging criteria.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO RECEIVE THE JUDGES RATING AND COMMENTS FOR MY SITE?
Unfortunately, no information from the judging process will be made public.
WINNING AN AWARD
HOW MANY ENTRANTS WIN APP YAP AWARDS?
From all entries submitted, the WYSTC judges will select ten (10) Finalists who will be put forward for the App Yap Contest 2013. Following this, the ten (10) finalists will be posted to the official Facebook page for the public vote, which will form one final vote, along with a last decision by the judging panel to select a Winner from the Finalists. Only one (1) Winner will be selected and will win the coveted App Yap Award.
Additionally, entries that are not chosen as Winners, will be recognised as a Finalist by WYSTC.
WHAT DO I GET IF I WIN THE APP YAP AWARD OR IF MY ENTRY IS CHOSEN AS A FINALIST?
To help promote achievement, the App Yap Contest provides its winner the notable App Yap Trophy and an icon for the winners’ Websites or publications. Finalists will receive a certificate and will receive an icon for their Websites as well. All Winners and Finalists will be included on the winner’s page of the WYSTC and App Yap site.
App Yap Winners and Finalists have an unparalleled opportunity to promote the recognised entry that created it. There is tremendous recognition, prestige and public relations opportunity associated with being selected by WYSTC and their judges.
DO YOU HOLD AN EVENT THAT WE HAVE TO ATTEND TO RECEIVE OUR AWARD?
Finalists will receive one complementary delegate pass for WYSTC 2013 in Sydney and are invited to attend the WYSTC Global Youth Travel Awards Luncheon, 20 September, 2013. See some highlights from last year’s event or read about it on the WYSTC website. The first Annual App Yap Award were presented in Barcelona in 2011 with the second ceremony in San Diego 2012. The award celebration is a major media event where you get to rub elbows with the other Finalists and the industry’s foremost professionals. Winner does NOT need to attend to receive their award, although many do attend.
MISCELLANEOUS
HOW CAN I SPONSOR THE APP YAP AWARDS?
If you are interested in being considered as a sponsor of the App Yap Award, contact Simon Andrew, Marketing Associate, via email:simon.andrew@wysetc.org or phone: +31 (0)20 421 2800
CAN I RENT THE LIST OF APP YAP ENTRANTS OR WINNERS?
No. We do not rent or sell our entrant or winner lists.