#Canada #Vancouver #Rival Technologies #Time Out #Esomar Award

Time Out and Rival Technologies Triumph at 2026 Esomar Award

The esteemed 2026 Esomar Award for Global Research Excellence has been awarded to Time Out, a leading global brand dedicated to highlighting urban experiences, in collaboration with Rival Technologies. This recognition comes as a result of their innovative partnership that transformed Time Out's extensive ten-year research program through a cutting-edge conversational research platform.

This prestigious award was revealed during the Esomar Congress 2026 held in Valencia, Spain. It underscores the critical importance of emphasizing audience insights within editorial narratives, audience engagement, and commercial strategies in Time Out's global network.

Evolving Audience Engagement

For over a decade, Time Out's Global City Survey has served as the research backbone of its acclaimed annual Best Cities ranking, melding perspectives from local citizens with Time Out's journalistic insight. This initiative has evolved into one of the brand’s most successful editorial projects, fostering substantial audience interaction and international media attention.

To enhance this initiative, Time Out engaged Rival Technologies to modernize participant interaction in their research endeavors. Rival’s conversational, mobile-first approach facilitated a shift from traditional survey methodologies towards a format that mimics real-life conversations, ensuring the necessary scale and structure are still maintained for global research. The impressive outcome of this collaboration involved the participation of 18,500 individuals from nearly 60 countries, generating approximately 1.6 million data points with an astounding 86% survey completion rate.

Within a week of the results' publication, the feedback reached over 6.3 million individuals organically, garnering media coverage from renowned outlets such as CNN, Forbes, The Independent, and The New York Post. This coverage has significantly supported Time Out's localized storytelling initiatives across its international platform.

Insights from Leadership

Anna Norfolk, Insights and Trade Marketing Director at Time Out, expressed the significance of this award by stating, "The Global City Survey has been part of Time Out for many years and has grown into one of our most successful global editorial initiatives. Rival has assisted us in evolving the way people participate in our research while bringing us closer to the individuals who experience these cities firsthand." Norfolk further noted the partnership's evolution into the Time Out Loud community, which has amplified audience insights into vital aspects of operational strategies across editorial, audience engagement, and commercial realms.

In the wake of the Global City Survey's success, Time Out and Rival Technologies launched Time Out Loud, a distinct insight community geared towards engaging Gen Z and millennial urbanites. In just six months, this community facilitated over 30 fast-paced research projects that integrated quantitative data with conversational feedback and AI-analysis, propelling the initiative forward.

About Time Out Group

Time Out Group is a globally recognized brand rooted in the mission of helping people explore the best urban experiences. Since its inception in 1968, Time Out has served as a guide for discovering city highlights, evolving into the sole global entity dedicated exclusively to city life. With expert journalists crafting content about the finest things to see, do, and eat across more than 350 cities worldwide, Time Out remains a multifaceted entity with both digital and physical platforms.

The Time Out Market, the first-ever editorially curated destination for food and culture, showcases top culinary talents and unique cultural experiences from various cities under one roof. Currently, markets exist in 13 cities, including Lisbon, New York, and Dubai, with plans for further expansion in 2026 and beyond.

About Rival Technologies

Rival Technologies is redefining how organizations perceive audience behavior through innovative research technologies. As pioneers in conversational research, Rival employs an AI-driven, mobile-friendly platform that transforms ordinary surveys into captivating, interaction-based experiences reflecting contemporary communication styles. By melding quantitative, qualitative, and video insights into a singular engaging flow, they empower global brands to capture rich data, improve response rates, and facilitate informed decision-making. Rival Technologies has been recognized in the Top 10 Most Innovative Technology Suppliers in Greenbook’s 2025 GRIT report.

For additional information, connect with Marie Melsheimer at +1-541-815-3951 or via email at [email protected].