50th Anniversary issue of travel trade's 'bible' unveiled at London's newest landmark hotel

(London, Fri 26 Feb 2010) The British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW) kicked off its 50th anniversary year in style with the launch of a celebratory gold-themed issue of its famous Yearbook at a stylish party hosted by London’s newest and uber-modern hotel, Park Plaza Westminster Bridge.

The event was celebrated by more than 350 of the UK’s top travel media and industry professionals in the vast Westminster Ballroom of the 1,000-room £350-million luxury hotel in the heart of London’s buzzing South Bank.

Always considered a ‘bible’ and must-have resource for media planning within the travel industry, this specially-designed edition of the British Guild of Travel Writers’ Yearbook will be in higher demand than ever. With its gold-embossed cover, the 2010 issue is expected to become a collector’s item.

BGTW Chairman Melissa Shales said that 2010 looked set to continue to be a challenging year ahead and that the strong relationship between the travel trade and the BGTW’s specialist writers and photographers was today more valuable than ever.

“There is virtually nowhere in the world that has not been covered by one of our members, virtually no publication – in print, on the airwaves or online, in the UK and, increasingly, abroad as well – in which our work is not represented on a regular basis,” she said.

The 2010 BGTW Yearbook is one of the most valuable tools for anyone looking to promote their international destination to the British press or working in the public relations worlds. So what does it offer?

It’s not what you know but who you know – and it’s who you know who knows what…

The Yearbook contains biographies and contact information for the UK’s top travel journalists, guidebook and narrative writers; photographers; broadcasters and TV presenters and a comprehensive directory of over 2,700 specialist PR companies, publications, broadcast media, tourist offices in the UK and worldwide, tour and transport operators and other useful companies and organisations operating in the UK travel and tourism industry.

It is designed to assist with all travel PR requirements – from media contact targeting to list building; from news release distribution to campaign planning.

Purchasers of the 290-page Yearbook also receive immediate access to the BGTW’s search-engine optimised online database, event listings and breaking travel news feeds. The Yearbook 2010 and online database access costs £95.

Visit the shop at www.bgtw.org to order or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

"It has earned the right to be called a 'Yearbook', since it would take a year to read it. This book has no rival when it comes to content and extent!"

Howard Salinger, Regional Manager, TravMedia.com

“The PR’s definitive guide to the UK Media and freelance contributors, an easy to use on- and offline source of reference”

Alison Cryer, Managing Director, Representation Plus; Chairman, The Tourism Society

"The BGTW Year Book is one of the most useful 'little black books' in travel and will save you hours of time over the course of the year by giving you the means to contact most of the key people in this wide-ranging industry of ours."

Sue Ockwell, Managing Director of Travel PR and Spokesperson for the Association of Independent Tour Operators

"It's a must-have reference. The online version is fast and accurate, and the hard copy version is simply laid out and easy to use. It's an altogether essential tool."

David Prest, Co-producer, BBC Radio 4 Traveller’s Tree

“Over the years, it has grown into my most reliable source of information. For contacts and sources and specialists, it can't be equalled.”

John Carter, former BBC TV Holiday presenter

With thanks to our launch sponsors:

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge is the capital's largest and most prestigious new apart hotel offering luxurious, highly sophisticated accommodation for 1021 guests and residents. The three upper levels, rising some 150 feet above the Thames provide the ultimate in exclusivity - a collection of magnificent Skyline Suites overlooking the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and much of the Capital's dramatic skyline. The hotel replaces the old County Hall annexe which had been vacant since the abolition of the Greater London Council.

www.parkplazahotels.net/westminsterbridge/