13 Nov 2008

A Night of Triumph

Last Sunday night, the great and the good of the travel industry gathered at the Marriott Grosvenor Square for the annual British Guild of Travel Writers Awards dinner, a glittering affair which traditionally ensures that everyone starts World Travel Market with a hangover. 
Triumphantly organised by Sue Bryant and hosted by chairman John Carter, with wonderful food influenced by our main sponsors, Jersey Tourism, it was our opportunity not only to reward the skills of our talented writers, photographers and broadcasters with a range of awards judged anonymously by independent panels, but to give something back to the industry with the Tourism Awards nominated by Guild members for best new attractions in the UK, overseas and major new attractions worldwide, and the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, given to a person who has made a life-changing contribution to the travel industry.
This year, that award went to Jim Dunn, founder of Fleet PR, the UK's first specialist travel PR company. Travel writer of the yearwas won by veteran travel writer Peter Hughes, for a portfolio of features in Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveller and the Daily Telegraph; runner up wasBrian Jackman. Details about Jim, the Members' Awards and the Tourism Awards can be found under the Awards button above. Many congratulations to all the winners.
The night is also the opportunity for major charity raffle, this year in honour of the Back-up Trust which runs courses for people with spinal cord injuries. With the aid of an incredibly generous travel industry who donated some fabulous prizes, and ski legend, Conrad Bartelski, who made the appeal and drew the raffle, we made a stunning £5550 on the night. Thank you all for your support. We look forward to seeing you next year.

Melissa Shales