Winners of the BGTW Members' Awards 2010

Best destination article under 850 words, sponsored by the Sultanate of Oman.
Adrian Phillips: If the nightingale would just pipe down, Independent on Sunday.

The judges said that: “This piece brings to life the bird-rich stones of Hungary’s Lake Tisza, a little known place where in the author’s words nature quenches its thirst and shakes the dust from its features.”

Best UK feature over 850 words, sponsored by Superbreak.
Brian Jackman: Fourteen thousand died in one afternoon, Daily Telegraph.

The judges found the piece: “A comprehensive and carefully crafted tour of deserted Northumberland, with the ‘makes you want to go’ factor. Evocative, enticing, filled with wonderful similes and metaphors. The author clearly has a great love of language. A joy to read.”

Best European (non-UK feature) over 850 words, sponsored by Travmedia.
Andrew Eames, Past perfect, Lonely Planet Magazine.

“The writer takes us somewhere new and catches and keeps our attention with skilful reportage backed by detailed research. We see, hear, feel and smell the once familiar world described and gain a fresh appreciation of its qualities. This feature gives us a chance to see this remaining pocket of yesteryear and yesterdays values while we can.”

Best Overseas Feature over 850 words, sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Commission.
Anthony Lambert, Fur and Ice, Wanderlust, March 2009

The judges said that this was: “An engaging piece which effortlessly weaved together many aspects of life in Churchill on Canada's Hudson Bay - from present day realities through to pioneering history, the natural environment and its wildlife. All had been well researched, and the author combined them into a clear picture, which was peppered with wry observations and sustained over a considerable length.”

Best Online Writing Award, sponsored by QUNO.
Melissa Shales, Steel-safari.co.uk, independent.co.uk

The judges felt that her work was: “Fun and very fresh piece for a blog, with the fat flying article the outstanding choice. Excellently written. Her portfolio got better and better.”

Best Business/Trade Feature, sponsored by BGTW.
Nick Haslam, Aboriginal Tourism, Geographical Magazine.

The judges found the winner: “An excellent and educational trade feature on the role of the aboriginal population in Australia’s tourism. A very engaging story deserving of a wider audience, meticulously researched, well crafted with good interviews.”

Kenneth Westcott Jones Memorial Award for Best Transport Feature, sponsored by Virgin Trains.
Peter Hughes, A Town Like Oasis, Daily Telegraph.

The judges said the winning feature was “brilliantly written and informative, and, it painted a real picture. No PR spin but the piece honestly provides the reader with a view of the ship”.

Best Guidebook Award, sponsored by First PR.
Polly Evans, Yukon, Bradt Travel Guides.

The judges said of the winner: “The writer was obviously smitten with the Yukon, this was very apparent from the text, but two things stood out for the judges-the quality of the writing and the amount of research. A deserving winner.

The Anne Gregg/Ed Lacy Memorial Award for Best Travel Broadcast, sponsored by First PR.
Polly Evans, The Other Guantanamo, broadcast by BBC World Service

The judges said: “Guantanamo – a word all too familiar, And yet this radio feature changes perceptions. Guantanamo is one of the most beautiful and welcoming areas of Cuba according to this feature. The infamous prison is only one tiny part of the region that has so many delights to offer the traveller. The reporter, Polly Evans engages with her audience and the location with warmth, humour and intelligence.”

Best Narrative Travel Book, sponsored by KBC PR.
Douglas Rogers, The Last Resort, A Zimbabwe Memoir

The judges found the book “an enjoyable and entertaining read, which provided a deep and personal insight into the unfolding tragedy that is Zimbabwe”.

The British Guild of Travel Writers Photographer of the Year award, sponsored by the Samoan Tourism Authority.
Karoki Lewis, photographs of India, published by BBC News online and Geo India

The judges said: “Although not a requirement – producing 4 images that tell a story is difficult. These images show a range of creative styles, techniques and excellent technical skills and use of camera facilities. Each image tells a story on its own and as a set they work together to tell a greater story. They could be used to illustrate a high quality story or feature.”