Press Release

BGTW ANNOUNCES BRITAIN'S TOP TRAVEL WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

10 November 2009, London Britain's leading travel writers and photographers have been singled out at the British Guild of Travel Writers’ Annual Gala Awards Dinner in London on November 8 on the eve of the World Travel Market.

The event is the UK’s premier occasion for the travel industry to recognise excellence and achievement in travel writing, photography and broadcasting. The awards are sponsored by the industry and include a range of travel-related journalism awards, as well as a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. In past years, this has been presented in past years to Judith Chalmers, Sir Freddie Laker, Patrick Leigh Fermor, Noel Josephides and Eric Newby.

The winners were announced at the Marriott Grosvenor Square, London, before an audience of more than 300 made up of the UK’s top travel media professionals as well as high-profile representatives of the international travel world.

The event was sponsored by the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, Elite Island Resorts and Virgin Holidays and guests enjoyed a rum punch/champagne reception, a gourmet Caribbean menu and a steel band from Antigua at the reception. The keynote speech was made by Antigua and Barbuda's Minister of Tourism John Maginley, with a presentation by GMTV’s Jenni Falconer, and hosted by TV travel presenter Alison Rice and BBC Radio 4 Travellers’ Tree producer David Prest.

Travel writer of the year

Nigel Tisdall, travel editor of Marie Claire, was named winner of the 2009 BGTW Travel Writer of the Year Award, based on work published in The Telegraph, Ultratravel and The National.

His article, Light at the end of the Tundra, (Ultratravel), about a visit to Arctic Sweden, impressed judges for its strikingly original description: “Heavens above! The night sky is singing with colour. It is bouncing around like an over-excited lava lamp, swirling like the lights on a DJ's sound system, billowing like a Barbara Cartland ballgown…”

William Gray, adventure, wildlife and family-travel specialist and editor of Travel Africa magazine, was runner-up for features that appeared in the Sunday Times Travel Magazine, Wanderlust and The Independent. Both awards were sponsored by Malta Tourism Authority.

Travel photographer of the year

William Gray also won Travel Photographer of the year, sponsored by Saga Holidays. This award, based on a set of photos, was given for the first time in this format this year. Previously, the award was for a single shot. Will submitted a portfolio of photos of the Falkland Islands; the judges were particularly taken by his varied images of penguins and agreed that the portfolio included difficult to achieve action shots, capturing the movement and drama of the destination well.

The winners of the other awards, the featured destinations and media in which they appeared were:

Best destination article under 850 words, sponsored by Amtrak.
Mary Anne Evans: A perfect place to bunk off, Metro, August 2008.

Best UK feature over 850 words, sponsored by Superbreak.
William Gray: A wildlife-packed weekend on the Isle of Mull, Wanderlust, August 2009.

Best European (non-UK feature) over 850 words, sponsored by Travmedia.
Judy Armstrong, Pony tales, France Magazine, October 2008.

Best Overseas Feature Over 850 Words, sponsored by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation.
William Gray, Nature on parade, Wanderlust, March 2009

Best Online Writing Award, sponsored by Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Roger Norum, The ethics of travel writing, www.good.is, August 2008

Best Business/Trade Feature, sponsored by Grenada Board of Tourism.
Matthew Teller, A vine romance, CNN Traveller, March 2009

Kenneth Westcott Jones Memorial Award for Best Transport Feature, sponsored by Virgin Trains.
Gary Buchanan, A transport of delight, The Herald, November 2008

Best Guidebook Award, sponsored by First PR
Mal Rogers, Northern Ireland: Accessible, Contemporary Guides by Local Experts (Best of Britain)

The Anne Gregg/Ed Lacy Memorial Award for Best Travel Broadcast, sponsored by First PR.
Carmen Roberts, Scotland Homecoming, broadcast by BBC World Service

The Guild awards are judged anonymously (where possible) by non-Guild members and the results are held as a closely guarded secret until the night of the Awards dinner.

Further information
The Guild is the premier professional association for bonafide journalists, editors, photographers, and radio and film broadcasters working in the travel field. Contact: Sarah Monaghan: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Photos of the event are available from the Guild or directly downloadable (for a fee) at www.simply-photo.co.uk.