BGTW ANNOUNCES BRITAIN'S TOP TRAVEL WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS 2011

7 November 2011


Britain's leading travel writers and photographers have been singled out at the British Guild of Travel Writers’ 51st Anniversary Gala Awards Dinner in London.

The event is the UK’s premier occasion for the travel industry to recognise excellence and achievement in travel writing, and photography. The awards are sponsored by the travel industry.

The results were announced at a ceremony held at The Savoy, (Nov 6), on the eve of the World Travel Market.

The dinner was attended by over 300 guests including ministers of tourism from countries all over the world, national tourist office representatives, top travel PRs and Britain’s leading travel journalists, photographers and broadcasters.

The prestigious event was sponsored by the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office in London.

The awards were hosted by BBC Radio 4 Travellers’ Tree producer David Prest and award-winning TV journalist, Karen Bowerman.

BGTW Travel Writer of the Year, sponsored by Travel PR, www.travelpr.co.uk
Winner: Nigel Tisdall, who has travelled all over the world on assignments for numerous publications, in particular the Daily Telegraph, and is currently travel editor for Marie Claire. The judges found that the five pieces submitted revealed
“A natural writer totally at home in this genre who is consistently engaging, and whose curiosity leads to the most interesting angles and people. This zest for life and infectious love of travel encourages the readers to walk in his footsteps.”

Best destination feature under 850 words, sponsored by First PR, www.firstpr.co.uk
Winner: Martin Symington: A Winter Classic, Daily Mail, December, 2010. The judges said that: “Though clearly written by a very experienced travel writer, who has probably travelled to Prague many times, this well-crafted and atmospheric piece freshly captures the sheer thrill of being in a foreign city – the kind of mysteries and idiosyncrasies that first make us want to travel.”

Best UK feature, sponsored by Welsh Rarebits, www.welshrarebits.co.uk
Winner: Mike Unwin: Out in the wild, wild Wester Ross, The Independent, July, 2011. The judges found “Plenty of reasons to head north for the summer when every picnic yields a springwatch moment in this well-crafted piece about wild Wester Ross.”

Best European (non-UK feature) over 850 words, sponsored by Travmedia, www.travmedia.com
Winner: Jeremy Seal: How Very Civilised, Conde Nast Traveller, April 2011. Said the judges: “An outstanding entry very well written. It’s a true armchair travelogue, painting a beautiful picture of an unusual little known area, well backed by pertinent information. Exciting, inviting, enticing.”

Best Long-Haul Feature, sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Commission, www.canada.travel
Winner: Emma Gregg: People of the Desert, National Geographic Traveller,May/June 2011. The judges found this “A very interesting and well-written piece that highlighted a number of innovative developments in tourism in Namibia. Good use of quotes and some wonderfully lyrical passages draws the reader in and then holds their attention.”

Best Business/Trade Feature, sponsored by Skywork Airlines, www.flyskywork.com
Winner: Mary Novakovich: Proof that a business based on happiness can change the world, The Independent on Sunday, December 2010. The judges found the winner’s piece a “sharply written and entertaining business feature profiling adventure travel holidays entrepreneur Bruce Poon Tip of G Adventures. It gave revealing insights into his personal brand of responsible travel.”

Kenneth Westcott Jones Memorial Award for Best Transport Feature & Specialist Feature, sponsored by Virgin Trains, www.virgintrains.co.uk
Winner: Rudolf Abraham: The Magic of Montenegro, Outdoor Enthusiast, September 2010. The judges loved the feature, simply saying that “It was fascinating and really brought the topic to life.”

Best Guidebook Award, sponsored by First PR, www.firstpr.co.uk
Winner: Laurence Phillips: How to be very very lazy in Marseillan and a lot of Languedoc, Imprint Illyria Books, 2011. The judges said of the winner: “This is in many respects a traditional guidebook that stood out for its quality writing and individual voice. The author shouted out with detailed personal reviews of restaurants and menus. You can almost smell and taste the meals delivered to your table.”

The British Guild of Travel Writers Photographer of the Year award, sponsored by Las Vegas CVB, www.visitlasvegas.com
Winner: William Gray: Images in Cornwall with Kids, Footprint, 2010. The judges found the photographs a “really good set of images. The photographer relies on photographic skills not the subject matter. There’s a good exploitation of movement”. All in all the judges found these a “very publishable set of images.”

The Guild Awards are judged anonymously by non-Guild members and the results are held as a closely guarded secret until the night of the Awards Dinner.

The British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW, established 1960) is the premier professional association for bonafide journalists, editors, photographers, and radio and film broadcasters working in the travel field from Britain.

For more information, contact Mary Moore Mason, BGTW Membership Secretary at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it t. 020 7243 6954.