Our Roll Call of Judges

Amy Skelding

Managing Partner

FINN Partners

As a Managing Partner at FINN Partners, Amy Skelding leads the UK Travel Practice with over 20 years of expertise in global storytelling. Her career, which began as a child travel radio presenter on BBC Radio 4, is defined by a commitment to driving positive industry impact. A multi-award-winning leader, Amy was named TravMedia's PR Business Leader of the Year 2025 and is a fixture in the PRWeek Power Book. Beyond media relations, she is a fierce advocate for inclusivity and sustainability, serving as Co-Chair of AITO's Sustainability Committee and a founding member of the diversity-focused Step Up Internship.

Andrew McConnell

Deputy Director, Communications & Engagement

UK Civil Aviation Authority

Andrew leads communications and engagement across the organisation and is responsible for marketing and promotion of the ATOL Financial Protection Scheme. He has more than 30 years of experience in the transport sector, having held senior roles with several UK and international airlines. He is passionate about championing diversity, equality and inclusion, with a focus on supporting the next generation and improving representation across the travel and transport industry.

April Hutchinson

Head of Luxury

TTG Media

April drives the luxury strategy for the multi award-winning B Corp-certified TTG Media, a London-based independent media and events business at the heart of the travel industry. She has a degree in journalism and began her career as an assistant editor, working in B2B publishing ever since and gaining a deep understanding of the travel sector. In 2007, she became launch editor of TTG Luxury, a trailblazing magazine for luxury specialists that acted as both a mirror and a voice for the UK's luxury travel community until its recent closure. The portfolio continues to flourish with a weekly luxury newsletter, awards programmes, travel agent training initiatives and the recently launched Black Book, an innovative new trade show for the UK. April loves to travel with an open mind, a big heart and a keen eye for what luxury really means. She is lucky enough to have been to more than 70 countries in her 30-year career as a journalist and editor, and is an expert in luxury travel trends.

Barry Neild

Global Editor

CNN Travel

Barry Neild is the Global Editor for CNN Travel, supervising all travel-related content across CNN’s digital products. Based in London, he helms a team of staff reporters and international freelancers, working closely with CNN Travel’s teams in New York, Atlanta, Bangkok and Hong Kong. Neild joined CNN in 2006, working for its digital news operations before switching to its Travel team in 2015. Prior to working at CNN he worked as a correspondent for the AFP news agency, reporting headline news stories from destinations including Afghanistan, Indonesia, China and Iraq.

Ben Parker

Acting Head of Travel

Daily Mail & The Mail on Sunday

Ben Parker, acting head of travel at the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday, has been a travel writer and journalist for more than a decade. He has written for The Economist, The i, Condé Nast Traveller and Tatler, held roles at The Independent and The Telegraph, and has contributed to and edited several books.

Ben Ross

Head of Travel

The Telegraph

Ben began writing about travel in 2001, becoming Travel Editor of The Independent newspaper in 2007 and Head of Travel for the Independent and Independent on Sunday in 2011. He joined the Telegraph Media Group in 2014 and is responsible for all of the Telegraph's travel content.

Bruce Martin

CEO & Founder

Travel Gossip

Bruce Martin is CEO and founder of Travel Gossip, a leading B2B media brand in the travel industry, which he has grown organically from a Facebook group in 2010 into a multi-channel business serving the UK travel trade. He leads a team of 16 and focuses on the company's strategic direction, with expansion into a luxury media brand, AI-powered e-learning, regional awards and nationwide roadshows. With a background across marketing and operations, including e-learning, recruitment and tour operations, Bruce also founded Ginger Juice, a social media agency specialising in travel and tourism brands.

Carly Reed

Founder & Managing Director

Reed PR

Bio to follow

David Ezra

Director of PR and Co-owner

KBC PR & Marketing

David Ezra is Director of PR and Co-owner at KBC PR & Marketing, one of the UK's leading travel and tourism communications agencies. He brings extensive experience working with North American, international and domestic destinations, with particular focus on media strategy, integrated campaigns and clear, compelling storytelling for both consumer and trade audiences. Known for his collaborative approach, David works closely with destination partners, journalists and industry stakeholders to deliver meaningful results. A long-standing supporter of the travel media community, he offers fair, thoughtful and insight-led perspectives, shaped by many years working at the heart of the travel industry.

Emma Brennan

Head of Media and Communications

ABTA Ltd.

Bio to follow

Emma Westman

Head of PR & Communications

Black Diamond

Bio to follow

Esther Bell

Founder & Owner

HELLOMrsBell

Bio to follow

Fiona Anderson

Company Director

GEC PR

Fiona Anderson is a Company Director at specialist travel and lifestyle agency GEC PR. Fiona has enjoyed a 25-year PR career, and her travel client experience includes premium tourism brands that include Aitken Spence Hotels, Conrad, Kimpton and Hilton Hotels. Her agency works with tourist boards, hotels, resorts, and travel products that span the globe, and Fiona has also represented destinations as diverse as Taiwan, Central America, India, the Maldives, the Philippines, Jamaica, and Kyoto in Japan. Fiona is a Fellow of the UK's Tourism Society, and is passionate about the transformative power of travel.

Florian Valmy-Devillers

Business Development Director

Caribbean Tourism Organisation Chapter UK & Europe

Florian Valmy-Devillers is the Director of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation Chapter UK & Europe, a membership organisation strong of 85+ public and private sector members. Having worked with Caribbean tourism organisations since 2016, his current role with the CTO Chapter allows him to market the Caribbean region across the United Kingdom and Europe. The CTO Chapter delivers over 40 activities annually to keep the Caribbean top-of-mind, targeting media, travel trade, tourism stakeholders and consumers in the UK & key European source markets through events, digital marketing and advertorial campaigns. Florian has organised high-level projects at the ministerial level such as projects to the European Commission in Brussels and networking forums with diplomatic missions including both government and non-government organisations for tourism ministers, executives, and media. Expert in Tourism Development, Florian speaks three languages fluently and has travelled the globe extensively working on international tourism projects in five continents. Florian received the highest distinction for his master’s degree in International Affairs majoring in Tourism, and his ultimate career goal is to contribute to the blueprint which will lead to a more sustainable, inclusive and equitable future for all through tourism.

Fran Lambert

Head of Media & Communications UK & Ireland

Switzerland Tourism

Fran Lambert has worked in the media and communications team at Switzerland Tourism for three years, and has been its head of media since March 2024, further enhancing Switzerland’s presence and engagement in the UK and Ireland. Prior to this position, she accumulated over ten years of experience in tourism and public relations both in the UK and abroad, contributing to prominent institutions such as the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, the UK’s national news agency Press Association (now PA Media), and the French Embassy in London. A fluent French speaker, Fran spent six years at Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency, where she managed the Normandy Tourism account. Throughout her career, Fran has honed her skills in media relations, destination marketing and strategic communications, making her a seasoned professional in the tourism and PR sectors.

Frances Tuke

PR & Communications Manager

ATTA

Frances Tuke is PR and Communications Manager for ATTA® - the African and Travel Association as well as a consultant for LOTUS, an award-winning London-based PR and marketing agency specializing in the travel and tourism industry. Frances has extensive experience in PR, travel trade communications and industry relations, having worked in the industry for over 20 years both at LOTUS, the specialist travel and lifestyle PR agency and ABTA – The Travel Association, where she held senior communications roles in raising profiles, positioning and re-positioning travel brands and shaping industry messaging across consumer, trade and political audiences. In her new role, Tuke will support ATTA®'s communications strategy and work closely with members and stakeholders to enhance ATTA®'s profile, raise awareness of African destinations and shape the global narrative around African tourism, building media relationships and overseeing all internal and external communications.

Jenni Holman

Global PR & Brand Communications Director

Mason Rose

Spearheading Mason Rose's PR and Communications teams across EU, US and UK, Jenni is a senior communications specialist with meaningful contacts throughout the industry. Having worked across a diverse spread of wellness and travel clients, including hotels, tourist boards, and airlines - she has a comprehensive understanding of what makes a great story.

Kate Kenward

CEO

Visit USA UK

Kate has worked in travel for more than 30 years across most sectors of the industry. She has held senior board positions at AITO The Specialist Travel Association, ATTA (African Travel & Tourism Association), Tourism Australia and for the past 3 years at Visit USA UK. Kate has also worked as a consultant in Sierra Leone, West Africa, developing attractions and supporting people as their tourism industry grows.

Kate McWilliams

CEO

LOTUS (part of W Communications)

Kate McWilliams is a founding member of travel consultancy LOTUS, a two-time winner of TravMedia's PR Professional of the Year and an honouree of the 2026 PR Power Book (top 10 in travel). She has led numerous award-winning campaigns across the global travel, tourism and hospitality sectors building authority and visibility for destinations, travel associations, industry leaders and hospitality brands. Kate is a founding member of Spain's travel industry advisory board on accessibility, and a Trustee of the LATA Foundation. She is also a regular commentator on travel industry issues. She holds a First-Class Honours degree in International Relations and Spanish, a CIPR Diploma in Public Relations, and is a graduate of the Oxford School of Climate Change and the ABTA Carbon Literacy Programme.

Leah Whitfield

Director of Global Communications

G Adventures

Leah Whitfield is Director of Global Communications at G Adventures, where she helps amplify the company's mission of changing lives through travel. A trained journalist with more than 15 years of communications experience and nearly a decade with G Adventures, Leah has worked across the beauty, fashion and luxury travel sectors before finding her true calling in adventure and responsible travel. Passionate about the power of storytelling and human connection, she believes PR has never been more important in bringing people and communities together. When she's not leading global communications strategies, you'll likely find her hiking a remote trail, travelling in a campervan or staying with local communities around the world.

Lisa Minot

Head of Travel

The Sun

Lisa Minot is Head of Travel at The Sun. She has worked for the national newspaper for 32 years and has been Travel Editor and Head of Travel for the past 24 years. A regular on TV and radio commenting on Travel, she heads up the team at The Sun in charge of the print and digital operations.

Louise Ferrall

Senior Marketing Communications Manager

VisitEngland

Louise has worked in the travel industry for over 15 years, representing an array of global destinations, tour operators; luxury hotels, spas and aviation clients. Her experience covers all aspects of PR and integrated marketing, from strategic campaign planning and media relations to event management, influencer marketing and brand partnerships. Passionate about championing our amazing home-grown tourism experiences, Louise joined VisitEngland in 2016 and now oversees domestic consumer PR, content, influencer and social media activity, driving integration across owned, earned and paid campaigns. Louise is the proud recipient of the TravMedia In-House PR Team of the Year 2022 and 2024 and Digital PR Campaign of the Year 2023.

Lysbeth Fox

CEO

Fox Communications

Lysbeth Fox is the CEO of luxury travel and lifestyle communications agency Fox Communications, whose portfolio of clients includes some of the most prestigious in the world. A highly professional and experienced executive within the luxury sector, Lysbeth has overseen strategic direction and implemented innovative media campaigns for some of the most prestigious brands world-wide. Providing high quality and strategic media campaigns Lysbeth is highly skilled at bringing her clients visions to life. Passionate about the work she does, her industry specialisms include strategy, integrated channel management, media relations, luxury brand partnerships and ultra-high net worth introductions. Previously at the helm of two major PR firms, Lysbeth cultivated and managed a team of experienced PR professionals, including serving as Global Communications Director at Jet Republic, a private aviation company, where she was responsible for the press and publicity across 21 countries, managing a network of 13 international agencies. Starting from a consumer PR grounding, Lysbeth has worked across travel, health, food and FMCG within the luxury sector. Her background covers launching and repositioning new and existing companies and brands implementing strategic campaigns that resulted in high impact awareness for brands across the world. During her time at Weber Shandwick, Lysbeth was responsible for launching one of the firm's largest healthcare brands. After Weber, Lysbeth was MD at Talk Luxury which meant a temporary relocation to Los Angeles. With over 25 years in the industry, Lysbeth is passionate about public relations - she is insightful, creative and an ardent proponent of the power of good communications.

Meera Dattani

Freelance Journalist & Executive Editor

Adventure.com

Meera Dattani is a freelance travel and culture journalist, and executive editor at Adventure.com which commission stories from writers and photographers around the world. Focusing on community-led tourism, food and cultural heritage, soft adventure, and wildlife and conservation in her own work, her features have been published in Condé Nast Traveller, National Geographic Traveller, Wanderlust, Olive magazine, BBC Travel, and others. She's also a mentor, awards judge, and has spoken at/moderated events at World Travel Market, TravMedia, British Library, and Adventure Travel Show. In 2023, she founded TravelWritingWebinars and is a former Chair of the British Guild of Travel Writers.

Nat Frogley

Co-Founder

Frog & Wolf PR

Cofounder of TTG PR & Representation Company of the Year, Frog & Wolf PR, Nat has built a deep knowledge of the travel industry and an extensive contacts book since embarking on his travel PR career in 2001. Over 20+ years, he has led campaigns for major tour operators, national flag carriers, iconic luxury spas and resorts, and hotel brands large and small. Career highs include ziplining in St Lucia and a white-knuckle helicopter tour of Réunion; its lowest point was on a group press trip to Jordan: floating in the Dead Sea 430m below sea level.

Rachel Johnston

Senior Press Officer

Atout France UK & Ireland

Rachel is an experienced travel PR and France specialist at Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency. Based in London, she has promoted all regions of France to the UK and Irish travel media for the last 10 years. Rachel's background in travel journalism means she has a valuable viewpoint between the PR and media industries. Her press trips are expertly hosted and media-tailored, resulting in balanced experiences that lead to great features. Rachel is also a certified coach specialising in outdoor coaching and mental fitness, providing coaching to individuals both within and outside the travel industry.

Renate Ruge

Journalist

Freelance

Travel journalist and photographer Renate Ruge has excellent publishing credentials with over 25 years' experience as editor in London, Sydney, Hong Kong, Toronto and New York. Being half-German and a self-described 'quasi-Aussie', and travelling to 55 countries brings a rich international perspective to her work in newspapers and glossy magazines including Sainsbury's Magazine, Yorkshire Post Magazine, The Times & Sunday Times, Supper, Wanderlust, JRNY, Beau Monde Traveller plus many online outlets. Based in England's Ribble Valley, Renate, a passionate advocate for responsible, accessible and sustainable tourism, champions fellow travel media as Joint Chair of the British Guild of Travel Writers.

Richard Hammond

Publishing Director

Green Traveller Media

Richard is the Founder and Publishing Director of Green Traveller Media where he manages a network of freelance writers, photographers and videographers. He is an experienced videographer and drone pilot and has worked with tour operators, hoteliers and tourist boards to produce over 100 videos. For over 20 years, Richard has held a variety of roles in the media, including editor-in-chief of TravelMole, eco travel correspondent for the Guardian, and has written articles for a range of publications, including National Geographic, FT, Telegraph, The Times, and The Sunday Times. His book 'The Green Traveller', was published in 2022 by HarperCollins.

Richard Hume

Owner

Hume Whitehead

Richard Hume is Director and co-founder of Hume Whitehead Ltd, a leading PR, marketing and representation agency with a global portfolio of high-profile travel and tourism clients. Richard has twenty-seven years of experience in travel and hospitality, with previous roles including Director of Northern Europe and the Middle East for the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Marketing Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand and six years in tour operating, including Product Director at Magic of Italy (TUI's Specialist Holidays Group).

Sarah Sheehan

Vice President

MMGY Grifco

Sarah Sheehan is VP at MMGY Grifco. She has more than 35 years of global experience shaping the stories behind some of the world's most iconic hotels, destinations, and cruise lines. At Grifco, she leads international teams and creative campaigns that connect travellers to meaningful, sustainability-led experiences; from the untouched beauty of The Red Sea to the barefoot luxury of Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties. Her work has been recognised with a Cannes Lions Bronze, Indie Global Gold, Shorty Social Good and two HSMAI Adrian Awards.

Sophie Morgan

Journalist

Bio to follow

Tracey Poggio-Magnus

UK Head of Media & Marketing

Gibraltar Tourist Board

Tracey has worked in destination marketing for over 30 years starting her career in the field of PR, working across both private and public sector entities. In 2000 she was a founding Director of an early digital marketing agency dotcom PR which won Docklands Business of the Year. Working extensively for Gibraltar throughout her career, since 2002, Tracey has been UK Head of Media & Marketing for the Gibraltar Tourist Board, promoting the destination across its wide spectrum of markets. Active across the industry, Tracey was Chair of The Association of National Tourist Offices (Antor) for 20 years, steering the voice of Tourist Boards she currently works on the Board to develop Antor's growing overseas chapters. She sits on the Policy Committee for the Tourism Society and the Sustainability Committee for AITO.

Uwern Jong

Co-Founder & Experientialist® (Editor)-in-Chief

OutThere

Uwern Jong is co-Founder and Experientialist® (Editor)-in-Chief at the luxury travel magazine and media brand OutThere, created alongside Creative Director Martin Perry to inspire and include travellers from diverse backgrounds, reimagine the conventional stereotypes and unconscious biases in luxury and experiential travel and disrupt industry norms. Fifteen years on, the brand has become a leading voice in inclusive tourism and the wider luxury travel industry – leading the market on purpose-driven, luxury and experiential travel. OutThere also delivers bespoke content creation campaigns and creative branding for some of the world's leading luxury destinations and travel brands. He takes a human-centred approach making travel more about people and purpose rather than just product. Uwern leads the annual Icons of Inclusion conference and also oversees OutThere's landmark not-for-profit Experientialist® Awards, raising large sums for travel-related causes worldwide. He is also a brand ambassador for the city of Stockholm and founded a members-based destination marketing platform in the destination, while leading on the Tourism Authority of Thailand's landmark “Go Thai, Be Free” global platform. His efforts have been recognised with numerous awards and accolades. Last year in 2025 he was named one of Walpole's '50 Most Influential People in British Luxury' for the second time alongside being TravMedia's ‘Luxury Travel Writer of the Year'.