The 2017 ASTW Awards of Excellence received record-breaking entries this year in a total of 19 categories.

Here is the full list of finalists for the awards, which will be presented at a gala event to be held at Novotel Twin Waters Resort on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday 19 August, 2017 as part of the ASTW Conference and AGM. The ASTW would like to thank the judges, who are non-members from the national and international travel writing industry, and all of the sponsors involved in the awards this year, and who support the ASTW on an ongoing basis.

 

ASTW Travel Writer of the Year – sponsored by Visit USA Australia

Penny Watson             

Meals on Wheels - Traveller/Fairfax Media                 

A Taste for Incognito - Vacations & Travel                

Rolling with the Locals - Traveller/Fairfax Media                   

 

Catherine Marshall                  

Great Southern Land - Qantas Spirit Magazine            

After the Big Chill - The Australian                 

Africa's great Bat Invasion - Traveller/Fairfax Media                                                  

           

Mark Daffey               

The Avocado Canoe Club - Wild Magazine                

Polar Opposites - The Johnnie Walker Edit                 

Here be dragons - Great Walks            

                       

Kerry Van Der Jagt                 

On the dreaming track - QantasLink Magazine           

South Pacific spring - Nat Geo Traveller                     

Life in the deep freeze - Traveller/Fairfax Media                    

 

ASTW Photographer of the Year – Sponsored by Abercrombie and Kent

Danielle Lancaster

1. Badlands Sunrise – Vacations & Travel Magazine
2. Sand dunes – Vacations & Travel Magazine
3. Lester – Vacations & Travel Magazine
4. Solomon Islands – Travel2Next
5. Whale tail – Where Gold Coast 

Dan Avila

1. Vanishing Warmth – Vacations & Travel magazine
2. Spa Pool – Caravan and Camping with Kids magazine
3. Snowy Istanbul – Just Luxe
4. Ranger Sarah - Kimberley & Pilbara Holiday Planner 2017
5. Washed stones – Vacations & Travel Magazine

Mark Daffey

1. Winter wonderland – The Johnnie Walker House Edit
2. The Usual Suspects – Get Lost Magazine
3. Perahera Partying – Lonely Planet Asia
4. Mirror Image – Get Lost Magazine
5. Bo-Kaapster – Lonely Planet Asia

 

Communicator or Communications Team of the Year – Sponsored by TravMedia

Janaya Birse - Hawaii Tourism/The Walshe Group, Sabi Sabi Private Reserve

AccorHotels

DC&A Worldwide – Destination Canada (Pip Macken/Donna Campbell)

 

Best Travel Photograph – Sponsored by Tourism Authority of Thailand

Kara Murphy - Richelieu Rock star    - Boat International

Mark Daffey   - Usual Suspects – Get Lost Magazine

Dan Bannister - Ancient Stepwell in Jodhpur - Holidays for Couples

Dan Avila – Miles Away – Club Marine Magazine

Mark Daffey – Mirror Image – Lonely Planet Asia

 

Best Story about the AGM Host Destination – sponsor tba

Angela Saurine - Safari Surprises - Mamamia                                     

Aleney de Winter - Bites and sites on the streets of Stellenbosch - Boy Eats World      

Shirley Sinclair - Drink in the rugged beauty - Sunshine Coast Sunday                                               

 

Best Family Travel Story – Sponsored by Bound Round

Penny Watson Rolling with the Locals – Traveller – Fairfax Media

Tiana Templeman Land Ahoy – Flight Centre Travel Ideas

Aleney de Winter - Angkor Away – Holidays with Kids magazine

Julie Miller - Jumbo Tales – Flight Centre Travel Ideas

Sheriden Rhodes - Family Face Time – Traveller – Fairfax Media

 

Best Travel Blog – Sponsor tba

Have Wheelchair Will Travel - Julie Jones       

The Global Goddess - Christine Retschlag       

Boy Eats World - Aleney de Winter    

 

Best Tourism Organisation or Travel Product – Sponsored by Nugggit

Kyoto Tourism - Alison Roberts-Brown

The Rees Hotel - Caroline Davidson

Glasgow Tourism - Laura Speirs

 

Best Travel Broadcaster – Sponsor tba

Ben Groundwater

Pamela Wright

Greg Grainger

 

Best Australian Story under 1000 words – Sponsored by Tourism Australia

Ben Groundwater - A taste of the original Australia – Traveller/Fairfax Media

Marian McGuinness - A little Night Music in Sydney – The Australian

Mark Daffey - Luck Be a Lady – Escape/News Ltd

 

Best Australian Story over 1000 words – Sponsored by Tourism Australia

Craig Tansley - It's a long way to the top – Traveller/Fairfax Media                            

Kerry Van Der Jagt - On the Dreaming Track - Qantaslink Magazine                         

Andrew Bain - Camel trekking in the Flinders Ranges – Traveller/Fairfax Media                                

 

PR Campaign of the Year - Sponsor tba

Relaunch of the Ultimo Hotel - Kim McKay - Klick Communications             

Royal Caribbean - Arrival of Ovation of the Seas to Australia - Gail D'Arcy               

Experience Aloha – Hawaii Tourism Oceania/Walshe Group - Janaya Birse                

 

Best Food Story – Sponsored by Outrigger Resorts

Julie Miller - Eating in New Orleans- Traveller/Fairfax Media

Catherine Marshall - Great Southern Land – Qantas

Jennifer Ennion - Arctic Jewels  - Nourish

 

Best Responsible Tourism story – Intrepid Travel

Mark Daffey - Thunder on the Mountain         - Wild Magazine        

Louise Southerden - Lighting Up Kolkata's Slums - Momentum.Travel          

Ben Groundwater - Poverty as a tourism attraction: Can travel to a developing country really make a difference? – Traveller/Fairfax Media

Best Adventure Story – Sponsored by G Adventures

Jayne D'Arcy - A Sacred Journey – Jetstar Magazine

Tracey Croke - The Revival of Mavrovo – Adventure.Travel

Andrew Bain - Test your limits – Qantaslink magazine

Catherine Marshall - Africa's great bat invasion – Traveller/Fairfax Media

Andrew Bain - Grampians Peaks Trail - Traveller/Fairfax Media

 

Best Cruise Story – Sponsored by Cruise Lines International Association

Christine Retschlag - Beyond Bali - Holidays for Couples                   

Helen Hayes - She Sells the Seychelles - Vacations & Travel               

John Borthwick - Passage to Paradise - Weekend Australian                

Jocelyn Pride - A Voyage for the Soul - Cruise Passenger                   

John Borthwick - Lao and Now - The Australian                    

Best International Story Over 1000 words – Sponsored by AccorHotels

Louise Southerden - Morocco Unplugged – Traveller/Fairfax Media

Catherine Marshall - On Board the Eastern & Oriental Express – Traveller/Fairfax Media

John Borthwick - Maldives Surfing - Trailblazers' Incredible Legacy – Traveller/Fairfax Media           

                                                          

Best International Story Under 1000 words – Sponsored by

Belinda Jackson - Of Pharaohs and Heroes - Luxury Travel Magazine                                    

Ben Groundwater - Mongolia's Milk of Human Kindness - Traveller/Fairfax Media               

Kerry Van Der Jagt - Ice and Isolation - Luxury Travel Magazine      

                                                             

Best Travel and Tourism News Story - Sponsored by Zoik

Mark Daffey - Let the Games Begin - Vacations & Travel                  

Angela Saurine - Hot travel destinations  - Weekend Australian                      

Christine Retschlag - All Things Spice - Travel Bulletin                      

 

 

 

About the ASTW

The ASTW is a 300-strong group of travel writers, editors, radio and television broadcasters, bloggers, guide book authors and photographers (as well as travel industry public relations and marketing professionals) whose work appears regularly in major newspapers, magazines, airwaves and websites across Australia and the world.

All ASTW members must satisfy strict criteria to join and are obligated to substantiate their membership annually by providing details of their published output or industry participation. They must also adhere to a Code of Ethics. By ensuring that only bona fide applicants are admitted, the ASTW maintains its integrity and the professionalism of the travel industry.