The Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW) proudly proclaims the winners of the annual Awards for Excellence, announced at a gala dinner in The Tweed region of northern New South Wales on 5 November 2022.

The awards are the pinnacle of recognition for travel media professionals, with a rigorous judging process in place to ensure impartiality. This year, 624 entries were received across twenty-one categories, with the 55-strong judging panel including members of the British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW) and the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) along with other experts based in Canada, New Zealand, the UK and Australia.

ASTW President, Caroline Gladstone, said: “One of the highlights of the 2022 Awards for Excellence was to see the wide range of finalists, with many names appearing on this coveted list for the first time. Additionally, the myriad media featured across the entries was a positive sign for the future of the travel industry.”

The ASTW thanks the judges and the generous sponsors of award categories and congratulates all the finalists and winners - including the joint recipients of the prestigious Jack Butters award acknowledging the legacy of the ASTW's first president, presented for outstanding contribution to the society in a volunteer capacity. The winners are as follows:

1) ASTW TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by Tourism Australia

John Borthwick – Three for the road

• Captivated by Cocos (Weekend Australian)
• Take it to the bridge (Weekend Australian)
• Welcome to barradise (Weekend Australian)  

2) ASTW PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Edwina Hart - Faraway Lands

• Quechua weaver - Centro de Textiles Tradicionales del Cusco(delicious magazine)
• World of ice (International Traveller)
• Cat in Cappadocia (delicious magazine)

3) TRAVEL COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR - Sponsored by TravMedia

Claire Haigh and Naomi Hammond (Accor Communication Team) - How hotels are redefining exceptional dining experiences

4) BEST AUSTRALIAN STORY UNDER 1000 WORDS – Sponsored by Tourism Australia

Catherine Best - What lies beneath (Escape)

5) BEST AUSTRALIAN STORY OVER 1000 WORDS – Sponsored by Tourism Australia

Steven Madgwick - Awakenings from a wild river (Australian Traveller)

6) BEST SUSTAINABLE TOURISM STORY – Sponsored by Norfolk Island Tourism

Andrew Bain - The rebirth of Tasmanian indigenous culture (BBC Travel)

7) BEST FAMILY TRAVEL STORY

Nadine Cresswell-Myatt – Best experiences in Moab (TravelAwaits.com)

8) BEST FOOD / BEVERAGE TRAVEL STORY – Sponsored by Visit Sunshine Coast

Flip Byrnes – When punk rock meets fine dining (Hurtigruten magazine)

9) BEST INSTAGRAM TRAVEL PHOTO

Lynn Gail - Soul of the Earth

10) BEST INTERNATIONAL STORY UNDER 1,000 WORDS – Sponsored by Klook

Ivy Carruth - US travel: Must-sees for music fans in Memphis, Tennessee (New Zealand Herald)

11) BEST INTERNATIONAL STORY OVER 1,000 WORDS – Sponsored by Globus / Avalon Waterways

Sarah Reid - The edge of the world (Qantas magazine)

12) BEST TRADE AND TOURISM NEWS STORY

Sue Wallace - Carpe Diem (MiNDFOOD)

13) BEST TRAVEL BLOG POST – Sponsored by Pelago

Aleney de Winter - Conservation quest at Aquila (BoyEatsWorld)

14) BEST NATURE / WILDLIFE STORY

Alexis Buxton-Collins – Will of the wild (Australian Traveller)

15) BEST IMMERSIVE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE STORY - Sponsored by Azamara

Marian McGuinness - Venice by vaporetto (New Zealand Herald)

16) BEST AUSSIE ROAD TRIP STORY – Sponsored by Outback Queensland Tourism Association

Kerry van der Jagt - The Yorke Peninsula (Traveller)

17) BEST ACCOMMODATION STORY - Sponsored by Spicers Retreats

Shirley Lowrie (Sinclair) – Love letter to a heavenly river beauty (Sunshine Coast News)

18) BEST TRAVEL PHOTO

Lynn Gail - The tea man (National Geographic Traveller - UK)

19) BEST TRAVEL VIDEO – Sponsored by Hurtigruten Group

Caro Ryan - Lord Howe Island's best guided hike (Lotsafreshair)

20) BEST DESTINATION GUIDE

Katie Dundas - Tasmania – The Australian island that's 40% wilderness (Scott's Cheap Flights)

21) JACK BUTTERS AWARD

Kerry Heaney and Susan Fuller

 

For a full list of finalists with links to their work, see

https://www.astw.org.au/awards/awards/astw-awards-for-excellence-2022-finalists/

Photos by finalists in the ASTW Travel Photographer of the Year award are available here:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/677mvehxklzh01c/AABjVJKBIVqFRMj0vOMYPE95a?dl=0

-ENDS –

 

About the ASTW: Founded in 1975 and incorporated in 2011, the Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting ethical and honest travel writing and representation. The Society represents Australia's leading travel media and travel industry communicators who retain their membership through a substantiation process. 

The ASTW has 280 members who are freelancers and staff writers, travel editors, radio and television broadcasters, digital publishers, guidebook authors, photographers, videographers and public relations (PR), social media and marketing professionals.

 

For media inquiries please contact: Heather Jeffery 0426 719 219 or Silke Kerwick 0414 844 147