Winners revealed at Awards Gala Dinner at The Londoner, Leicester Square

The winners of the hotly-contested TravMedia Awards 2023 were announced tonight at a sold-out gala dinner at The Londoner, Leicester Square, with Ed Grenby named Travel Writer of the Year, on a night that saw big wins for Telegraph Travel, National Geographic Traveller (UK), TTG Media and others.

Hosted by comedian and travel writer Dom Joly, with VisitMalta the headline sponsor, the Awards (www.travmediaawards.com) drew a crowd of 300 media, influencers, PR professionals and industry executives.

Grenby triumphed after winning the Freelance Writer of the Year category, and then got the judges' nod for the top prize over other individual category winners.

Telegraph Travel secured National Newspaper Section of the Year, while National Geographic Traveller (UK) won Travel Magazine. TTG Media secured Trade Publication, while Consumer Magazine Travel Section was won for the second year running by Good Housekeeping.

Chris Leadbetter of The Telegraph secured Consumer Staff Writer; Jamie Lafferty won Specialist Writer; Mike MacEacheran landed Sustainability Writer, while Trade Staff Writer went to James Chapple, TTG's News Editor.  

Ben Clatworthy won Exclusive of the Year for his story in The Times on airports ending their ban on passengers taking liquids onto flights. Media Rising Star was won by freelancer Doug Loynes.

Broadcast Programme was won by Sam Supple for his BBC Travel show 'How Does a Blind Girl Go on Safari'. The award was collected by the show's star, visually impaired influencer Lucy Edwards.

The Outstanding Contribution Award went to Debbie Hindle, Chief Executive of FOUR Communications Travel.

In the PR Awards, the PR Professional of the Year went for the second year running to Paul Charles, CEO of The PC Agency. LOTUS triumphed as Agency of the Year, with FINN Partners awarded Highly Commended. FINN employee Stefaniia Konovalova landed Rising Star.

TUI UK & Ireland won In-House PR Team, Visit England secured Digital PR Campaign for their Accessible North York Moors activity, and AM+A won PR Campaign for 'Kaunas2022 - European Capital of Culture'.

In the influencer categories Jessica Last and Charlie Wild of The Travel Project were named Influencers of the Year. Alex Hunter of Attaché won Vlogger while Jessie Moore of Pocket Wanderings won Blogger. Rising Star went to Tiktok phenomenon Will Anthony of Unseen Wonders.

Tolene van der Merwe, Director UK & Ireland of headline sponsor VisitMalta, addressed the event's audience with a presentation on this top island tourism destination.

Henry Hemming, Managing Director of TravMedia commented: “Congratulations to Ed Grenby and all our media, PR and influencer winners on a memorable night at The Londoner.

“This year's sold-out Awards hit new heights. From 700 entries we saw winners and finalists of the highest possible quality. We thank our judges and sponsors for the part they played in bringing everything to fruition.”

The Awards are organised by TravMedia, the leading social network connecting the global travel industry with media and influencers. The Awards (www.travmediaawards.com) honour the finest journalistic, influencer and PR achievements in travel, and set a new bar for recognising each sector's top professionals and most memorable output.

The Awards are independent, not linked to any grouping or association, and are open to all journalists, influencers, and PR professionals. An expert panel of 34 judges (listed below) from across the travel industry adjudicated, including senior media figures, communications heads and commentators, and top industry executives.

The TravMedia Awards 2023 sponsors were VisitMalta (Headline Sponsor and Trade Publication of the Year); Expedia Group (Exclusive of the Year); Explore France (Event Photobooth); Gran Canaria Tourism (Travel Magazine of the Year); Heaven Publicity (Blogger of the Year); Hong Kong Tourism Board (Welcome Drinks Reception); Hyatt Hotels Corporation (Consumer Staff Writer of the Year); Kuoni (Outstanding Contribution Award); Meet Boston (Specialist Travel Writer of the Year); Princess Cruises (Consumer Magazine Travel Section of the Year); Spanish Tourist Office (Trade Staff Writer of the Year); Switzerland Tourism (Freelance Writer of the Year); Tourism Australia (Sustainability Writer of the Year); Tourism Western Australia (National Newspaper Supplement of the Year); Travel Texas (Broadcast Programme of the Year), True Traveller Insurance (Media Rising Star of the Year); Villa Resorts (Event Prize Sponsor); Visit San Antonio (Travel Writer of the Year) and World Nomads Insurance (Influencer Rising Star of the Year).

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The TravMedia Awards – Finalists

THE MEDIA CATEGORIES

MEDIA RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by TRUE TRAVELLER INSURANCE
WINNER: Doug Loynes

Finalists:

• Bella Falk
• Grace Lee
• James March
• Rashmi Narayan

BROADCAST PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by TRAVEL TEXAS
WINNER: Sam Supple (How Does a Blind Girl Go On Safari)

Finalists:

• Alex Outhwaite, Amazon Prime, The Wanderer (TV)
• Ash Bhardwaj, discovery+, Expedition Borderlands (TV)
• Mark Stratton, BBC, The Climate Question (Podcast)
• Phoebe Smith, Wander Woman: A Travel Podcast (Podcast)
• Simon Calder, Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast (Podcast)

CONSUMER MAGAZINE TRAVEL SECTION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by PRINCESS CRUISES
WINNER: Good Housekeeping

Finalists

• Attitude Magazine
• Country Life
• Good Housekeeping
• Prima
• Radio Times
• The Lady

EXCLUSIVE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by EXPEDIA GROUP
WINNER: Ben Clatworthy, The Times - 100ml Limit on Liquids Set to End

Finalists:

• Julia Buckley, CNN Travel - The Amalfi Coast Traffic Ban
• Richard Collett, CNN Travel - “Islandia: Let's Buy an Island Starts a Micronation”
• Simon Calder, The Independent - Liz Truss Private Jet
• Sophie Lam, The i - US Cuban Passport Stamp
• Trevor Baker, Which? Travel - Airline Complaints
• Tristan Rutherford, The Times - New Peljesac Bridge

TRADE STAFF WRITER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by SPANISH TOURIST OFFICE
WINNER: James Chapple, News Editor - TTG Media

Finalists:

• April Hutchinson, Editor - TTG Luxury
• Bev Fearis, Editor - Business Travel Magazine
• Jessica Pook, Deputy Editor - Selling Travel
• Sophie Griffiths, Editor - TTG Media
• Tom Parry, Deputy News Editor - TTG Media

SUSTAINABILITY WRITER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by TOURISM AUSTRALIA
WINNER: Mike MacEacheran

Finalists:

• Helen Coffey
• Jo Rhodes
• Juliet Kinsman
• Phoebe Taplin
• Richard Hammond

TRAVEL MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Sponsored by GRAN CANARIA TOURISM
WINNER: National Geographic Traveller (UK)

Finalists:

• Charitable Traveller Magazine
• JRNY Travel Magazine
• National Geographic Traveller (UK)
• Rough Guides
• SUITCASE Magazine

SPECIALIST TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by MEET BOSTON
WINNER: Jamie Lafferty

Finalists:

• Chris Leadbeater
• Emma Gregg
• Mike MacEacheran
• Nigel Tisdall
• Phoebe Smith
• Robin McKelvie

TRADE PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by VISITMALTA
WINNER: TTG Media

Finalists:

• Business Travel Magazine
• Cruise Adviser
• Hertelier
• Selling Travel

CONSUMER STAFF WRITER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by HYATT HOTELS CORPORATION
WINNER: Chris Leadbeater, Travel Correspondent – The Telegraph

Finalists:

• Amanda Hyde, Senior Staff Writer – The Telegraph
• Cathy Adams, Senior Content Editor – The Times
• Travel Correspondent – The Telegraph
• Mark Palmer, Travel Editor – Daily Mail
• Tom Robbins, Travel Editor – The Financial Times
• Uwern Jong, Experientialist-in-Chief – OutThere Magazine

FREELANCE WRITER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by SWITZERLAND TOURISM
WINNER: Ed Grenby

Finalists:

• Adrian Phillips
• Emma Thomson
• James Draven
• Jamie Lafferty
• Julia Buckley
• Phoebe Smith

NATIONAL NEWSPAPER TRAVEL SECTION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by TOURISM WESTERN AUSTRALIA
WINNER: Telegraph Travel

Finalists:

• Daily Mail
• The Financial Times
• The i
• The Independent
• The Sunday Times

TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by VISIT SAN ANTONIO
WINNER: Ed Grenby

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Sponsored by KUONI
WINNER: Debbie Hindle

THE INFLUENCER CATEGORIES

INFLUENCER RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by WORLD NOMADS TRAVEL INSURANCE
WINNER: William Anthony, Unseen Wonders

Finalists:

• Ashley Hall, Ashley's Footprints
• Bea Meitiner, Bea Adventurous
• Jackie Rezk, JouJou Travels
• Michelle Attard, Coconut Odyssey

BLOGGER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by HEAVEN PUBLICITY
WINNER: Jessie Moore, Pocket Wanderings

Finalists:

• Andrew Sim and Emily Gough, Along Dusty Roads
• Chloe Gunning, Wanderlust Chloe
• Cory and Greg Varga, You Could Travel
• Jessie Moore, Pocket Wanderings
• Paul Healy and Mark Barnes, Anywhere We Roam

VLOGGER OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Alex Hunter, Attaché

Finalists:

• Alex Outhwaite, Alex Outhwaite
• Brogan Tate, Brogantatexo
• David and Alicia Reilly, Life of Reilly
• Macca Sherifi, An Adventurous World
• Malini Sampat and Sonny Jostins, Malini Angelica

INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR
WINNERS: Jessica Last and Charlie Wild, The Travel Project

Finalists:

• Abigail King, Inside the Travel Lab
• Jessica Last and Charlie Wild, The Travel Project
• Macca Sherifi, An Adventurous World
• Nicola Easterby, Polkadot Passport
• Sian Lewis, The Girl Outdoors

THE PR CATEGORIES

PR RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Stefaniia Konovalova (Finn Partners)

Finalists:

• Bethany Dimond, FINN Partners
• Callum McGoldrick, The PC Agency
• Chloe Hernandez, Rooster PR
• Peter Gregory, Rooster PR

DIGITAL PR CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
WINNER: VisitEngland - Accessible North York Moors

Finalists:

• FINN Partners | VisitMalta UK - Pretty as a Picture
• G Adventures - Roamies Launch Campaign
• Lemongrass Marketing | Motel One - The Most Walkable Cities in Europe
• LOTUS | Spanish Tourist Office - #SlowTravelSpain

PR CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
WINNER: AM+A | Kaunas2022 - European Capital of Culture

Finalists:

• Agatha Christie and Black Tomato - Agatha Christie x Black Tomato
• Shephard Communications | Buckingham Palace/DCMS - The Queen's Platinum Jubilee
• Skyscanner - Spontaneity
• South Australian Tourism Commission - £10 Flights to Adelaide - Working Holiday Maker Visa Campaign

IN-HOUSE PR TEAM OF THE YEAR
WINNER: TUI UK & Ireland

Finalists:

• ABTA
• Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Tourism
• Universal Destinations & Experiences
• VisitEngland
• VisitScotland

PR AGENCY OF THE YEAR
WINNER: LOTUS 
HIGHLY COMMENDED: FINN Partners

Finalists:

• Four Communications
• Frog & Wolf PR
• Hume Whitehead
• J/PR

PR PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
WINNER: Paul Charles (The PC Agency)

Finalists:

• Amy Skelding - Senior Partner, FINN Partners
• Julia Perowne - Founder & CEO, Perowne International
• Rachel O'Reilly - Director of Communications, Kuoni
• Rosie Barcroft - Senior Account Director, Heaven Publicity
• Rosie Shephard - Founder & CEO, Shephard Communications

THE TRAVMEDIA AWARDS JUDGES

• Amanda HillsBalfour | President, MMGY Hills Balfour
• Andrew McConnell | Head of Media, UK Civil Aviation Authority
• Andy Harmer | Managing Director, CLIA UK & Ireland
• Barry Neild | Global Editor, CNN Travel
• Caitlin Johnson | Acting Head of PR, Social and Influencer Marketing at VisitBritain
• Debbie Flynn | Managing Partner, Global Travel Practice Leader, FINN Partners
• Esther Bell | Owner, HELLOMrsBell PR & Communications
• Florian Valmy-Devillers | Business Development Director of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation Chapter UK & Europe
• Graeme Buck | Director of Communications, ABTA – The Travel Association
• James Treacy | Senior PR & Communications Manager, Abercrombie & Kent
• Jane Dunford | Travel Editor, The Guardian
• Jim Odoire | Founding Director, Black Diamond
• Jules Ugo | CEO, LOTUS
• Kate Nicholls OBE | CEO of UKHospitality
• Kat Thomas | Founder and Global Executive Creative Director of One Green Bean
• Lisa Minot | Head of Travel, The Sun
• Liz Edwards | Head of Communications, TUI
• Marine Teste | Head of Public Relations, Atout France
• Mark Palmer | Travel Editor, Daily Mail
• Myriam Ziesack | Head of Media and Communications, Switzerland Tourism
• Natalie Allard | Director of Global Media Relations, Expedia Group Brands
• Nat Frogley | Co-Founder, Frog & Wolf PR
• Paul Charles | Founder and CEO, The PC Agency
• Phil Bloomfield | Head of Corporate Communications & PR, dnata Travel Group UK
• Pippa Jacks | Editorial Director, TTG Media
• Qin Xie | Freelance Journalist
• Rae White | Director, Rae White Communications
• Serena Guen | Founder, SUITCASE Magazine
• Sharon Ehrlich Bershadsky | Director, Israel Government Tourist Office
• Sofia Panayiotaki | CEO & Founder, PRM Global Group
• Stuart Fyfe |PR Manager (International UK/Northern Europe), Tourism Australia
• Tolene Van Der Merwe | Director: UK & Ireland, Malta Tourism Authority
• Tracey Poggio | UK Head Media and Marketing, Gibraltar Tourist Board and Chair, Association of National Tourist Offices and Representatives (ANTOR)
• Uwern Jong | Experientialist®-in-Chief and co-Founder OutThere magazine

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For information on TravMedia Awards 2023:

Louise Napier
Regional Director, TravMedia
T: +44 (0)20 3440 8915
E: louise.napier@travmedia.com

EDITORS' NOTES

The TravMedia Awards are owned and operated by TravMedia UK, the company operating TravMedia.com in the UK and Ireland. TravMedia is a global social network connecting the travel industry with the media and connects PR professionals from over 3000 tourism and travel brands with over 25,000 journalists and influencers worldwide.

The technology used by TravMedia has become an essential tool for journalists and PR professionals in their day-to-day activities, as they connect and share information in their working lives.

TravMedia was originally created by a travel journalist seeking a better way to research and report travel news and is dedicated to creating thriving online communities of travel journalists and travel PR professionals.

The site operates across multiple global regions and has amassed over 50,000 journalist and PR members.

In the UK, TravMedia and Food4Media are part of the family of websites that also includes Homes4Media.com and Property4Media.com, sites that are owned and operated separately by News4Media Ltd.

TravMedia operates the worldwide event IMM (International Media Marketplace), a market-leading exhibition-style event connecting the travel industry with journalists and influencers.

The first-ever IMM was held in London in March 2013 and has since expanded to all corners of the earth, with annual events now taking place in countries including the USA, Australia, Germany, and France. IMM in the UK features two days of meetings, professional development sessions and breakout networking events. The next IMM in the UK will take place in London from 13-14 March 2023, with over 100 top travel and tourism brands already booked in to the event.