11 Apr 2024
Tags: Travel, tourism, awards, event, exhibition, TravMedia, TravMedia Event, The Londoner, London, networking, conference, media, travel journalists, travel writers, travel influencers, PR professionals
Winners to be announced at TravMedia Awards Gala Dinner, The Londoner, Leicester Square on 22 April | Awards set high bar for the finest journalistic, influencer and PR achievements in travel.
TravMedia UK today announced that Rylan will host the TravMedia Awards 2024, taking place at The Londoner, Leicester Square on Monday 22 April 2024.
Since his TV career kicked off with his X Factor run in 2012, Rylan has become an award-winning television presenter, radio DJ, podcaster, and number one bestselling author.
After taking the nation by storm with his larger-than-life X Factor performances, he entered and won the eleventh series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2013.
Since then, Rylan has carved out a successful broadcasting career, appearing and hosting the country's favourite show. Now ten years on, he is one of the UK's most loved broadcasters, best known for his work on Strictly: It Takes Two, This Morning, Celebrity Goggle Box, Eurovision, Big Brother's Bit on the Side and the host of BBC Radio 2's Rylan on Saturday. As Rylan always says, he started off as the joke and he's still laughing.
This year's TravMedia Awards (www.TravMediaAwards.com) attracted a record entry of 1015 registrations, up a staggering 36% year to year.
In the Finalist Announcement broadcast, TravMedia also reported a record number of new finalists in the Awards, including many first-time entrants. Up to seven finalists were announced across 25 categories.
Said Louise Napier, Managing Director of Travel UK: “We're over the moon that Rylan will be in the hot seat on Awards night, as he's a much-loved celebrity.
“We're set to host over 350 of the UK's leading journalists, influencers and PR professionals. Only a couple of sponsorships and ticket opportunities remain, so anyone who's not yet confirmed needs to act quick!”
The Awards honour the finest journalistic, influencer and PR achievements in travel, and set the highest bar for recognising the most memorable output and impactful individuals. Highlights of April's Gala dinner will include the revelation of the Travel Writer of the Year, Influencer of the Year and PR Professional of the Year.
Among the most hotly contested Awards were Freelance Writer of the Year and Specialist Writer of the Year, with each category eliciting over around 100 entries with several journalists achieving finalist status for the first time.
New categories this year included a Diversity Champion of the Year, with six entrants achieving finalist status from an impressive entry. In the media categories inaugural finalists were revealed for Feature of the Year, Domestic Travel Writer of the Year, and Travel Media Website of the Year. TravMedia also divided the blue-ribband national newspaper travel section category into two, announcing both Tabloid and Broadsheet finalists. In the PR Awards the first ever finalists for PR Business Leader were revealed.
The level playing-field created by TravMedia also depends on rotating judges, Of this year's 35 judges, 20 were not involved in 2023 – a 57% turnover – and 15 of this year's judges have never previously adjudicated in any year.
This year's TravMedia Awards sponsors are: Rising Star of the Year (True Traveller); Trade Staff Writer of the Year (Protected Trust Services); Consumer Staff Writer of the Year (Hyatt Hotels Corporation); Freelance Writer of the Year (Switzerland Tourism); Specialist Writer of the Year (Tourism Western Australia); Sustainability Writer of the Year (The Travel Corporation); Trade Publication of the Year (Visit Tampa Bay); Travel Magazine of the Year (Gran Canaria Tourist Board); National Tabloid Newspaper Travel Section of the Year (ATOL); National Broadsheet Newspaper Travel Section of the Year (Tourism Australia); Travel Media Website of the Year (Princess Cruises); Diversity Champion of the Year (Visit Gibraltar); Outstanding Contribution (Kuoni); Travel Writer of the Year (Deep South USA); Influencer Rising Star of the Year (VisitPITTSBURGH); Photo Booth Sponsor (Travel Texas); and Welcome Drinks Reception Sponsor (Hong Kong Tourism Board).
The evening's big reveals will segue within a three-course dinner, following a welcome drinks reception (Hong Kong Tourism Board), and the night will climax with an after-party. Entry to the Awards event will be limited to finalists, sponsors, and limited ticket holders. Some table bookings remain available.
Last year's event at The Londoner attracted a packed audience of 300 people with comedian and broadcaster Dom Joly the celebrity host.
The Awards are organised by TravMedia, the leading social network connecting the global travel industry with media and influencers. The Awards are independent, not linked to any grouping or association, and are open to all journalists, influencers, and PR professionals. The Awards are adjudicated by an expert panel of 35 judges (listed below) from across the travel industry, including senior media figures, communications heads and commentators, and top industry executives.
Ends
The TravMedia Awards – Finalists
THE INFLUENCER AWARDS
INFLUENCER RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
SPONSOR: VisitPITTSBURGH
Alex Stratikis, Autism Adventures Abroad
Bea Meitiner, Bea Adventurous
Jess Murray, Jet Off with Jess
Jessica & Wayne Heather, Holiday With The Heathers
Stacey Milentijevic, Minas Journey
INFLUENCER - VLOGGER OF THE YEAR
Alex Hunter, Attaché
Alex Outhwaite, Alex Outhwaite
Amy Hulley, Amy en Voyage
Dave & Deb Bouskill, The Planet D
David & Alicia Reilly, Life of Riley
Mansoureh Farahani, Travel With Mansoureh
INFLUENCER - BLOGGER OF THE YEAR
Abigail King, Inside the Travel Lab
Becki Enright, Borders of Adventure
Kate McCulley, Adventurous Kate
Lavina Dsouza, Continent Hop
Victoria Watts Kennedy, Bridges and Balloons
INFLUENCER - INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR
Alex Hunter, Attaché
Amy Hulley, Amy en Voyage
Chloe Gunning-Sherifi, Wanderlust Chloe
Peter Elia, The Man Who Hiked The World
Sima Sthanakiya, the Curious Pixie
Sion & Ben Walton-Guest, The Globetrotter Guys
THE PR AWARDS
PR - RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
Ellie Chambers, Sekoya Communications
Emma Berg, Heaven Publicity
Emme McKay, Intrepid Travel
Freya Lord Jones, FINN Partners
Harriet Wright, J/PR
Lauren Clifton, LOTUS
PR - PR CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR
Black Tomato, 'Black Tomato x 007'
FINN Partners – Advantage Travel Partnership, 'Travel Triumph: Making Advantage the Voice of the Travel Industry'
Hotels.com, 'Room Service Report'
LOTUS - TravelSupermarket, 'Cost of Holidays'
Skyscanner, Travel Trends 2024
Universal Destinations & Experiences, 'The Grinch UK Takeover'
PR - IN-HOUSE PR TEAM OF THE YEAR
Atout France
Intrepid Travel
Kuoni
Switzerland Tourism
TUI
VisitEngland
PR AGENCY OF THE YEAR
Black Diamond
FINN Partners
J/PR
Lemongrass Marketing
LOTUS
MMGY Hills Balfour
PR PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR
Charlotte Humphrey, Princess Cruises
Grace Parker, FINN Partners
Kate McWilliams, LOTUS
Kevin Gibson, Universal Destinations & Experiences
Louise Newton, Iglu.com
Marine Teste, Atout France
PR - PR BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR ** NEW **
Daisy Rachlin. Templemere PR
Debbie Flynn, FINN Partners
Jules Ugo, LOTUS
Lynsey Devon, Heaven Publicity
Natalia Dowling-Kennedy, MMGY Hills Balfour
Rachel O'Reilly, Kuoni
THE MEDIA AWARDS
RISING STAR OF THE YEAR
SPONSORED BY: True Traveller Insurance
Bella Falk
Jessica Reid
Laura Sanders
Sam Kemp
Sasha Nugara
Sophie Dickinson
TRADE STAFF WRITER OF THE YEAR
SPONSORED BY: Protected Trust Services
April Hutchinson, Editor, TTG Luxury
Beverley Fearis, Editor, The Business Travel Magazine
Harry Kemble, Cruise Editor, TTG Media
Ilaria Grasso Macola, Reporter, TTG Media
Madeleine Barber, Head of Partner Content, TTG Media
Tom Parry, Content Producer, TTG Media
DOMESTIC WRITER OF THE YEAR
Ben Aitken
Ed Grenby
Greg Dickinson
Lauren Jarvis
Phoebe Smith
Sarah Baxter
Sian Lewis
SPECIALIST TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR
SPONSORED BY: Tourism Western Australia
Chris Leadbeater
Farida Zeynalova
Mary Novakovich
Mike Unwin
Nigel Tisdall
Sarah Marshall
SUSTAINABILITY WRITER OF THE YEAR
SPONSORED BY: The Travel Corporation
Charlotte Cullinan
Emma Gregg
Karen Edwards
Phoebe Smith
Richard Hammond
Shafik Meghji
CONSUMER STAFF WRITER OF THE YEAR
SPONSORED BY: Hyatt
Cathy Adams, Senior Content Editor, The Times & Sunday Times
Greg Dickinson, Deputy Head of Travel, The Telegraph
Liz Edwards, Deputy Travel Editor, The Times & Sunday Times
Lorna Parkes, Commissioning Editor, National Geographic Traveller
Niki Blasina, Deputy Editor, FT Globetrotter
Tom Robbins, Travel Editor, The Financial Times
FREELANCE WRITER OF THE YEAR
SPONSORED BY: Switzerland Tourism
Adrian Phillips
Ed Grenby
Emma Thomson
Georgina Lawton
James Stewart
Jamie Lafferty
BROADCAST PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR
Heart & Soul: Future Shaman, Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent, BBC (Podcast)
Simon Parker's Global Adventures, Simon Parker, Times Travel (TV)
So You Think You Know – Alex Outhwaite (Sky)
The Travel Diaries, Holly Rubenstein (Podcast)
The Travel Show: Uzbekistan, Rajan Datar, BBC (TV)
Wander Woman: A Travel Podcast, Phoebe Smith (Podcast)
EXCLUSIVE OF THE YEAR
I found paradise, drew a map, and in 15 years it was ruined', Greg Dickinson, The Telegraph
No passports needed under Border Force e-gate plan', Ben Clatworthy, The Times
Rhodes Fires - I was so scared for my baby', Heidi Fuller-Love, iNews
The double-decker airplane seat is back', Francesca Street, CNN Travel
The otherworldly US states where cows outnumber humans', Zoey Goto, The Times
The three-year cruise is cancelled', Julia Buckley, CNN Travel
FEATURE OF THE YEAR
A Rail Adventure in Kyushu', Sarah Barrell, National Geographic Traveller
Cruise Captain', Mark Palmer, Daily Mail
Finding a happy place', George Kipouros, Wanderlust
I had an emotional reunion with the City my parents fled', Eddi Fiegel, The Sunday Times
The Magnetic North', Mike MacEacheran, National Geographic Traveller
The World's Newest Mega Hotel', Ed Grenby, The Sunday Times
TRADE PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR
SPONSORED BY: Visit Tampa Bay
Cruise Adviser
Hertelier
Onboard Hospitality
Selling Travel
The Business Travel Magazine
TTG Media
TRAVEL MEDIA WEBSITE OF THE YEAR
SPONSORED BY: Princess Cruises
Adventure.com
Anywhere We Roam
CNN Travel
National Geographic Traveller
Rough Guides
The Sun
CONSUMER MAGAZINE TRAVEL SECTION OF THE YEAR
Breathe Magazine
British Muslim Magazine
Fabulous
Good Housekeeping
Radio Times
Woman & Home
TRAVEL MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR
SPONSORED BY: Gran Canaria Tourism
Charitable Traveller
JRNY
Much Better Adventures
National Geographic Traveller (UK)
OutThere Magazine
Wanderlust
NATIONAL TABLOID NEWSPAPER TRAVEL SECTION OF THE YEAR
SPONSORED BY: ATOL
City A.M.
Daily Mail
The Sun
NATIONAL BROADSHEET NEWSPAPER TRAVEL SECTION OF THE YEAR
SPONSORED BY: Tourism Australia
The Daily Telegraph
The Financial Times
The Guardian
The i
The Independent
The Sunday Times
THE SPECIAL AWARDS
DIVERSITY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
SPONSORED BY: Visit Gibraltar
Chloe Berman, Intrepid Travel
Sassy Wyatt, Blind Girl Adventures
Sion & Ben Walton-Guest, The Globetrotter Guys
Steph Dyson & Lottie Gross, Talking Travel Writing
Uwern Jong, OutThere magazine
Vivienne Dovi, Freelance Journalist
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION
SPONSORED BY: Kuoni
Revealed on the night
TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR
SPONSORED BY: Deep South USA
Revealed on the night
THE TRAVMEDIA AWARDS JUDGES
Amy Skelding, Managing Partner, Finn Partners
Andrew McConnell CAA, Head of Media & External Affairs, UK Civil Aviation Authority
Barry Neild, Global Editor, CNN Travel
Carol Hay, Lead Consultant and Chief Tourism Officer, McKenzie Gayle Limited
Caroline Moultrie, President, MMGY Global EMEA
Charlotte Humphrey, PR Manager, Princess Cruises UK & Europe
Daniel Pearce, CEO & Owner, TTG Media
Dawn Page, Marketing Director, True Traveller Insurance
Debbie Hindle, Vice-Chair, The Travel Foundation
Fiona Anderson, Director, GEC PR
Florian Valmy-Devillers, Director, Caribbean Tourism Organisation UK & Europe
Freya Matthews, PR Manager, British Airways Holidays
George Kipouros, Editor in Chief & CEO, Wanderlust
Graeme Buck, Director of Communications, ABTA
Jamie-Lee Abtar, Marketing Manager, Not in the guidebooks
Jane Dunford, Travel Editor, The Guardian
Jane Knight, Freelance Travel Journalist and Editor
Jim Odoire, Founding Director, Black Diamond
Jules Ugo, CEO, Lotus
Julie Giraud, PR Director, MSL
Kevin Gibson, Director of Marketing, Public Relations and Communications – EMEA, Universal Destinations & Experiences
Laura Brander, Vice President – Communications, Virgin Atlantic
Lauren Khawam, Senior Communications Manager, easyJet holidays
Lisa Minot, Head of Travel, The Sun
Louise Ferrall, Senior PR Manager, VisitEngland
Lysbeth Fox, CEO, Fox Communications
Marine Teste, Head of Public Relations, Atout France
Mark Palmer, Travel Editor, Daily Mail
Martyn Sumner, Executive Director, AITO – The Specialist Travel Association
Myriam Ziesack, Head of Media and Communications, Switzerland Tourism
Rachel O'Reilly, Director of Communications, Kuoni
Stuart Fyfe, PR Manager UK & Northern Europe
Tolene Van Der Merwe, Director UK & Ireland, Malta Tourism Authority
Tracey Poggio-Magnus, UK Head Media and Marketing, Visit Gibraltar and Chair, ANTOR
Uwern Jong, Experientalist-in-Chief and co-Founder, OutThere magazine
Ends
For information on TravMedia Awards 2024:
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.
