british guild of travel writers awards

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We are finalists in British Guild of Travel Writers awards

Caernarfon Station and our First Class Pullman carriages have been shortlisted by the British Guild of Travel Writers for the award for ‘Best UK & Ireland Tourism Project’ in the ‘BGTW International Tourism Awards 2020’. 

These prestigious awards recognise excellence in tourism projects in the UK and across the world that members of the BGTW have visited in the course of their travels and which they believe deserve wider recognition. Projects must have started or opened within the last three years. 

During October 2020 the nominated tourism projects and initiatives were voted on by all the members of the BGTW. 

Simon Willmore, BGTW chairman, says: 

“Each year our members nominate tourism projects and initiatives that they have visited and feel deserve wider notice. Being shortlisted as a finalist is not only an achievement in its own right but also recognition of the important role the tourism project/initiative plays in attracting visitors and boosting the region’s/area’s visitor economy.” 

Clare Britton, F&WHR Commercial Manager, says: 

“We’re delighted to be nominated. This has given us a real boost and we look forward to welcome back travellers to see our new station and carriages that have been built to further lift our customer experience. 

The winners of the BGTW International Tourism Awards are due to be announced on 21 March 2021 at The Savoy in central London. 

The British Guild of Travel Writers is a community of more than 250 accredited writers, photographers, bloggers and broadcasters. It is the trusted body for independent editorial comment and expert content on worldwide travel.

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The annual  British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW) Annual Gala Awards Dinner (AGAD)  took place on Sunday, 5 November at the Middle Temple Hall in London. A spectacular event it proved that the quality of travel writing, broadcasting, blogging and photography within the Guild is at an all-time high.

The traditional gala event on the eve of the World Travel Market was sponsored by  Explore Charleston  and  Discover South Carolina . Guests enjoyed a Champagne reception sponsored by  New Orleans & Company  and three-course sit down dinner with excellent wines sponsored by  Essential Costa Rica  in lavish surroundings. With music and surprise entertainment in the form of singing waiters as well as the annual BGTW awards, the AGAD was undoubtedly a resounding success.

Commenting on the event, Stuart Render, BGTW Joint Chair, said:  “The BGTW Annual Gala Awards Dinner has long been regarded as one of the most important events in the travel media calendar. This year, with more than 200 guests coming together in the spectacular surroundings of Middle Temple Hall in the City of London, we provided a much-needed opportunity for networking, great food and great entertainment. I would like to thank everyone who supported the event and congratulate the winners of our prestigious BGTW International Tourism Awards and Members' Excellence Awards. It truly was a night to remember!"

Fellow BGTW Joint-Chair Sarah Siese added,  “We just couldn't have held such a spectacular event without the support of our all amazing partners, including headline sponsors Explore Charleston and Discover South Carolina. I would also like to thank all the members of our wonderful board who helped realise this dream.”

Doug Warner, Executive Vice President of Explore Charleston, said  “We are honoured to have partnered with the BGTW to recognise the many achievements of their members. Travel brings us together, and opens our hearts and our minds to the world.”

Some £3,570 was raised for the BGTW official charity,  Charitable Travel Fund .

The AGAD was not just about members and Guild guests having a good time. There was also the serious business of handing out the BGTW's auspicious awards.

Sponsored by  Sri Lanka Tourism , the BGTW International Tourism Awards (ITA), recognises excellence in tourism projects. The BGTW Members' Excellence Awards, sponsored by  Visit San Antonio , recognises the excellence of the Guild's more than 200 members, in a series of categories.

Big winners on the night were the  Dundreggan   Rewilding Centre, Glenmoriston , in Inverness which scooped the Best UK and Ireland Tourism Project;  FLUGT – Refugee Museum of Denmark, Oksbøl , Denmark, which won the Best Europe Tourism Project; and  The Pekoe Trail, Sri Lanka , which carried off the Best Wider World Tourism Project

As for the BGTW Members' Excellence Awards,  Adrian Phillips  took off possibly the most prestigious award of the night, the  BGTW Travel Writer of the Year  partnered by  Visit Scotland ; Bella Falk was acclaimed as the  BGTW Travel Blogger of the Year , partnered with  Tootbus ;  Aaron Millar  was announced as the  BGTW Travel Broadcaster of the Year , partnered with  Visit Isle of Wight ; and  James Rushforth  was the  BGTW Photographer of the Year , partnered with  Visit Isle of Man .  (For a full list of winners on the night see below) .

However, the real winners of the night were the travel and tourism industry in general and the British Guild of Travel Writers specifically for what was a most wonderful night.

As Surinder Manku 5F Marketing for Visit Houston said,  “The BGTW Annual Awards – what a great event and fabulous venue! Thank you.”

BGTW Members' Excellence Awards Winners

The winners of the MEAs were:

Simon Parker: Travel Feature of the Year (UK), partnered with Essential Costa Rica.

Adrian Phillips: Travel Feature of the Year – Europe, partnered with Gran Canaria, while Nigel Tisdall was highly commended (HC).

Jessica Vincent: Travel Feature of the Year – Wider World, partnered with Visit Alabama.

Ben Lerwill: Travel Feature of the Year – regional, specialist and trade media, partnered with Gran Canaria, Kerry Walker (HC).

Penny Watson: Sustainability Feature of the Year, which was a new category partnered with Sustainable Journeys.

Ben Lerwill: Specialist Travel Feature of the Year – the Bryn Frank Award, partnered with Tourism Nova Scotia. Anna Richards (HC).

Simon Urwin: Transport Feature of the Year – The Kenneth Westcott-Jones Award, partnered with DFDS.

Caroline Mills: Travel Guide Book of the Year, partnered with Explore Charleston.

Mary Novakovich: Travel Narrative Book of the Year – The Adele Evans Award, partnered with ANTOR.

Rudolf Abraham: Travel Photo Feature of the Year, partnered with Meet Boston.

Bella Falk: Travel Blog Post of the Year, partnered with Tourism Seychelles.

Jonathan Thompson: Travel Broadcast of the Year, partnered with Visit Houston.

Bella Falk: BGTW Travel Blogger of the Year, partnered with Tootbus.

Aaron Millar: BGTW Travel Broadcaster of the Year, partnered with Visit Isle of Wight.

James Rushforth: BGTW Photographer of the Year, partnered with Visit Isle of Man.

Adrian Phillips: BGTW Travel Writer of the Year, partnered with Visit Scotland, with Jessica Vincent (HC).

For further information on the BGTW Annual Gala Awards Dinner, including access to photographs of the event, or to arrange interviews with any of the projects or BGTW members nominated for the awards, please email the BGTW Director of Communications, Mark Bibby Jackson at  [email protected] .

For social media enquiries please contact the BGTW Deputy Chair Sarah Lee at  [email protected] .

Sarah Siese and Stuart Render (Joint Chair of BGTW) are available for interview at  [email protected]  and  [email protected]  respectively.

The British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW) is a community of accredited writers, photographers, bloggers and broadcasters; the trusted body for independent editorial comment and expert content on worldwide travel. For further information email:  [email protected] .

Photo: Receiving the award for 'BGTW Travel Writer of the Year' is Adrian Phillips with Erin Hickey (left) and Rachel Holloway (third from left) from award partner Visit Scotland, and Sarah Siese, BGTW Joint Chair.

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British Guild of Travel Writers’ Awards 2010: The winners

British Guild of Travel Writers named Peter Hughes as the travel writer of the year at a 50th anniversary gala dinner on Sunday night in London.

Here is the full list of winners:

Travel Writer of the Year: Peter Hughes, who writes for a broad range of media, including Sunday Times, Times, Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, Condé Nast Traveller and many others.

Judges said: ‘This is an experienced writer at the top of his game. The judges were impressed by the range of subjects in this portfolio and by the deft handling of topical issues of concern to travellers.” Related News News diary 29 April – 5 May: Martine Croxall BBC tribunal, Humza Yousaf no confidence vote, local elections News Total Politics Group to run ad sales for Conservative Home and Labour List Ads & Marketing Google takes lion’s share of growing UK ad market as publishers lose out document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () { jobbio_display.widget({ slug: 'press-gazette-jobs', container: 'widget-display', style: 'sidebar', count: 3, type: 'multiple', content: 'jobs', searchTerm: '', }); }, false);

Best destination article under 850 words: Adrian Phillips: If the nightingale would just pipe down, Independent on Sunday.

Judges said that: ‘This piece brings to life the bird-rich stones of Hungary’s Lake Tisza, a little known place where in the author’s words nature quenches its thirst and shakes the dust from its features.”

Best UK feature over 850 words: Brian Jackman: Fourteen thousand died in one afternoon, Daily Telegraph.

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Judges found the piece: ‘A comprehensive and carefully crafted tour of deserted Northumberland, with the ‘makes you want to go’ factor. Evocative, enticing, filled with wonderful similes and metaphors. The author clearly has a great love of language. A joy to read.”

Best European (non-UK feature) over 850 words: Andrew Eames, Past perfect, Lonely Planet Magazine.

Judges said: ‘The writer takes us somewhere new and catches and keeps our attention with skilful reportage backed by detailed research. We see, hear, feel and smell the once familiar world described and gain a fresh appreciation of its qualities. This feature gives us a chance to see this remaining pocket of yesteryear and yesterdays values while we can.”

Best Overseas Feature over 850 words: Anthony Lambert, Fur and Ice, Wanderlust, March 2009.

Judges said that this was ‘an engaging piece which effortlessly weaved together many aspects of life in Churchill on Canada’s Hudson Bay – from present day realities through to pioneering history, the natural environment and its wildlife. All had been well researched, and the author combined them into a clear picture, which was peppered with wry observations and sustained over a considerable length.”

Best Online Writing Award: Melissa Shales, for work published on Independent.co.uk; blog: steel-safari.co.uk

Judges felt that her work was: ‘Fun and very fresh piece for a blog, with the fat flying article the outstanding choice. Excellently written. Her portfolio got better and better.”

Best Business/Trade Feature: Nick Haslam, Aboriginal Tourism, Geographical Magazine.

Judges found the winner: ‘An excellent and educational trade feature on the role of the aboriginal population in Australia’s tourism. A very engaging story deserving of a wider audience, meticulously researched, well crafted with good interviews.”

Best Transport Feature: Peter Hughes, A Town Like Oasis, Daily Telegraph.

Judges said the winning feature was: ‘brilliantly written and informative, and, it painted a real picture. No PR spin but the piece honestly provides the reader with a view of the ship”.

Best Guidebook Award: Polly Evans, Yukon, Bradt Travel Guides.

Judges said: ‘The writer was obviously smitten with the Yukon, this was very apparent from the text, but two things stood out for the judges-the quality of the writing and the amount of research. A deserving winner.

Best Travel Broadcast: Polly Evans, The Other Guantanamo, BBC World Service.

The judges said: ‘Guantanamo – a word all too familiar, and yet this radio feature changes perceptions. Guantanamo is one of the most beautiful and welcoming areas of Cuba according to this feature. The infamous prison is only one tiny part of the region that has so many delights to offer the traveller. The reporter, Polly Evans engages with her audience and the location with warmth, humour and intelligence.”

Best Narrative Travel Book: Douglas Rogers, The Last Resort, A Zimbabwe Memoir.

Judges found the book ‘an enjoyable and entertaining read, which provided a deep and personal insight into the unfolding tragedy that is Zimbabwe”.

Photographer of the Year: Karoki Lewis, for photographs of India, published by BBC News online and Geo India.

Judges said: ‘Although not a requirement – producing 4 images that tell a story is difficult.  These images show a range of creative styles, techniques and excellent technical skills and use of camera facilities. Each image tells a story on its own and as a set they work together to tell a greater story. They could be used to illustrate a high quality story or feature.”

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From battling dyslexia to a British Guild of Travel Writers’ Award

by Kathryn Burrington | Uncategorized

When people tell you that you can’t do something, should you believe them? I was once told that I’d never be a writer yet, earlier this year, my article The Wildlife of Canada’s Clayoquot Sound was shortlisted for an award and I was over the moon. I didn’t win, but I thought to myself “I AM a writer!”.

A few years ago, I was accepted as a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW), the UK’s leading organisation for travel media professionals. Their members include professional travel writers, bloggers, editors, photographers, broadcasters and videographers. I was chuffed to bits to have been accepted. Each year they hold an awards evening in the very swanky setting of the Lancaster Ballroom at the Savoy in London. For the first time this year, I entered for one of the Guild’s awards.

Growing up as the class dunce

Writing didn’t come naturally to me. Roll back the years to my ten-year-old self, to an ordinary day in class and a spelling test. At last, a word came up in a test that I could remember how to spell. Chorus. I knew it! I could picture it in my head. For once I would get more than nought for a spelling test. When the test had finished we all swapped our answer sheets and the teacher wrote out the correct spelling of each word. Finally, we got to the word I thought I had correct. Choir . I had written the wrong word down. Tears started streaming down my face. My mark for the spelling test was, once again, nought.

Three or four years on. Another regular day in class but at secondary school. The headmaster came in and started walking between our desks. He stopped beside me, looked down at my work and bellowed “Nobody’s spelling is that bad!”. The tears ran down my cheeks.

Few people had heard of dyslexia when I was at school, but while I’ve never been diagnosed with it, I have since spoken with a couple of teachers who specialise in that field and they were certain that I am dyslexic.

Turning a corner

One of my primary school teachers told my parents I wasn’t bright enough to get any ‘O’ levels. A year or two later, during my first year at secondary school, I was put into the top stream, but my parents thought it was a mistake. My atrocious spelling, however, didn’t stop me doing well in my exams. I remember my chemistry teacher saying I had inventive spelling, but she always knew what I meant. And in 1987 when I graduated from Bristol University, one of the best universities in the country, with a Joint Honours Degree in Zoology and Psychology, my parents couldn’t have been prouder.

I’m not sure when or how but gradually over the years my spelling improved, but having so much trouble with something so important when young does take its toll on your confidence, and that is hard to shake. I still panic inside when anybody watches me writing, as I often have to pause and think about how to spell a word, mouthing it out in my head (at least I hope it’s in my head and not out loud!). I’ll always be a slow reader. Please don’t ask me to watch a film with subtitles.

My blogging journey

Photography, on the other hand, was quite a different matter. I have been passionate about that since the age of ten, when I was first given a camera. In contrast, I didn’t try writing until well into my forties, which is when I started blogging. I wanted to put words with my photos, but I could never have imagined where it would lead.

‘Travel with Kat’ is literally taking me around the world, introducing me to wonderful new experiences and to many fascinating and inspiring people along the way.

From Grizzly Bear watching in Canada’s Great Bear Rainforest to learning how to make fresh pasta in an Italian cookery school, and from husky dog sledging in the Arctic to zip lining through the jungle in the Caribbean, it has been a varied and exciting journey. I feel so lucky to have had these opportunities and travelling has given me so much more than I ever imagined. It has increased my confidence, my curiosity and my awareness of different cultures.

Last year I started using an editor to proofread all my articles and I’m so glad I did. It gave me the confidence to enter for one of the British Guild of Travel Writers Awards for the first time. And boy, was I gobsmacked when I found out I’d made the shortlist. I already felt like a winner.

The British Guild of Travel Writers’ Awards 2017

This year’s gala dinner at London’s Savoy Hotel was attended by over 300 travel media professionals and started with a champagne reception. The sponsors this year were the Sri Lankan Tourism Promotion Bureau.  

Numerous speeches and a wonderful meal followed and just before dessert, the awards were announced. There were eight categories in all. Congratulations to all the winners and highly commended finalists who were selected by an external judging panel. Aaron Millar was named the BGTW Travel Writer of the Year and Nori Jemil, BGTW Travel Photographer of the Year.

As one of the two finalists in the category ‘Excellence in Blogging’, I felt both nervous and excited. And blow me down (to put it politely) I won!

I was so taken aback I couldn’t eat the deliciously gooey chocolate dessert that was placed before me. I didn’t even take a photo of it. Unheard of!

So, if someone tells you “You’ll never be able to do that”, please ask yourself “What if I can?”.

Love it? Pinit!

Thank you to Sri Lankan Tourism Promotion Bureau  for sponsoring this year’s event, to Travel PR  for sponsoring the Award for Excellence in Blogging and to Frances Linzee Gordan for encouraging me to join the British Guild of Travel Writers.

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18 Comments

Having two kids with learning issues, I’ve had quite a journey with the school system. One thing it has taught me is that there are so many different styles of learning. You should be so proud of what you’ve accomplished Kat! An inspiring story of success.

Congratulations I’m so delighted for you! Such a great achievement and very well deserved.

This is wonderful Kathryn, makes the hard work in the past so worth it – and how excellent to be recognised by such an important society. Congratulations

Thanks, Anna. Indeed it does.:-)

Oh my goodness, reading about your experiences at school with mean teachers makes me so upset for you – it must have been so traumatic. I’m a bit numerically challenged and I know how I feel when confronted by numbers so I can relate in that sense! Not sure if you ever saw a TV program about celebs who are dyslexic trying different methods – now there’s so many options which is wonderful. I especially remember one actress tried tinted coloured lenses which apparently help a lot of people with dyslexia as my partner at the time was looking for things to help him with his own dyslexia, and like you was negatively labelled at school when he was in fact he was very bright. But you’ve more than conquered your issue, what an inspiring story.

Thanks, Jai. I think there are many different types of dyslexia but I don’t actually know much about it. I just googled about the tinted lenses and apparently, it’s to do with a visual-perception disorder often linked to, and sometimes mistaken for, dyslexia.

Such an inspirational post, Kathryn and a real air-punching moment at the end (for me anyway!!). Jolly well done!

Thank you, Sara. And thanks for your support over the years. It’s very much appreciated.

Well done Kat, it’s great to see that Dyslexia has nothing to do do with ability to write or succeed – an inspiration to others who have to overcome this

Haha! You should have seen my early attempts at writing. Very childish to say the least. But, yes, I do hope that others going through a similar thing, stumble across this post and feel encouraged.

Such an achievement and very well deserved. Congratulations I’m delighted for you.

Thank you, Suzanne 😀

Congratulations, that’s an awesome achievement. And bravo.

Thank you, Cindy! 😀

Well done! I believe one of the ‘chasers’ on the quiz show ‘The Chase’ is dyslexic, also. Whereas, when I went to school (koff! koff!) years ago, the word was unknown. I had a couple of classmates who, I now believe, suffered from it … they were simply labelled ‘slow’, and either mocked or left to get on with there own thing.

Thanks, Keith. That’s so sad. I wonder how they got on in later life. People are all too ready to judge others, without looking at the bigger picture.

Superb post Kat. I am so delighted for you and even more so because of your struggle. You are a wonderful role model for others. You deserve the award and to feel proud of your achievements.

Thanks, Jackie. I still can’t quite believe it.

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Hello, I’m Kathryn, a travel writer, photographer and holistic therapist based on the south coast of England.

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British Guild of Travel Writers – Awards

Travel PR was proud once again to sponsor the British Guild of Travel Writers annual Travel Writer of the Year Award.

At a sparkling reception dinner at London’s Savoy Hotel, Sue Ockwell, Travel PR’s founder and Managing Director, presented the award to this year’s winner, Jonathan Thompson for a series of articles in the  Daily Telegraph ,  Escapism ,  Metro  and the  Guardian .

The articles were on topics ranging from Shackleton in Antarctica, Chicago’s High Line park, Venetian cookery classes, the marriage match corner in Chengdu and the links between Jamaica, Ian Fleming and James Bond.

Travel PR hosted a table of clients and journalists at the event co-sponsored by the Pas-de-Calais and Armenian tourism.

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BGTW Annual Gala Awards 2022

The Annual Gala Awards – ‘A Taste of Travel’ – took place at Riverside Studios in London.

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• Post date November 11, 2022
• 1 Comment on BGTW Annual Gala Awards 2022

On Sunday 6th November 2022, the British Guild of Travel Writers held their Annual Gala Awards – ‘A Taste of Travel’ at the refurbished Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, London. *Photos by London Event Photographer  Andy Tyler*

This annual event, traditionally held on the eve before World Travel Market, is a chance for the travel industry to network and catch up, and for the BGTW to announce winners of their International Tourism Awards and Members’ Excellence Awards. This year’s BGTW Annual Gala Awards 2022: ‘A Taste of Travel’ was sponsored by Hyatt and Explore Charleston , supported by Riverside Studios , Scenario Two and made Tourism Marketing , and hosted on the night by BGTW members Jon Holmes and Antonia Windsor .

Michael Palin was the surprise guest and recipient of the BGTW Award for Outstanding Contribution to Travel Journalism – the Dr Melissa Shales Award , in honour of former BGTW Chair and travel writer who passed away in December 2021. After receiving his award, Michael Palin thanked the BGTW, shared travel stories, and acknowledged the good fortune of working in travel.

International Tourism Awards

Michael Palin also presented the BGTW International Tourism Awards 2022 (ITA) which celebrate pioneering tourism projects around the world, nominated and voted on by BGTW members.

The winners were: UK and Ireland – The Holocaust Galleries, Imperial War Museum, London, nominated by Tina Ediss ; Europe – High Scardus Trail, The Balkans , nominated by Rudolf Abraham ; and Wider World – Community Rhino Conservation Initiative (CRCI), Zimbabwe , nominated by Sue Watt . The ITA shortlist with links to project finalists and winners can be seen here .

The evening also celebrated the winners of the highly coveted BGTW Members’ Excellence Awards 2022 across four portfolio and 10 individual categories. The full shortlist with links to winning work plus sponsors is here . Our 2022 winners are also listed below.

Members’ Excellence Awards – Portfolio categories

See links to winners and finalists’ work here BGTW Travel Writer of the Year (sponsored by Hyatt) : Emma Thomson for features in The Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph and The Sunday Times *Highly Commended: Ben Lerwill , National Geographic Traveller, The Independent, The Guardian; and Adrian Phillips , The Telegraph, National Geographic Traveller, Sunday Times

BGTW Photographer of the Year (Explore Charleston) : James Rushforth, fotoVue

BGTW Travel Broadcaster of the Year (Explore Cognac): Simon Parker , The Telegraph/Journeysmiths *Highly Commended: Ash Bhardwaj , North York Moors National Park, BBC From Our Own Correspondent, First Dispatch from Nepal/The First Mile podcast, Costa Rica Tourist Board

BGTW Travel Blogger of the Year (Visit Alabama): Paul Healy, Anywhere We Roam *Highly Commended: Lucy Dodsworth , Explore the Cotswolds; and Susan Schwartz , A Lush Life Manual

Members’ Excellence Awards – Individual categories

See links to winners and finalists’ work here Travel Feature of the Year – UK (made Tourism Marketing): Lorna Parkes , ‘House of horror: Bath opens world’s first museum dedicated to Mary Shelley’, The Guardian

Travel Feature of the Year – non UK (Visit Scotland): James Stewart , Noah? Show me where the ocean is?, The Telegraph *Highly commended: Shafik Meghji , Sustainability and survival in the Bolivian Amazon, JRNY magazine

Travel Feature of the Year – Regional and Specialist Media (Great Scotland Yard – The Unbound Collection by Hyatt): Ben Lerwill , Step by (slow) step, Breathe magazine

Specialist Travel Feature of the Year – the Bryn Frank Award (Representation Plus): Jessica Vincent , The city of rice: Alicante’s enduring obsession with arroz, National Geographic Traveller Food

Transport Feature of the Year – The Kenneth Westcott-Jones Award (Travel Connection Group): Sue Watt , The Elephant Express and beyond, JRNY magazine

Travel Guide Book of the Year (ANTOR): James Rushforth , Photographing Iceland Volumes 1 & 2, fotoVUE

Travel Narrative Book of the Year – The Adele Evans Award (Scenario Two): Tharik Hussain , Minarets in the Mountains: a Journey into Muslim Europe, Bradt

Travel Photo Feature of the Year (Visit Mississippi): Simon Urwin , Southern Comforts, JRNY magazine

Travel Blog Post of the Year (Visit West – Visit Bath and Visit Bristol): Paul Healy , Embrace a new you with these 16 outdoor adventures in England, Anywhere We Roam *Highly Commended: Jonathan Thompson , In Jordan, To Grandmother’s House We Go, Afar.com

Travel Broadcast of the Year (Riverside Studios): Ash Bhardwaj , First dispatch from Nepal, The First Mile podcast *Highly Commended: Simon Parker , Gorongosa National Park, The Telegraph/Journeysmiths

BGTW Awards Director Stuart Render said: “This year, the Members’ Excellence Awards attracted a record number of entries across all 14 categories. Our judges, from the travel writing communities in the UK, Australia and the US, commented on the high quality of work by Guild members across the full range of print, online and broadcast media.”

Special thanks to our Award sponsors

The evening also included a performance from new London show CAGES, showing at Riverside Studios, food inspired by ‘A Taste of Travel’, and a raffle in aid of the Charitable Travel Fund .

Prizes included five nights at one of five luxury Hyatt hotels (Madrid, Amsterdam, Budapest, Bali and Oman), a five-night break in Meribel, courtesy of Ski France , a two-night self-drive through Pas de Calais , two nights at the Hotel AMANO Covent Garden , Champagne afternoon tea at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House London , £100 Stay in a Pub voucher, and five annual subscriptions to National Geographic Traveller UK/NGT Food . The event raised £2,410 for the Charitable Travel Fund whose projects include new initiatives in Sri Lanka and Ukraine. See photos of raffle prize winners below.

Many thanks to our generous raffle prize sponsors.

Of the event, BGTW Chair Meera Dattani commented: “It was fantastic to have so many people in the room, including new and current members who make the BGTW what it is, plus so many new and long-standing industry friends and colleagues. It was an honour for the BGTW to present Michael Palin with a special award – his surprise appearance was a great addition.

We can’t thank our sponsors enough for supporting the BGTW – Hyatt, Explore Charleston, made Tourism Marketing, Scenario Two and Riverside Studios. We were also pleased to support the Charitable Travel Fund. And of course, congratulations to all the winners, finalists, and everyone who entered. We’re now looking ahead to another great year with our growing membership.”

Javier Águila , Hyatt Group President, Europe, Africa, Middle East (EAME), said, “On behalf of myself and Hyatt, it was an honour to work with the Guild and a pleasure to spend the evening with their esteemed members. The awards showcased the incredibly high quality of travel writing and content being created here in the UK and Ireland, and my sincere congratulations go to all of the winners. Until next year!”

Explore Charleston’s Doug Warner added: “It is always great to be with our friends at the BGTW and celebrate the well-deserved awards for outstanding contributions to aspirational travel.” The BGTW Annual Gala Awards will return in 2023. To find out more, from sponsorship to awards to anything else, please do get in touch .

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One reply on “BGTW Annual Gala Awards 2022”

[…] as photos of the rhinos came up on stage and the CRCI was announced as the winner of the British Guild of Travel Writers’ International Tourism Award for the best tourism project in the awards’ Wider World […]

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** Writers’ Guild Awards take a pause for 2024 – read more **

The Writers’ Guild Awards have been celebrating writers, and writing, since they launched in 1961. They allow writers to honour their peers, and recognise our work in supporting freedom of speech.

The Awards are funded solely through sponsorship, and WGGB members take a leading role – sitting on juries to select nominees and winners, and in the organisation of the ceremony itself.

View a slideshow of the 2023 Writers’ Guild Awards, hosted by Rachel Parris at the Royal College of Physicians on 16 January 2023 (and download the programme here ).

Read a history of the Writers’ Guild Awards and view a full list of winners by year in our Writers’ Guild Awards archive .

You can also keep up-to-date with Awards news in the section below.

All queries on the Writers’ Guild Awards should be emailed to [email protected]

WGGB also presents two other annual awards: the Olwen Wymark Theatre Encouragement Awards and the Tinniswood audio drama award .

Photo of guests at the the 2019 ceremony: WGGB / Matt Writtle

Thank you to the sponsors of the 2023 awards

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