The TravMedia Awards 2024 were announced at a sold-out gala dinner at The Londoner, Leicester Square.
Madeleine Barber won Travel Writer of the Year; James Stewart the new Freelance Writer of the Year, and media titles including The Daily Telegraph, National Geographic Traveller (UK), and Selling Travel also securing top Awards. Hosted by celebrity Rylan, the packed event (www.travmediaawards.com) drew a crowd of over 300 media, influencers, PR professionals and industry executives.
This year's Awards attracted a record entry of 1015 registrations, up a staggering 36% year-on-year. Madeleine Barber, Head of Partner Content at TTG Media secured the Trade Staff Writer of the Year Award during the evening, putting her in the running for Travel Writer of the Year at the evening's culmination.
Also considered were journalists who had won select individual media categories. According to the judging panel, Madeleine's destination writing in trade paper TTG “was strong enough to go into any consumer title”.
She has “natural flair” and a “super bright future” they enthused. Highly Commended in Travel Writer of the Year was Liz Edwards of the Times who had won the coveted Consumer Staff Writer of the Year award.
Telegraph Travel won the new National Broadsheet Newspaper Travel Section of the Year, while The Sun landed the spoils as National Tabloid Newspaper Travel Section of the Year. National Geographic Traveller won the intensely fought Travel Magazine of the Year for the second year running.
Adventure.com one the inaugural Travel Media Website of the Year, while Trade Publication of the Year went for the first time to Selling Travel. Consumer Magazine Travel Section was won for the first time by Woman & Home, its pages overseen by travel editor Alicia Miller.
National Geographic's Farida Zeynalova won the highly contested Specialist Travel Writer crown, while Phoebe Smith landed Sustainability Writer of the Year. Domestic Travel Writer of the Year went to Ed Grenby, while Sarah Barrell won Feature of the Year for a story in National Geographic Traveller.
Ben Clatworthy landed Exclusive of the Year for the second year on the trot, this time for his 'No passports needed under Border Force e-gate plan', story in The Times, a story which was subsequently run by multiple media titles. Broadcast Programme of the Year was secured by Alex Outhwaite, for So You Think You Know (Sky), while Media Rising Star was won by freelancer Laura Sanders, formerly with the travel team at Which?
Diversity Champion of the Year, a new Award, went to Sassy Wyatt, Blind Girl Adventures, a vigorous campaigner for blind and disabled travellers. The Outstanding Contribution Award went to Luxy Huxley, Editor-in-Chief at Travel Weekly Group.
In the PR Awards, the PR Business Leader of the Year was won by FINN Partners' supremo Debbie Flynn, while PR Professional of the Year went to LOTUS' Kate McWilliams. LOTUS triumphed as PR Agency of the Year, while the team at VisitEngland landed In-House PR Team of the Year.
The Campaign of the Year title went to FINN Partners for their work for Advantage Travel Centres, while the PR Rising Star Award went to Emme McKay of Intrepid Travel. Influencer of the Year went to Amy Hulley, Amy en Voyage, with Alex Hunter of Attaché winning Vlogger of the Year for the second year in a row. Blogger of the Year was Kate McCulley, Adventurous Kate, while Bea Meitiner of Bea Adventurous was the new Influencer Rising Star of the Year.
Louise Napier, Managing Director of TravMedia UK commented: “This was a thrilling evening. Congratulations go to Madeleine Barber, and all the other media, influencer and PR winners.
“Well done to all finalists for making it to Awards night – this was a year with an astonishing record entry, so everyone deserves a resounding round of applause!” The TravMedia Awards are independent, not linked to any grouping or association, and are open to all journalists, influencers, and PR professionals.
The Awards are organised by TravMedia, the leading social network connecting the global travel industry with media and influencers, and 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. An expert panel of 35 judges (listed below) from across the travel industry adjudicated, including senior media figures, communications heads and commentators, and top industry executives.
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.
The TravMedia Awards 2024 sponsors were:
- ATOL - National Tabloid Newspaper Travel Section of the Year
- Classic Cottages - Domestic Writer of the Year
- Deep South USA - Travel Writer of the Year
- Gran Canaria Tourist Board - Travel Magazine of the Year
- Hong Kong Tourism Board - Welcome Drinks Reception Sponsor
- Hyatt Hotels Corporation - Consumer Staff Writer of the Year
- Kuoni - Outstanding Contribution
- Princess Cruises - Travel Media Website of the Year
- Protected Trust Services - Trade Staff Writer of the Year
- Switzerland Tourism - Freelance Writer of the Year
- The Travel Corporation - Sustainability Writer of the Year
- Tourism Australia - National Broadsheet Newspaper Travel Section of the Year
- Tourism Western Australia - Specialist Writer of the Year
- Travel Texas - Photo Booth Sponsor
- True Traveller - Media Rising Star
- Visit Gibraltar - Diversity Champion of the Year
- Visit Herefordshire – Broadcast Programme of the Year
- Visit Pittsburgh - Influencer Rising Star of the Year
- Visit Tampa Bay - Trade Publication of the Year
