The best of the best in the world of writing have been recognised at the Travel Media Awards 2023.
In association with the Moroccan National Tourist Office, the awards ceremony was held at The Savoy in London, with 127 finalists competing across a range of categories covering all areas in print, digital, broadcasting and photography.
Among the winners were The Sunday Times Travel for National Broadsheet Newsprint Section of the Year and The Sun for National Tabloid Newsprint Section of the Year.
In the new Sustainability Travel Writer of the Year category, Holly Tuppen was the inaugural winner. The judges said Holly’s research and expertise within the responsible travel sector shone in abundance throughout her writing.
Separately, the Sustainability Travel Feature of the Year had joint winners, with articles by Phoebe Smith and Sam Haddad for The Guardian chosen for this category.
Writer Adrian Phillips’s spectacular piece ‘Into the Deep’ — published by National Geographic Traveller (UK) — also impressed the judges, with the panel naming it National Consumer Feature of the Year.
Ben Clatworthy of The Times took home the trophy for Breaking Travel News and Jacqui Agate was named as the 2023 Young Writer of the Year.
Special award for Pippa Jacks
The 2023 Special Contribution Award went to TTG’s Pippa Jacks. Pippa began her journey with a work experience placement at TTG Magazine in 2006 before joining the team as features writer, later becoming features editor, then taking the helm as editor of the 70-year-old trade publication between 2013 and 2017. As editorial director, Pippa now manages an award-winning team of 14 editorial staff across TTG’s print magazines, digital channels and events.
Anthony Leyens, co-founder of the Travel Media Awards and CEO of APL Media, said: “After a difficult few years for the industry, it’s truly inspiring to see it in such good health. The works produced by this year’s finalists are some of the best to date, so thank you to the entrants, the finalists, the judges and everyone who came to this year’s ceremony. We’ll see you in 2024!”
New scheme introduced
As part of the Awards, it was announced a new scheme would be introduced: Travel Media Awards Step Up – in partnership with APL Media, Finn Partners, Intrepid Travel and TTG Media, a new internship programme driving diversity and inclusion in travel media.
The scheme seeks to create opportunities for young people looking to move into travel publishing, journalism and PR, offering two candidates the chance for a paid internship position in London for next summer. Applications will be open from November. For more details and to enter, visit: travelmediaawards.com/awards/en/page/step-up-internship
The winners
National Broadsheet Newsprint Section
The Sunday Times Travel
National Tabloid Newsprint Section
The Sun
Consumer Publication of the Year – Print
Condé Nast Traveller UK
Consumer Publication of the Year – Online
FT Globetrotter
National Consumer Feature of the Year
Adrian Phillips for ‘Into the Deep’ in National Geographic Traveller (UK)
Consumer Magazine Section of the Year
Good Housekeeping
Trade Publication of the Year – Print
The Business Travel Magazine
Trade Publication of the Year – Online
TTG
Trade Writer of the Year
Sophie Griffiths, TTG
Sustainability Travel Feature of the Year
Sam Haddad for ‘“It’s still as beautiful as ever”: the changing face of the French Alps’ in The Guardian
Phoebe Smith for ‘Thailand cove made famous in The Beach reopens to visitors after four-year closure’ in The Guardian
Sustainability Travel Writer of the Year
Holly Tuppen
Blogger/Vlogger of the Year
Alex Hunter, Attaché
Guide of the Year – Book, Online, App
111 Places in County Durham That You Shouldn’t Miss, Elizabeth Atkin
Breaking Travel News – Print, Broadcast and Online
Ben Clatworthy, The Times
Regional Publication Feature of the Year
Ben Lerwill for ‘The joy of the search’ in Hidden Scotland Magazine
Photography Award
Mark Parren Taylor
Customer Content
Much Better Adventures Magazine
Young Travel Writer of the Year
Jacqui Agate
Specialist Travel Writer of the Year
Jamie Lafferty, South America
Broadcast Programme of the Year – TV, Radio, Online and Podcast
BBC 100 Women – The Last of Albania’s ‘Sworn Virgins’, BBC World Service and BBC Reel
Consumer Writer of the Year
Ed Grenby
Special Contribution Award
Pippa Jacks
