Our judges are looking for tomorrow's household name in travel writing. Entrants will be up to three years into their media career and beginning to see their travel articles published regularly in leading media titles.

We are looking for outstanding trade journalists who inform the informed. Do you write compelling copy? Do you break exclusives? Can you spot news a mile off? Do you always present your stories in an engaging way?

We are looking for outstanding consumer journalists who constantly inform and entertain their audiences. Do you consistently demonstrate the ability to cover a destination or product with originality? Do you write with great flair? Are you known for securing exclusive content? Are you a consumer champion? Our judges are looking for a writer whose articles truly inform and entertain.

The Freelance Writer of the Year will be an outstanding journalist who writes regularly for some of the UK's leading media titles. Have you demonstrated the ability to cover a destination or product with originality? Secured exclusive interviews? Or are you a consumer champion on all matters travel? Judges will look for articles that truly inform, entertain and generate interest.

New for 2026, Cruise Writer of the Year will be an outstanding journalist who writes regularly about ocean, river or expedition cruising. Have you captured life on board with originality and flair? Do you bring ports of call vividly to life? Do you cover the latest cruising trends and devevelopments – from new ships and itineraries to sustainability and wellness – with authority and insight? Judges will be looking for submissions that demonstrate a deep understanding of the sector through compelling storytelling and the ability to inspire the traveller to set sail!

The Luxury Travel Writer of the Year will recognise a journalist whose output is conspicuous for its brilliance in the luxury travel space. You may have brought vital insights or unique angles to luxury destinations or products. Or perhaps you have landed exclusive interviews with notable figures. Do your readers hang on your every compelling viewpoint on premium travel experiences? Judges will be looking for pieces that not only inform and engage but also spark inspiration and a passion for luxury travel.

The Specialist Writer of the Year (Destination) category recognises an outstanding journalist whose work demonstrates a sustained focus on a single, clearly defined destination – from a city to a region, nation, or continent. Have you captured the essence of a place with originality and flair? Do your articles inspire readers not only to dream, but to make the journey a reality? Have you secured exclusive interviews or produced stories that shift perceptions? Judges will be looking for submissions that showcase in-depth expertise, distinctive storytelling, and a genuine connection to your chosen destination.

The Specialist Writer of the Year (Topic) category celebrates an outstanding journalist whose work demonstrates a sustained focus on a specific travel theme, such as food, sustainability, adventure, accessibility, wellness, rail travel, or another clearly defined topic. Do you display consistent depth of knowledge and insight with every piece? Do your articles engage readers, inspiring them to think differently or take action? Have you secured exclusive interviews or produced stories that challenge assumptions? Judges will be seeking submissions that demonstrate expertise, compelling storytelling, and fresh perspectives within your chosen thematic area.

Sustainability has become a crucial industry issue. The topic influences how the travel industry plans its operations and impacts how consumers choose their holidays. Our judges are seeking to recognise the writer who most clearly demonstrates a talent for recognising the game-changing effect sustainability now exerts on our sector.

Do you write memorable features about the joys of holidaying at home? Are you generating engaging and eye-catching stories about everything great that the UK has to offer? We’re looking for a writer who devotes considerable time to these isles, who has built a loyal following, and who is commissioned by top media titles to share their experiences.

The Travel Trade Publication of the Year will be a print or online publication that is the essential read for the inside track on our industry. How well does it serve its audience? How is it adapting to the ever-evolving media landscape? Is it well written, well designed, informed and authoritative? Does it deliver memorable exclusives and engaging features?

The Consumer Magazine Travel Section of the Year will be awarded to the travel section that best entertains, informs and influences its readers, is perfectly tailored to its demographic and acts as a powerful section within its parent magazine. Judges are looking for an inspiring must-read that influences consumer mindsets and drives purchasing decisions.

The Travel Magazine of the Year will be awarded to the consumer travel magazine that best inspires, informs and educates readers all year long. Judges are looking for an engaging and aspirational read, which delivers memorable features, great picture stories, and which knows how to tackle the sensitivities of the ever-changing travel market. In short, a stand-out read, every issue!

The National Tabloid Newspaper Travel Section of the Year will be awarded to the newspaper section that best defines the market, is ground-breaking, and always surprises with the quality and insight of its content. A must-read that constantly influences consumer mindsets and drives purchasing decisions.

The National Broadsheet Newspaper Travel Section of the Year will be awarded to the travel section that consistently exceeds expectations with the depth and perspective of its content. Does that sound like your title's mission statement?

This Award will recognise the travel website with the most dynamic media content. The trophy may be headed to a consumer or to a b2b website; to a portal focused on scintillating travel experiences, or the best advice to aspirant travellers, or simply unsurpassed delivery of travel news or information. We welcome entries from news sites of a trade or consumer media title, a consumer site or simply a much-loved enthusiasts' resource

The Broadcast Programme of the Year will be awarded to a show which has extended the boundaries of travel broadcasting and inspired significant audience loyalty. Judges will consider submissions from across the broadcasting spectrum (TV, radio, online, podcast), and will consider anything from a series to a one-off show.

Our judges are looking for the greatest news exclusive published in 2025. This has to be a story that you sourced and broke and which had the travel industry or the travelling public engrossed.

Did you write the single greatest travel feature of the year? We’re looking for the best story that perfectly captured a travel experience anywhere on the planet, published in the media in 2025.

Are you our Diversity Champion of the Year? This award is open to any individual who has made it their mission to promote awareness of the need for diversity and inclusion in the travel industry, including within travel media, travel PR and travel influence. The award is open to someone at any level within the industry who has actively encouraged conversations, has been prepared to challenge the status quo, and who has made a strong and memorable case for a different future.

Are you tomorrow’s most influential content creator? The judges are looking for an exceptional talent who is establishing themselves quickly within the social media/content creator worlds and who delivers exceptional ROI to the travel and tourism brands they work with. Entrants will be up to three years into their content creator career and beginning to see corporate brands making a beeline to your door for partnerships.

We are looking for a blog which is creative, memorable, inspirational and drives engagement. Do you have a winning formula for promoting your blog across a variety of social media channels and through wider marketing? Do you bring destinations and travel products to life? Are your followers always eager to read your next blog post? Do you work with brands and does your blog drive travel purchasing decisions?

We are looking for the content creator of the moment! Someone who creates original, inspiring and thought-provoking content. Whether you use one or multiple social channels for your campaigns, and whether you are a social media content creator, blogger or vlogger (or all three!), we are looking for someone who is building a loyal following, creating memorable output, and delivering exceptional ROI to the travel brands you partner with.

Are you our Diversity Champion of the Year? This award is open to any individual who has made it their mission to promote awareness of the need for diversity and inclusion in the travel industry, including within travel media, travel PR and travel influence. The award is open to someone at any level within the industry who has actively encouraged conversations, has been prepared to challenge the status quo, and who has made a strong and memorable case for a different future.

Open to both in-house and agency professionals, the Rising Star of the Year award will be awarded to an individual who consistently demonstrates campaign results, creativity, and impact within their own organisation and a constant commitment to expanding their skills base. Entrants will be up to three years into their PR career.

Who will be declared the travel industry PR Professional of the Year? This category is open to both in-house PRs and PR agency staff. Our judges will be looking for a communicator whose work sets them apart from their peer group. You must have had direct, creative, hands-on involvement in campaigns (or a single campaign) that have changed the way a brand is perceived, or which have secured impressive business outcomes for the brand.

Will you be our next PR Business Leader of the Year? This category is open to a PR agency head or the leader of a PR/communications division of a travel or tourism brand whose work expanding or developing their agency or their travel brand sets them apart from their rivals. You must have led initiatives that have changed the way the agency/brand is perceived, or which have secured impressive business outcomes for the agency/brand.

The PR Agency of the Year will be awarded to the organisation that has most clearly raised the bar in travel PR. The category is open to any travel PR agency or to a multi-sector PR agency with a travel practice. Judges are looking for an agency that can demonstrate exceptional results from campaigns, constant creativity and a clear impact within the travel industry.

Whether you are a team of one or a team of many, you are eligible to enter our In-house PR Team of the Year Award. Did you create a memorable campaign which positively impacted your company? Are you an integral part of the wider organisation, central to managing the brand’s reputation, and involved in helping grow the business? If so, you should enter!

This category is open to both in-house PRs and PR agencies. We are looking for a travel PR campaign of outstanding creativity that delivered impressive outcomes linked to clear objectives. Judges will consider campaigns that are print or digital, consumer or trade. Meaningful measurement and impact will be top of their minds.

Are you our Diversity Champion of the Year? This award is open to any individual who has made it their mission to promote awareness of the need for diversity and inclusion in the travel industry, including within travel media, travel PR and travel influence. The award is open to someone at any level within the industry who has actively encouraged conversations, has been prepared to challenge the status quo, and who has made a strong and memorable case for a different future.