BGTW Announces New Board and Full Programme of Activities
The BGTW announced a new Board in London on 2 February.
Sarah Siese and Stuart Render have been elected as joint-chair. Stuart, who has been a director since 2018, and who was acting chair during January, and Sarah, who joined the Board in 2022 but has previously served on committee under five different chairs, bring a wealth of experience to the roles.
“In a year where there’s a need to bring the Guild back on course in the aftermath of the hiatus caused by the pandemic, having two knowledgeable Guild members leading the organisation, both with different but complementary skill sets, and supported by a first-class team of fellow directors, positions the Guild in a strong place moving forward,” the joint chairs announced.
The BGTW would like to give an enormous thanks to the outgoing Board: Chair Meera Dattani; Vice Chair Antonia Windsor; Membership Director Kav Dadfar; and Sustainability Director Diana Jarvis for the amazing work they have done in 2022, as well as Sarah Siese and Stuart Render who have remained on the Board as joint-chair.
Following the success of the BGTW’s AGM & Convention in Tenerife last year, this year it will hold its AGM & Convention in Malta on 17 March, where the new Board will unveil its plans for the forthcoming year, including its commitment to the Glasgow Convention on Climate Action in Tourism.
The last two years has seen a substantial increase in Guild membership.
Other key events for 2023 will include:
• A series of BGTW Talks Travel webinars ranging in topic from hard skills such as SEO, branded content and pitching to overarching travel themes such as decolonising travel writing, freelancing more effectively, and storytelling.
• The BGTW International Tourism Awards and Members’ Excellence Awards, due to be launched in March.
• The BGTW Annual Gala Awards that will take place in London on Sunday 5 November, 2023, on the eve of World Travel Market London.
• Regular networking events both in London and across the UK.
The new BGTW Board, consists of: Sarah Siese, Joint-Chair and Partnerships Director, Stuart Render, Joint-Chair and Awards Director; Vice-Chair and Social Media Director: Sarah Lee; Director and Board Secretary: Dom Tulett; Membership Director: Kirsten Henton; Sponsorship Director: Renate Ruge; Director of Communications: Mark Bibby Jackson; and Events Director: Valery Collins.
Supporting the Board (Off-Board Executives) are: Frances Howorth and Kathryn Liston: Finance; Diana Jarvis: Sustainability Lead; John Ruler: Guild Archivist; Neil Taylor: Press Trip co-ordinator; Rachel Ifans: Social Media (Instagram); and Gillian Thomas: Associates Representative.
BGTW Annual Gala Awards 2022
The BGTW Annual Gala Awards 2022 took place on Sunday 6th November at Riverside Studios in London, with Michael Palin making a surprise visit. Click here to see photos, winners, sponsors and more.
About the BGTW
The British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW) is a community of over 250 accredited writers, photographers, authors, podcasters, bloggers and broadcasters. We are the trusted body for independent editorial comment and expert content on UK and global travel.
Founded in 1960, the BGTW turned 60 years old in 2020 – that’s six decades at the forefront of the travel media industry. All applicants are interviewed and all members abide by a strict code of conduct; see out About page for more information.
BGTW AGM & Convention Tenerife 2022
The BGTW AGM and Convention 2022 took place in Tenerife with thanks to the team at Tenerife Tourism. Here is a video produced by the destination to showcase our time there.
A Celebration of Travel
The BGTW gala, one of the highlights of the travel industry calendar, was held on 31 October 2021 at The Savoy, London’s most prestigious venue. This year’s event, titled ‘A Celebration of Travel’, was empowered by Tenerife Tourism.
What can the British Guild of Travel Writers do for you?
If you’re an editor or TV/radio producer:
Want a writer who’s been to Antarctica? Looking for a photographer with imagery from Zambia? Need a media professional who can comment on a travel issue? See bgtw.org/connect
If you work in PR or tourism:
We can help you spread the word about your travel clients through networking drinks, our annual gala event, and sponsorship opportunities. See bgtw.org/sponsor
If you’re a media professional:
We’d love for you to join our community of 250+ writers, authors, bloggers, editors, photographers and broadcasters. For info on eligibility, see bgtw.org/why-join
Events by the British Guild of Travel Writers
Stay sharp with our collection of webinars. Non-members can also buy access for the minuscule sum of £6 and watch the live events and/or rewatch the recordings for free. All events are free for BGTW members.
We’re always adding new events to our calendar; check back regularly for updates.
In the spotlight
Read more on the types of people who are part of our community, including travel writers, photographers, bloggers, podcasters, authors, and broadcasters:
Contact the British Guild of Travel Writers
Are you interested in working with the BGTW – perhaps sponsoring an event or members’ drinks? Perhaps you’d like to learn more about our webinars? Or are you thinking of joining the BGTW? Please email [email protected] or call 020 8144 8713.
You can read more about the people who make up the BGTW Board and its Executives on our Team page.