PRESS RELEASE
BGTW celebrates 65th anniversary of Annual Gala Dinner & Awards
18 Members’ Excellence Awards and three BGTW International Tourism Awards
Plus Grand Raffle supporting BGTW’s chosen charity
Early booking tickets now available
Tuesday 1 July 2025: Following last year’s dazzling Great Gatsby–inspired celebration of the Roaring Twenties, the British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW) is pulling out all the stops once again as it celebrates its 65th birthday with the 2025 Annual Gala Awards Dinner. The event will take place on Monday, 3rd November 2025 at the magnificent One Marylebone in central London. Marking 65 years of excellence in travel media, this milestone black-tie occasion will be held on the eve of World Travel Market London and will once again bring together the global travel industry to celebrate the very best in content, creativity and destination storytelling.
One Marylebone, a Grade I listed former church built between 1826 and 1828 by Sir John Soane to commemorate the defeat of Napoleon, offers a striking and timeless backdrop for BGTW’s 65th birthday celebration. With soaring neoclassical interiors, landscaped gardens and a dramatic steeple, this beautifully restored landmark combines historic elegance with flexible event spaces.
The Gala is a long-standing highlight of the international travel calendar, and this year’s 65th edition promises to be the most memorable yet. Over 300 guests are expected to attend, including ambassadors, ministers of tourism, leading PR professionals, editors, broadcasters, journalists, photographers and BGTW members.
At the heart of the evening are the Members’ Excellence Awards, now spanning 18 categories and this year split across two groups. The awards recognise outstanding travel writing, photography, blogging and broadcasting across both digital and print platforms. Categories include Travel Writer of the Year, Photographer of the Year, Travel Blogger of the Year, Travel Broadcaster of the Year, the Celebrating Diversity Through Storytelling, and a range of specialist awards for travel features, sustainability, journeys and storytelling.
Also presented on the night are the BGTW International Tourism Awards, which shine a spotlight on under-the-radar, innovative or community-led tourism projects from around the world. These include Best UK Tourism Project, Best Europe Tourism Project, Best Wider World Tourism Project.
C. Douglas Warner, Executive Vice President, Explore Charleston, said: “Explore Charleston is honoured to partner with the British Guild of Travel Writers for the 2025 Annual Awards Dinner and 65th Anniversary of the BGTW. As one of America’s most historic and culturally rich cities, we share the Guild’s commitment to excellence in storytelling and global connection. This partnership is a natural extension of our long-standing ties to the UK and our desire to welcome more British travellers to experience Charleston’s hospitality, heritage and charm.”
Dave O’Donnell, Vice President Strategic Communications, Meet Boston, said: “We are very excited to be involved in the BGTW Annual Gala Awards 65 anniversary dinner and that Meet Boston will also sponsor the Celebrating Storytelling Through Diversity award category. “
Tickets are now available, priced at £249 plus VAT per person, or £2,490 plus VAT for a hosted table of 10. The evening features a free-flowing sparkling reception for networking, a three-course dinner with wine, live entertainment, the awards ceremonies, and a lively after-party with dancing and bar.
Early-bird incentives include two complimentary bottles of champagne served at dinner for table bookings of 10 or more.
A grand charity raffle will take place during the evening, raising funds for BGTW’s chosen cause. Prizes include luxury holidays, exclusive experiences and unique stays.
Ticket orders can be placed directly via this link:- bgtw.org or by contacting Charlotte Copeman at [email protected].
Be part of the story
Sponsorship opportunities are still available, offering unique visibility at one of the travel media industry’s most high-profile events. From award category naming rights to branded experiences, sponsors benefit from targeted exposure to a curated audience of media, tourism boards, and industry decision-makers.
To explore sponsorship packages and secure your place alongside current partners such as Explore Charleston, Meet Boston, Tourism Gran Canaria and TravMedia or to request the 2025 partnership pack, contact Renate Ruge, BGTW Board Director for Partnerships by email, at [email protected]
Partnership opportunities available across the event range from award category sponsorship and branded experiences to reception visibility, branded destination videos and on-stage presence.
For further information on the BGTW Annual Gala Awards Dinner, visit https://bgtw.org/gala/
About BGTW
Founded in 1960, the British Guild of Travel Writers is the UK’s leading organisation for top-tier travel media professionals. Its members include award-winning writers, photographers, bloggers and broadcasters who produce trusted, independent travel content for audiences around the world.
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