PRESS RELEASE
Excellence Celebrated: BGTW Announces 2025 Awards Winners
4 November 2025: Last night the British Guild of Travel Writers (BGTW) hosted its 65th Annual Gala Awards Dinner at One Marylebone in central London, sponsored by Meet Boston, Explore Charleston and Discover Philadelphia. The evening celebrated the winners of the prestigious Members’ Excellence Awards and International Tourism Awards.
Spanning 18 categories, the Members’ Excellence Awards recognised outstanding achievements in travel writing, photography, blogging and broadcasting across both print and digital platforms. The awards honoured creativity, originality and excellence in travel storytelling, from thought provoking sustainability features to evocative journey narratives.
The International Tourism Awards celebrated exceptional tourism projects and experiences from around the world, each nominated by BGTW members based on first hand experience during the past year, honouring both celebrated and lesser known sights, trails and local initiatives that showcase the very best of global travel.
Chris Coe, Chair of the BGTW, said: “These awards continue to showcase the incredible talent, professionalism and dedication within the BGTW and across the wider travel media and tourism industries. Each winner and finalist has demonstrated exceptional skill in capturing the essence of travel, inspiring people to explore the world with greater curiosity, respect and understanding.”
International Tourism Awards Winners:
Best UK Tourism Project
Access the Dales – a charity aiming to make the outdoors accessible for everyone (Yorkshire)
Best Europe Tourism project
FENIX Museum of Migration – experience migration through the work of artists (Rotterdam, The the story of the oldest elevated suspension monorail in the world (Wuppertal, Germany)
Best Wider World Tourism Project
Zagros Mountain Trail – a new 215km-long hiking trail (Kurdistan Region, Iraq)
Members’ Excellence Awards Winners:
BGTW Travel Writer of The Year Sponsored by Explore Charleston
Claire Boobbyer, for the portfolio:
My great great grandmother’s Lahore flirtation with Rudyard Kipling – The Telegraph
I followed in the footsteps of Sebald to see how Suffolk has changed in 30 years – The Telegraph
Môt Hai Ba Dzô in Vietnam – Tonic Magazine, Volume 7
Surviving and thriving: Meet the Havana changemakers forging a future in crisis Cuba – Adventure.com
BGTW Travel Photographer of The Year – Sponsored by Discover Dominica
Jeremy Flint, for this portfolio of six images, including the required published work in National Geographic Traveller UK, National Geographic Calendar, and Athesia Kalenderverlag.
BGTW Travel Broadcaster of The Year – Sponsored by Pure Michigan
Simon Willmore, for the portfolio (all broadcast on the JRNY Podcast):
“Literally trying to get in the room” with disability rights advocate Sophie Morgan
A platform for voices that had been muted with Sherry Rupert
Transporting vodka on a fire engine with Cazenove and Loyd
A pile of sleeping crocs and all-day kayaking with Audley Travel
Travel Feature of The Year – UK
Adrian Phillips
I took my entire family on a canal boat holiday – and found the antidote to our hurried age – The Telegraph
Travel Feature of The Year – Europe – Sponsored by Gran Canaria
Daniel Stables
In the Valley of Thor – National Geographic Traveller
Travel Feature of The Year – Wider World – Sponsored by TravMedia
Dom Tulett
Breaking Barriers In Botswana: The Trip That Helped My Dyslexic Daughter Overcome Her Writing Fears – The Sunday Times
Travel Feature of the Year – UK Regional Media
Robin McKelvie
Among the ghosts of the Hebrides – Sunday National
Travel Feature of the Year – Travel Trade Media – Sponsored by Gran Canaria
Domhnall O’Donoghue
An LGBTQ+ Guide to Portland – Travel Weekly
Specialist Travel Feature of the Year – Sponsored by Discover Tunisia
Mike Unwin
Eternal Fascination – Travel Africa Magazine 105
Journey Feature of the Year – Sponsored by Travel Switzerland
Jessica Vincent
Find the ancient heart of America on a road trip through the Indigenous Southwest – National Geographic
Sustainability Feature of the Year – Sponsored by Visit Scotland
Becki Enright
8 ways to be a responsible tourist in Vienna – Lonely Planet
Celebrating Diversity Through Storytelling – Sponsored by Meet Boston
Shebs Alom
Inside the $300 Billion Halal Tourism Boom: What Travel Brands Need to Know! – Adventure Travel Networking
Travel Guide Book of the Year – Sponsored by Antor
Daniel James Clarke
Pocket Algarve – Lonely Planet (Full Rewrite; Sole Author)
BGTW Travel Blogger of The Year
Victoria Watts Kennedy
New England Road Trip: Charming stays and pretty places – Bridges and Balloons (Sole Author)
Travel Narrative Book of the Year
Shafik Meghji
Small Earthquakes: A Journey Through Lost British History in South America – Hurst Publishers
Travel Photo Feature of the Year
Karolina Wiercigroch
City Life: Cartagena – National Geographic Traveller UK (in part online)
Travel Blog Post of the Year
Claire Martin
Not flying is best for the environment. But the cost of not visiting could be greater. – Claire’s Footsteps
Travel Broadcast of the Year
Alex Outhwaite
So You Think You Know: Belize – ONS/Prime Video UK.
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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