So this is Christmas…
…and what have you done?
The nominations are in and our esteemed judging panel have made their decisions on who should be our winners this year.
Take a look below to see who’s in the running!
The Awards categories for 2023:
They’re Behind You!
Best Mentor
The judges decided that the following people stood out in terms of mentorship over the past year:
Alessandra Alonso – Women In Travel CIC
Hilary Philpott – Como Hotels & Resorts
Lisa Minot – The Sun
Phoebe Smith – Freelance Journalist
Shaon Talukder – Geotourist
Highly Commended – Alessandra Alonso
Congratulations to the winner – Phoebe Smith
Sponsored by Travel Photographer of the Year
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Best Leader
The judges decided that the following people stood out in terms of leadership over the past year:
Alessandra Alonso – Women In Travel CIC
Amy Skelding – FINN Partners
Dan Pearce – TTG Media
Maria Pieri – APL Media
Zina Bencheikh – Intrepid Travel
Congratulations to the winner – Dan Pearce
Sponsored by Geotourist
Do They Know It’s Christmas?
Outstanding Work for a Charitable Cause
The judges decided that the following people delivered outstanding work for a charitable cause over the past year:
Holly Budge – How Many Elephants
Juliet Kinsman – Conde Nast Traveller
Melissa Tilling – Charitable Travel
Trudie Clements – ABTA LifeLine
Zina Bencheikh – Intrepid Travel
Highly Commended – Holly Budge
Congratulations to the winner – Trudie Clements
Sponsored by TONIC Magazine
The Holly and The Ivy
Best Partnership
The judges decided that the following people stood out as having a great working relationship over the past year:
Cathy Adams and Lucy Perrin – The Times
Lottie Gross and Steph Dyson – Talking Travel Writing
Rob Ellison and Benita Finanzio – Karma Services/ TONIC
Tracey Davies and Rhonda Carrier – Freelance Journalists
Congratulations to the winners – Lottie Gross and Steph Dyson
Sponsored by Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism
Santa’s Helper
Unsung Hero
The judges decided that the following people stood out as unsung heroes over the past year:
Benita Finanzio – Karma Services
Kirsten Henton – Weather2Travel
Mark Tilley – TravMedia UK
Trudie Clements – ABTA LifeLine
Yvette Caster – Freelance Journalist
Congratulations to the winner – Benita Finanzio
Sponsored by Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Tourism
The Perfect Year
Significant Contribution to the Travel Industry
The judges decided that the following people made a significant contribution to the travel industry over the past year:
Alessandra Alonso – Women In Travel CIC
Lisa Minot – The Sun
Melissa Tilling – Charitable Travel
Trudie Clements – ABTA LifeLine
Zina Bencheikh – Intrepid Travel
Highly Commended – Melissa Tilling
Congratulations to the winner – Trudie Clements
Sponsored by the Austrian National Tourist Office
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Sustainability Hero
The judges decided that the following people made a significant contribution in terms of sustainability over the past year:
Asher Moses – Sherbet
Juliet Kinsman – Conde Nast Traveller
Phoebe Smith – Freelance Journalist
Rachel McCaffery – VisitEngland
Zina Bencheikh – Intrepid Travel
Highly Commended – Juliet Kinsman and Rachel McCaffery
Congratulations to the winner – Zina Bencheikh
Sponsored by Switzerland Tourism
Merry Christmas Everyone
Diversity Angel
The judges decided that the following people made a significant contribution in terms of diversity over the past year:
Alessandra Alonso – Women In Travel CIC
Dan Pearce – TTG Media
Jamie Lee Abtar – Not In The Guidebooks
Meera Dattani – Freelance Journalist
Uwern Jong – OutThere Magazine
Highly Commended – Dan Pearce and Meera Dattani
Congratulations to the winner – Alessandra Alonso
Sponsored by Tootbus London
Follow the Star
Best Content Creator
The judges decided that the following people stood out in terms of content creation over the past year:
Jasper and Ivo Horsey – Tuk South
Jessica Viana – Jess Eats The World
Michelle Attard – Coconut Odyssey
Ross OC Jennings – The First Piper
Shu-Shi Lin – Dejashu
Highly Commended – Jasper and Ivo Horsey
Congratulations to the winner – Shu-Shi Lin
Sponsored by G Adventures
Jingle Belle (or Beau)
PR Professional of the Year
The judges decided that the following people stood out as the PR Professional of the year:
Chloe Berman – Intrepid Travel
Grace Parker – FINN Partners
Kath Kay – Indigo Eight
Leah Whitfield – G Adventures
Madeleine Roast – Roast PR
Congratulations to the winner – Chloe Berman
Sponsored by APL Media
Star at the Top of the Tree
Travel Journalist of the Year
The judges decided that the following people stood out as the travel journalist of the year:
James Draven – Freelance Journalist
Katie McGonagle – Freelance Journalist
Lisa Minot – The Sun
Mary Novakovich – Freelance Journalist
Sophie Lam – The i Paper
Highly Commended – Mary Novakovich
Congratulations to the winner – Sophie Lam
Sponsored by SloWays
Christmas Cracker
Honorary Mention
The judges decided that the following person should receive an Honorary Mention at the event this year:
Jo Fletcher-Cross – APL Media
Jo has been very ill over the past year and her brave fight (plus her sense of humour) has caught the eye of our judging and advisory panels.
Jo has been a brilliant travel journalist for many years and we’re pleased we can reward her in this way.
Sponsored by LOTUS
All I Want for Christmas
Outstanding Contribution
The Advisory Panel decided that the following person should receive our Outstanding Contribution award at the event this year:
Claire Steiner – GTTP, ITT Future You
Claire is well known throughout the travel industry as a champion of diversity, inclusivity and mentorship. Amongst other things, her work on the ITT Future You programme, helps to nurture the next generation of travel industry professionals and ensures a sound future for our industry.
We couldn’t think of a more deserving recipient!
Sponsored by Visit Lisboa
Care was taken to ensure there were no conflicts of interest as part of the judging process.
The awards were open to everyone, and nominations were invited for anyone in the industry, regardless of their involvement in the event already, whether as a judge, advisor or someone who does freelance work for Travel Connection Group.
None of the aforementioned people entered themselves for any of the awards where they were shortlisted.
Judges were split into 5 separate groups and only judged the categories they were given. They did not confer outside the groups they were assigned to, hence why some people were nominated for more than one award. All of the people on each shortlist were nominated in that particular category by separate people.