The finalists for the TravMedia Awards UK 2025 were announced in a special YouTube broadcast, revealing which media, PR and content creators are headed to Awards night at The Londoner, Leicester Square on Monday 12 May.

The TravMedia Awards (https://travmedia.com/awards/) are now the leading global awards platform for the travel media, travel communicators and travel content creators, with ceremonies in 2025 in the UK, France, Asia and Australia. The UK Awards (https://travmedia.com/awardsuk/) honour the finest journalistic, influencer and PR achievements in travel, and attracted another record response this year, with registrations up a staggering 20%.

Broadcast presenters Louise Napier, Managing Director of Travel UK and Henry Hemming, Global Adviser to TravMedia, announced finalists across 27 categories. New categories this year include a Luxury Travel Writer of the Year category which garnered a huge response.

This underlines TravMedia's commitment the sector, with the company having just launched a global luxury event, IMM Lux, taking place at The Venetian, Las Vegas (1-2 October 2025). The most popular category of last year, Specialist Travel Writer of the Year, was split for 2025 into two categories: Specialist Travel Writer of the Year (Destination) and Specialist Travel Writer of the Year (Topic), which each garnered over 90 entries, meaning Freelance Travel Writer won out as most popular category for 2025 with over 100 entries.

Major highlights of Awards night include the revelation of the Travel Writer of the Year, Content Creator of the Year and PR Professional of the Year. Special Awards also include a Diversity Champion of the Year – for which the shortlist will soon be revealed – and an Outstanding Contribution Award.

Said Louise Napier, Managing Director of Travel UK: “We are thrilled for all the finalists, and offer deepest commiserations to anyone who just missed out. The quality of entries was simply out of this world – which feels appropriate!

“The record entry shows how far the TravMedia Awards have come and how respected they are. It's brilliant that there are also Awards ceremonies this year in other regions of the world – the Awards are going global!”

The reputation of the Awards also depends heavily on the judges appointed to review entries. This year's line-up of judges yet again comprises an array of talent from across the media, communications and the wider travel industry.

As with all previous years, TravMedia has ensured lots of change, with 15 of the 38 selected judges not involved in the Awards in 2024, and with any returning judges handed fresh categories to adjudicate. This year's TravMedia Awards category sponsors are Gran Canaria Tourism; Hyatt Hotels; MMGY; Princess Cruises; Switzerland Tourism; Rocky Mountaineer; Tourism Australia; True Traveller; VisitPITTSBURGH and Visit San Antonio. The drinks reception sponsor is once again Hong Kong, and the destination sponsor is Universal Destinations & Experiences.

On Awards night, a celebrity host will drive the show and sponsors' tables will host finalists from their chosen category. The evening's big reveals will segue within a three-course dinner, following a welcome drinks reception, and the night will climax with an after-party. Last year's event attracted a packed audience of 300 people with Rylan the celebrity host.

Added Napier: “A few sponsorship opportunities remain available for the big night.

“Last year all media categories sold out after the finalists announcement, and this looks set to happen again, so anyone interested should move quickly! Beyond that, sponsorship opportunities include the awards after-party, the photobooth, and sponsoring the celebrity host – whose name we will reveal in the coming days…!”

Alternatively, TravMedia has a limited number of tables and individual tickets available. A full list of the finalists can be found here: https://travmedia.com/awardsuk/2025-finalists.html.

The Awards are organised by TravMedia, the leading social network connecting the global travel industry with media and influencers. The Awards are independent, not linked to any grouping or association, and are open to all journalists, influencers, and PR professionals.

The Awards are adjudicated by an expert panel of 38 judges (listed below) from across the travel industry, including senior media figures, communications heads and commentators, and top industry executives.

THE TRAVMEDIA AWARDS 2025 – THE FINALISTS

THE CONTENT CREATOR AWARDS: 

CONTENT CREATOR, RISING STAR OF THE YEAR

  • Angharad Paull, Down Somerset Way
  • Danielle Flynn, Danielle's Travel Blog
  • Elise Myette, Elise Abroad
  • Holly Lavender, Budget Bon Voyage
  • Natalie Lynch, Grab Your Luggage

CONTENT CREATOR - BLOGGER OF THE YEAR

  • Angharad Paull, Down Somerset Way
  • Bella Falk, Passport & Pixels
  • Brock and Betty Jeffrey, Brock and Betty
  • Jonny & Hannah Verman, Finding Our Adventure
  • Toti Maisto and Alessia Vurchio, Passport and Stamps

CONTENT CREATOR - CONTENT CREATOR OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by VisitPITTSBURGH

  • Abigail King, Inside The Travel Lab
  • Alex Hunter, Attaché
  • Bella Falk, Passport & Pixels
  • Claudia de Cesaris, In The Snow
  • Cora Harrison, InsideOurSuitcase
  • Kate Woodley, Kate Across Borders 

THE PR AWARDS: 

PR - RISING STAR OF THE YEAR

  • Bella Walls, Black Diamond
  • Holly Burridge, Lotus
  • Isabel Leon-Campos, FINN Partners
  • Joyce Oladeinde, Crescendo Digital
  • Scarlet Fox, MMGY Grifco
  • Tamzin Pinfold, FINN Partners

PR - PR CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR

  • ABTA - Travel with Confidence
  • Clover PR & Audley Travel - The Responsible Packing Guide
  • FINN Partners & Visit Orlando – Orlando: Beyond the Theme Parks
  • G Adventures - Project Viet-Man
  • Princess Cruises - Cost of Loving
  • Screaming Frog & InsureMyTrip - Inspiring travel PR boosts organic purchases by 123%

PR - IN-HOUSE PR TEAM OF THE YEAR

  • ABTA
  • Eurostar
  • Intrepid Travel
  • Preferred Hotels & Resorts
  • Universal Destinations & Experiences
  • VisitEngland

PR - PR AGENCY OF THE YEAR

  • FINN Partners
  • Fox Communications
  • J/PR
  • LOTUS
  • Reed PR
  • Spotlight Communications

PR PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

  • Chloe Berman, Intrepid Travel
  • Deborah Welsh, AM+A Marketing and Media Relations
  • Hannah Mulvey, Gosh PR
  • Kaya Cheshire, Eurostar
  • Kylie Bawden, FINN Partners
  • Natalie Bigbie, Lotus

PR - PR BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

  • Abi Best, Lemongrass Marketing
  • Amy Skelding, FINN Partners
  • Jules Ugo, Lotus
  • Lynsey Devon, Heaven Publicity

THE MEDIA AWARDS:

MEDIA - RISING STAR OF THE YEAR

  • Caroline Butterwick
  • Clio Wood
  • Kira Richards
  • Queenie Shaikh
  • Sam Kemp
  • Toyo Odetunde

MEDIA - TRADE STAFF WRITER OF THE YEAR

  • Beverley Fearis, Editor, The Business Travel Magazine
  • Emma Dooney, Luxury Travel Reporter, TTG Media
  • Katherine Masters, Features Editor, TTG Media
  • Madeleine Barber, Head of Partner Content, TTG Media
  • Steve Hartridge, Editorial Director, Selling Travel
  • Stuart Forster, Editor, BMI Publishing

MEDIA - DOMESTIC TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR

  • Ailsa Sheldon
  • Daniel Stables
  • Ed Grenby
  • Fiona Whitty
  • Helen Ochyra
  • Sarah Baxter

MEDIA - SPECIALIST TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR (DESTINATION)

Sponsored by MMGY

  • Ben Aitken
  • Charlotte Wigram-Evans
  • Chris Leadbeater
  • Imogen LePere
  • Jacqui Agate
  • Mike MacEacheran

MEDIA - SPECIALIST TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR (TOPIC)

  • Adrian Bridge
  • Lauren Jarvis
  • Oliver Smith
  • Sarah Marshall
  • Sophie Morgan
  • Tristan Rutherford

MEDIA - SUSTAINABILITY TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR

  • Ben Olsen
  • Diana Jarvis
  • Emma Gregg
  • Jessica Vincent
  • Madeleine Barber
  • Mike MacEacheran
  • Phoebe Smith

MEDIA - CONSUMER STAFF WRITER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Hyatt

  • Cathy Adams, Senior Commissioning Editor, The Times
  • Chris Leadbeater, Travel Correspondent, The Telegraph
  • Francesca Street, Writer and Digital Producer, CNN Travel
  • Greg Dickinson, Senior Travel Writer, The Telegraph
  • Niki Blasina, Deputy Editor, FT Globetrotter
  • Sophie Dickinson, Travel Writer, The Telegraph

MEDIA - FREELANCE WRITER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Switzerland Tourism

  • Christopher Beanland
  • Ed Grenby
  • Eddi Fiegel
  • Laura Millar
  • Qin Xie
  • Ruaridh Nicoll

BROADCAST PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR

  • Ed Finn's America, Ed Finn, Virgin Media Television (TV)
  • Gary Barlow's Wine Tour: South Africa, Charlotte Davis, ITV (TV)
  • So You Think You Know Belize, Alex Outhwaite, Sky (TV)
  • TechXplore Paris, Paul Carter, BBC (TV)
  • The Tourist Trap, Rajan Datar, BBC (TV)
  • What I Learned From Cycling Across 11 States In America, Simon Parker, Times Travel (YouTube)

MEDIA – LUXURY TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Rocky Mountaineer

  • April Hutchinson
  • Charlotte McManus
  • Laura French
  • Lisa Grainger
  • Niki Blasina
  • Uwern Jong

MEDIA - EXCLUSIVE OF THE YEAR

  • 'Why election fever could lead to cut-price summer holidays', Hazel Plush, The Telegraph
  • 'Maldives resort offers novel solution for colour-blind guests', James Draven, Condé Nast Traveller
  • 'How the three-year cruise fell apart', Julia Buckley, CNN Travel
  • 'British skier falls down crevasse as helicopter slides off mountain', Louise Cameron-Hall, The Telegraph
  • 'Inside the Antarctic cruise hunger strike: 'Guests are wearing placards demanding a refund'', Mark Stratton, The Telegraph
  • 'Why cheap medical tourism has become an increasing problem for airlines' Saskia O'Donoghue, The i Paper

MEDIA - FEATURE OF THE YEAR 

Sponsored by Visit San Antonio

  • 'We're not in Kansas anymore', Emma Thomson, Wanderlust
  • 'Malaysia's Belmond Express is back—here's what it's like aboard Asia's lux tiger train' Georgia Stephens, National Geographic Traveller (UK)
  • 'Why clubbers are raving about Germany's cross-country Techno Train' Jamie Fullerton, The Guardian
  • 'Mexico's secret A-list favourite where you can swim with whale sharks', Jonathan Thompson, The Times
  • 'On Jeju Island, a new generation of South Korean 'mermaids' emerges', Mark Parren Taylor, National Geographic Traveller (UK)
  • 'I was looking to connect with my late uncle's spirit in North Africa — instead I fell in love', Sarah Gillespie, The Times

MEDIA - TRADE PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR

  • hertelier
  • Onboard Hospitality
  • Selling Travel
  • Sustainable Hotel News
  • The Business Travel Magazine
  • TTG Media

MEDIA - TRAVEL MEDIA WEBSITE OF THE YEAR 

  • Adventure.com
  • Bradt Guides
  • CNN Travel
  • National Geographic Traveller (UK)
  • The i
  • The Sun
  • TTG Media

MEDIA - CONSUMER MAGAZINE TRAVEL SECTION OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Princess Cruises

  • Breathe Magazine
  • Prima
  • Radio Times
  • Time Out
  • Woman & Home
  • Women's Health

MEDIA - TRAVEL MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Gran Canaria Tourism

  • JRNY Travel Magazine
  • Much Better Adventures Magazine
  • National Geographic Traveller (UK)
  • New Scientist Discover
  • OutThere
  • WIZZ Magazine

MEDIA - NATIONAL TABLOID NEWSPAPER TRAVEL SECTION OF THE YEAR

  • Daily Mail
  • Express
  • Metro Newspaper
  • Mirror
  • The Mail on Sunday
  • The Sun

MEDIA - NATIONAL BROADSHEET NEWSPAPER TRAVEL SECTION OF THE YEAR

Sponsored by Tourism Australia

  • Telegraph Travel
  • The i
  • The Independent
  • The Sunday Times
  • The Times 

THE SPECIAL AWARDS 

DIVERSITY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR
Finalists will be revealed ahead of Awards night.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD
Winner revealed on the night 

TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR
Winner revealed on the night

THE TRAVMEDIA AWARDS JUDGES 2025

  • Adrian Phillips, Managing Director, Bradt Guides
  • Amy Dowling, Head of Markets Communications, TUI UK&I
  • Amy Skelding, Managing Partner, FINN Partners' UK & Germany Travel Practices
  • Andrew McConnell, Deputy Director for Communications & Engagement, UK Civil Aviation Authority
  • April Hutchinson, Editor & Publisher, TTG Luxury and TTG Media
  • Barry Neild, Global Editor, CNN Travel
  • Charlotte Humphrey, PR & Events Manager for Princess Cruises UK and Europe
  • Daniel Pearce, CEO and owner, TTG Media
  • Eliot Stein, Senior Journalist and Editor, BBC Travel
  • Eulanda Shead Osagiede, TV Presenter, Content Creator, Co-Founder of “Hey! Dip Your Toes In”
  • Fiona Anderson, Director, GEC PR
  • Florian Valmy-Devillers, Business Development Director, Caribbean Tourism Organisation Chapter UK & Europe.
  • Fran Lambert Head of Media & Communications (UK & Ireland), Switzerland Tourism
  • Graeme Buck, Director of Communications, ABTA – The Travel Association
  • Jamie-Lee Abtar, Head of Marketing, Not in the Guidebooks
  • Jane Knight, Freelance Travel Journalist and Editor
  • Jenni Holman, PR & Brand Communications Director
  • Jim Odoire, Managing Director, Black Diamond
  • Jules Ugo, CEO, LOTUS
  • Julie Giraud, Director, MSL UK
  • Laura Millar, Travel Writer and Editor
  • Lisa Minot, Head of Travel, The Sun
  • Louise Ferrall, Senior Marketing Communications Manager, VisitEngland
  • Lucy McKean, Head of PR, one green bean.
  • Lysbeth Fox, CEO of Fox Communications
  • Marine Teste, Head of Public Relations, Atout France
  • Mark Palmer, Travel Editor, Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday
  • Nat Frogley, Co-Founder, Frog & Wolf PR.
  • Paul Charles, CEO and Founder, The PC Agency
  • Phoebe Irving, Head of Marcomms and Special Projects, GEN PLUS Group
  • Richard Hammond, Founder and Publishing Director, Green Traveller Media
  • Stuart Fyfe, PR Manager UK & Northern Europe, Tourism Australia
  • Susan d'Arcy, Luxury Travel and Wellness Editor, The Times and The Sunday Times
  • Tolene van der Merwe, Director UK & Ireland, Malta Tourism Authority
  • Tracey Poggio-Magnus, UK Head Media and Marketing, Gibraltar Tourist Board and Chair, ANTOR
  • Uwern Jong, Experientialist-in-Chief and co-Founder, OutThere magazine