2015 Travel Journalism Awards
The ASTW celebrated our member’s finest achievements at the annual Travel Journalism Awards for Excellence at Uluru Meeting Place, Northern Territory on 5th September 2015.
ASTW TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR
This award was proudly sponsored by:
WINNER:
Ben Groundwater: A day in the life of an Argentine cowboy – SMH Traveller; The Age
Where to find real cowboys – SMH Traveller; The Age
Why you should visit a Muslim country – Sun-Herald; traveller.com.au
FINALISTS:
Catherine Marshall: Cuba: why this Carribean Island is a must-see travel destination – Fairfax Traveller
Scaling great heights – Fairfax Traveller
Myanmar: how tourism has transformed this Southeast Asian hotspot – Fairfax Traveller
Daniel Scott:Beyond Utopia – Traveller in the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age
The Tiwi Islands, the other “isle of smiles” – Traveller in the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age
Why you should visit Borneo right now – Traveller in the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age
ASTW TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
This award was proudly sponsored by: Nikon
WINNER:
Jocelyn Pride: Castaway – International Traveller
Hideaway – Luxury Travel
Flyaway – Luxury Travel
FINALISTS:
Kara Murphy: Turtle Party, Southern Great Barrier Reef – Traveltherenext.com
Three Mermaids in Fiji – ShowBoats International
Joyful Lady Elliot Turtle – Traveltherenext.com
Lee Atkinson: Buchan, East Gippsland – The Big Lap
Pinnacles Desert – The Big Lap
Kakadu Sunset – The Big Lap
Mark Daffey: Reflection Time – news.com.au
High Dune – news.com.au
Slow Boat to Halong – news.com.au
ASTW BEST COMMUNICATOR/COMMUNICATIONS TEAM of the YEAR
This award was proudly sponsored by: TravMedia
WINNER:
Karena Noble – Voyages Indigenous Tourism
FINALISTS
Klick Communications
Macau Government Tourist Office
BEST TRAVEL STORY ABOUT THE 2014 AGM HOST DESTINATION FIJI
This award was proudly sponsored by: Marine Tourism Management & Blue Lagoon Cruises
WINNER:
Catherine Marshall: The underwater milky way – Fairfax Traveller
FINALISTS
Belinda Jackson: Resplendent, to be Pacific- Sydney Morning Herald/ The Age
Sheriden Rhodes: The happiest place on earth – Sun Herald Traveller
BEST TOURISM ORGANISATION OR TRAVEL PRODUCT
This award was proudly sponsored by: TravMedia
WINNER
GTI Tourism: GTI Tourism’s implementation of tactics to minimise the impact on Vanuatu’s tourism industry following Cyclone Pam by encouraging Australian visitors to return.
FINALIST
P4 Group: Promoting Seahaven Noosa resorts’ multimillion dollar renovation to increase tourism and encourage booking numbers.
BEST PR CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR – DIGITAL OR TRADITIONAL
This award was proudly sponsored by: TravMedia
WINNER:
Klick Communications: Increase awareness and visitation to the Mudgee Region by hosting the ultimate Mudgee Smuggler experience
FINALISTS:
Darcy PR: Australia’s largest cruise ship Royal Caribbean’s Voyager of the Seas return to Australia
GTI Tourism: Raising the profile of New Caledonia by ensuring the message was HOT (Happening, Ownable, Talkable)
BEST DIGITAL INNOVATION
This award was proudly sponsored by: ASTW
WINNER:
Lee Atkinson: OzyRoadTripper does the Big Lap
FINALISTS:
Christina Pfeiffer: TravelThereNext and Travel2Next
Daniel Scott: The Ultimate Travel Journalism Course
BEST TRAVEL BLOG OR TRAVEL APP OF THE YEAR
This award was proudly sponsored by: Tourism Australia
WINNER:
Rob Dunlop: Thirst For Sydney
FINALISTS:
Christina Pfeiffer: travel2next.com
Christine Salins: foodwinetravel.com.au
BEST RESPONSIBLE TOURISM STORY
This award was proudly sponsored by: Tourism Thailand
WINNER:
Jocelyn Pride: The Mane Event – National Geographic Traveller Australia and New Zealand online
FINALISTS:
Julie Miller: In the heart of Giants – SMH Traveller
Kerry Van der Jagt: Closer Encounters – The Sydney Morning Herald/The Age
BEST FOOD TRAVEL STORY
This award was proudly sponsored by The Juddery Family & Visit Canberra
WINNER:
Ben Groundwater: Where to find the best pizza in Naples – SMH Traveller; The Age; traveller.com.au
FINALISTS:
Belinda Jackson: Spice and all things nice – Sun-Herald
Tim Richards: Aussie Cafes Take Manhattan – The Sunday Age
BEST TRAVEL AND TOURISM NEWS STORY
This award was proudly sponsored by: Wellcamp Airport
WINNER:
John Borthwick: Thailand’s cutting edge industry – The West Australian
FINALISTS:
Kristine Madden: Profits with Principles – travelBulletin
Serena Renner: Ace’s Next Hand – The Collective magazine
BEST CRUISE TRAVEL STORY
This award was proudly sponsored by: South Pacific Tourism
WINNER:
Kerry van der Jagt: Amazon River cruise in Peru: Close Encounters – The Sydney Morning Herald/The Age
FINALISTS:
John Borthwick: Rollin’ on the River Chindwin – Pattaya Property Trader
Kerry van der Jagt: When a river ran red – The Sun Herald
BEST ADVENTURE TRAVEL STORY
This award was proudly sponsored by: Ayes Rock Resort
WINNER:
Andrew Bain: Small stature, great heights – Fairfax Traveller
FINALISTS:
Carla Grossetti: Riding the world’s longest rollercoaster zipline – SMH Traveller
Daniel Scott: Four-wheel driving adventure on the Gibb River Road, Western Australia – Traveller in the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age
BEST INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL STORY OVER 1000 WORDS
This award was proudly sponsored by: Accor
WINNER:
Catherine Marshall: Myanmar: how tourism has transformed this south-east Asian hotspot – Fairfax Traveller
FINALISTS:
Craig Tansley: Atacama, The Real Never Never Land – Traveller – Sydney Morning Herald and The Age
Louise Southerden: Falling in love again (Berlin, Germany: Falling in love at second sight with this captivating capital) – Traveller, The Sydney Morning Herald
BEST INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL STORY UNDER 1000 WORDS
This award was proudly sponsored by: Macau Tourism
WINNER:
Kerry Van der Jagt: A feeling for ice – Get up and Go
FINALISTS:
Ben Groundwater: Where to learn the tango in Buenos Aires – SMH Traveller; The Age
Catherine Marshall: Sky’s the limit in the white powder of Breckenridge – The Weekend Australian
Robert McFarland: Sunset kayak to island volcano – Traveller – Sydney Morning Herald and The Age
BEST AUSTRALIAN TRAVEL STORY
This award was proudly sponsored by: Tourism Australia
WINNER:
Andrew Bain: Savannah Strolling – Australian Geographic
FINALISTS:
Catherine Marshall: Adrift in time: Ferry cruise gives insight into Tiwi life – The Weekend Australian
Christine Retschlag: Call of the Country – The Courier-Mail Travel
