Australian Society of Travel Writers announces Winners of 2018 Awards for Excellence
Australia’s top travel writers and public relations professionals were honoured at the annual ASTW Awards for Excellence gala held at Anantara Riverside, Bangkok Thailand, on 19 August, 2018.
These prestigious awards are now in their 25th year and are a highlight of the annual ASTW Convention, with more than 120 guests travelling from across Australia to attend.
The top writer accolade, Travel Writer of the Year, sponsored by Visit USA Australia, was awarded to Catherine Marshall for a second consecutive year. She was judged on three stories published in Qantas magazine, The Australian and Sydney Morning Herald’s Traveller section.
Ms Marshall was also awarded Best Food Story sponsored by United Airlines and the Best International Story under 1000 words, sponsored by the Insurance Council of Australia.
“This is indeed a tremendous honour and an event to be celebrated with gusto. This accolade hinges on so many people: my editors; the operators who so kindly hosted me; the panel of judges; and the ASTW committee. A great big thank-you to Visit USA for sponsoring this award,” said Catherine Marshall.
ASTW Photographer of the Year, sponsored by Abercrombie & Kent, went to Dan Avila, “It’s an extreme honour to receive this award for a third consecutive year. The ASTW is a fantastic organisation of hard-working professionals who care deeply about the travel industry. It’s through these relationships that wonderful opportunities to take photos and write stories come about.”
In a clean sweep, Dan also won the inaugural Best Instagram Photo sponsored by the ASTW 2018 Convention destination host Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Best Travel Photo sponsored by Thai Airways International.
The top PR accolade, Communicator of the Year, sponsored by TravMedia, was awarded to Pip Macken from DC&A Worldwide – Destination Canada.
Ms Macken said she was thrilled to be recognised among such amazing talent and thanked the ASTW and its members for their loyal support and encouragement.
“Working for Destination Canada is truly the dream job and I’m so grateful to have the chance to work alongside Aussie writers and photographers who are such fantastic Canada advocates.”
Other categories included Best Family Travel Story, Best Australian Story Over and Under 1000 words and Best Food Travel Story. All categories, winners and finalists are detailed below.
“ASTW members represent the leading writers, editors, publishers, content creators and public relations professionals of the Australian travel industry. More than 490 entries – a record breaking number – were received across the 20 Award categories with an exceptional calibre of entrants. Being named a finalist is an absolute honour and I congratulate you all,” said ASTW President Danielle Lancaster.
“I would also like to thank each of the sponsors, in particular the Tourism Authority of Thailand, who were the major sponsor of this year’s convention. Finally, thank you to our esteemed judges from Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, Norway, India, Sweden and the USA. Each award has three independent judges, each of whom gives their time to judge the awards. All commented on the high quality of work.”
For media information contact ASTW PR representatives:
Saskia Baker on 0407 752 813 or saskia@smbcommunications.com.au
Angela Thompson on 0481 368 018 or athompsonPR@gmail.com
For more information on the ASTW or to become a member see How to apply
FULL LIST of WINNERS:
TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR
SPONSORED BY VISIT USA AUSTRALIA
WINNER – CATHERINE MARSHALL
Catherine Marshall
A budding romance – Traveller/Fairfax Media
Down to earth – The Weekend Australian
A town called Marfa – Qantas magazine
OTHER FINALISTS:
Kerry van der Jagt
Day of the Dead – Vacations & Travel magazine
Memories are made of this – Traveller/Fairfax Media
Jordan history tour – Traveller/Fairfax Media
John Borthwick
Into the wilds – The Weekend Australian *no link
A sandy road to Qld beachside adventure – The West Australian
Turn and face the strain – Adventure.com
ASTW PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by ABERCROMBIE & KENT
WINNER – DAN AVILA
Cable Beach Camels – Holidays with Kids
Abu Dhabi Sunset – Signature Luxury Travel & Style Magazine
The Road to Hana – Signature Luxury Travel & Style Magazine
Pre-dawn Patagonia – Vacations & Travel Magazine
Ningaloo Nature – Vacations & Travel Magazine
OTHER FINALISTS:
Jocelyn Pride
Walking on thin ice – Vacations & Travel
Midnight sun – Vacations & Travel
Crystal clear – Vacations & Travel
Concordia – Vacations & Travel
Bad breath – Vacations & Travel
Kara Murphy
Speckled humpback – Dockwalk
Manta parade – Southern Boating
Turtle trio – Southern Boating
Molokini crater convergence – Escape/News Ltd
Finding Nemo in the Similans – International Traveller
COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by TRAVMEDIA
WINNER – PIP MACKEN – DC&A WORLDWIDE – DESTINATION CANADA
OTHER FINALISTS:
Peter Hook – Hook Communications
Donna Parkin – Parkin PR
Shelley Winkel – Tourism Queensland
THE JACK BUTTERS AWARD
Honorary award given to someone who has made an important contribution to the ASTW
WINNER – PETER HOOK
BEST STORY ABOUT AGM HOST DESTINATION 2017: SUNSHINE COAST, QUEENSLAND
Sponsored by VISIT SUNSHINE COAST
WINNERS:
JULIE MILLER
Sand Dunes And Sunsets – Julie Miller – Nat Geo Australia
JOHN BORTHWICK
A Sandy Road To Qld Beachside Adventures – The West AUSTRALIAN
OTHER FINALISTS:
Christine Retschlag – Sunshine Coasting – The Global Goddess
Celeste Mitchell – Everybody loves the Sunshine – Australian Traveller
BEST FAMILY TRAVEL STORY
Sponsored by FAMILY TRAVEL
WINNER – SHERIDEN RHODES
A million-star experience on a floating hotel – Traveller/Fairfax Media
OTHER FINALISTS:
Jac Taylor – No work and all play – International Traveller
Mark Daffey – Wet ‘n Wild – Traveller/Fairfax Media
BEST AUSTRALIAN STORY UNDER 1000 WORDS
Sponsored by TOURISM AUSTRALIA
WINNERS:
BELINDA JACKSON
Luxury to bank on – Traveller/Fairfax Media
ANDREW BAIN
Australia’s most unusual natural wonder – Traveller/Fairfax Media
OTHER FINALISTS:
Roderick Eime – Adventures in the Kimberley – Courier Mail
Jennifer Ennion – Snorkel with seals off Tasmania’s southeast shores – Weekend Australian
Catherine Best – Branching out – The Australian
BEST AUSTRALIAN STORY OVER 1000 WORDS
Sponsored by TOURISM AUSTRALIA
WINNER – BRAD CROUCH
Only in S.A. – Escape/News Ltd
OTHER FINALISTS:
Tracey Croke – Mountain biking in Far North Qld – Rad Season
Christine Retschlag – You’ll discover a bounty of beauty – Australian Senior
Celeste Mitchell – Everybody loves the Sunshine – Australian Traveller
BEST FOOD TRAVEL STORY
Sponsored by UNITED AIRLINES
WINNER: CATHERINE MARSHALL
Wildlife on the move – The Weekend Australian
OTHER FINALISTS:
Craig Tansley – Taste of Kakadu– Traveller/Fairfax Media
Penny Watson – Taste of Victoria – DestinAsian Magazine
BEST INSTAGRAM PHOTO
Sponsored by Tourism Authority Thailand
WINNER: DAN AVILA
My bison moment
OTHER FINALISTS:
Aleney de Winter – Cape Hillsborough
Tracey Croke – Sled Ride
Lauren Bath – Choki check up
Kara Murphy – Turtle at Lady Elliot
BEST RESPONSIBLE TOURISM STORY
Sponsored by INTREPID TRAVEL
WINNER: LOUISE SOUTHERDEN
Feynan Ecolodge, Jordan: A sustainable hotel in the Dana Biosphere Reserve –Traveller/Fairfax Media
OTHER FINALISTS:
Angela Saurine – Creatures Great and Small – MindFood
Kara Murphy – How to choose an ethical elephant encounter in Thailand – International Traveller
Krysia Bonkowski – Small but mighty – Jetstar magazine
BEST ADVENTURE STORY
Sponsored by G ADVENTURES
WINNER: RODERICK EIME
Riding the Revolution – Australian Road Rider
OTHER FINALISTS:
Jim Darby – From ski pole to South Pole – Traveller/Fairfax Media
Andrew Bain – Wild Finnish Winter – Outdoor
BEST TOURISM ORGANISATION OR TRAVEL PRODUCT
Sponsored by ASTW
WINNER: GLASGOW TOURISM – LAURA SPEIRS
OTHER FINALISTS:
Aiofe Finnegan – Tourism Ireland
Alison Roberts Brown/Leah Froelich – Visit Monaco
BEST CRUISE STORY
Sponsored By CRUISE LINES INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION (CLIA)
WINNER: CRAIG TANSLEY
Tears of Joy – The Financial Review
OTHER FINALISTS:
Jocelyn Pride – Antarctic dreaming – Cruise Passenger
Maggy Oehlbeck – Living the dream – The Australian
BEST INTERNATIONAL STORY OVER 1000 WORDS
Sponsored by ACCORHOTELS
WINNER: KERRY VAN DER JAGT
Day of the Dead – Vacations & Travel magazine
OTHER FINALISTS:
Rob McFarland – Seeing the gorillas in Africa’s safest nation – Traveller/Fairfax Media
Craig Tansley – Canada’s First and Last Great Ski Town – Traveller/Fairfax Media
BEST INTERNATIONAL STORY UNDER 1000 WORDS
Sponsored by INSURANCE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA
WINNER: CATHERINE MARSHALL
On the Fragrance trail in Oman – Financial Review
OTHER FINALISTS:
John Borthwick – A Taste of the Royal Life – The West Australian
Mark Daffey – Tracking Hunter – Traveller/Fairfax Media
PR CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR – DIGITAL OR TRADITIONAL
Sponsored by ASTW
WINNER: DC&a wORLDWIDE – DESTINATION CANADA – dONNA
CAMPBELL AND PIP MACKEN
OTHER FINALISTS:
Voyages – Field of Light Season 2 launch – Karena Noble
Mudgee Let’s Skip Town – Klick – Kim McKay
TFE Hotels & Frank PR – Doggie Degustation by – Caitlin Georghiou
BEST TOURISM AND TRAVEL NEWS STORY
Sponsored by PEREGRINE ADVENTURES IN HONOUR OF KRIS MADDEN
WINNER: ALENEY DE WINTER
The Capital of Cool – Vacations & Travel magazine
OTHER FINALISTS:
Roderick Eime – Voyages of Discovery – The Australian
Jocelyn Pride – Poles Apart – Vacations & Travel magazine
BEST TRAVEL BLOG
Sponsored by OUT AND ABOUT WITH KIDS
WINNER – THE GLOBAL GODDESS – Christine Retschlag
OTHER FINALISTS
Have Wheelchair Will Travel – Julie Jones
BoyEatsWorld – Aleney de Winter
BEST TRAVEL BLOG POST
Sponsored by FAMILY TRAVEL
WINNER: BOYEATSWORLD – The Call of Cambodia
OTHER FINALISTS:
Together We Roam – Phuket’s only ethical elephant tour
The Global Goddess – My Saharan Stupidity
BEST TRAVEL PHOTO
Sponsored by Thai Airways International
WINNER – DAN AVILA
Pre-dawn Patagonia – Vacations & Travel
OTHER FINALISTS
Rob Dunlop – Clouds cling to mountaintop – Vacations & Travel
Kara Murphy – Molokini Crater convergence – Escape/News Ltd
