The Finalists - ASTW Awards of Excellence 2017

The 2017 ASTW Awards of Excellence received record-breaking entries this year in a total of 19 categories.

Here is the full list of finalists for the awards, which will be presented at a gala event to be held at Novotel Twin Waters Resort on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday 19 August, 2017 as part of the ASTW Conference and AGM. The ASTW would like to thank the judges, who are non-members from the national and international travel writing industry, and all of the sponsors involved in the awards this year, and who support the ASTW on an ongoing basis.

ASTW Travel Writer of the Year – sponsored by Visit USA Australia

Penny Watson

Meals on Wheels - Traveller/Fairfax Media
A Taste for Incognito - Vacations & Travel
Rolling with the Locals - Traveller/Fairfax Media

Catherine Marshall

Great Southern Land - Qantas Spirit Magazine
After the Big Chill - The Australian
Africa's great Bat Invasion - Traveller/Fairfax Media

Mark Daffey

The Avocado Canoe Club - Wild Magazine
Polar Opposites - The Johnnie Walker Edit
Here be dragons - Great Walks

Kerry Van Der Jagt

On the dreaming track - QantasLink Magazine
South Pacific spring - Nat Geo Traveller
Life in the deep freeze - Traveller/Fairfax Media


ASTW Photographer of the Year – Sponsored by Abercrombie and Kent

Danielle Lancaster
Badlands Sunrise – Vacations & Travel Magazine
Sand dunes – Vacations & Travel Magazine
Lester – Vacations & Travel Magazine
Solomon Islands – Travel2Next
Whale tail – Where Gold Coast

Dan Avila
Vanishing Warmth – Vacations & Travel magazine
Spa Pool – Caravan and Camping with Kids magazine
Snowy Istanbul – Just Luxe
Ranger Sarah - Kimberley & Pilbara Holiday Planner 2017
Washed stones – Vacations & Travel Magazine

Mark Daffey
Winter wonderland – The Johnnie Walker House Edit
The Usual Suspects – Get Lost Magazine
Perahera Partying – Lonely Planet Asia
Mirror Image – Get Lost Magazine
Bo-Kaapster – Lonely Planet Asia

Communicator or Communications Team of the Year – Sponsored by TravMedia

Janaya Birse - Hawaii Tourism/The Walshe Group, Sabi Sabi Private Reserve
AccorHotels
DC&A Worldwide – Destination Canada (Pip Macken/Donna Campbell)

Best Travel Photograph – Sponsored by Tourism Authority of Thailand

Kara Murphy - Richelieu Rock star - Boat International
Mark Daffey - Usual Suspects – Get Lost Magazine
Dan Bannister - Ancient Stepwell in Jodhpur - Holidays for Couples
Dan Avila – Miles Away – Club Marine Magazine
Mark Daffey – Mirror Image – Lonely Planet Asia

Best Story about the AGM Host Destination – sponsor tba

Angela Saurine - Safari Surprises - Mamamia
Aleney de Winter - Bites and sites on the streets of Stellenbosch - Boy Eats World
Shirley Sinclair - Drink in the rugged beauty - Sunshine Coast Sunday

Best Family Travel Story – Sponsored by Bound Round

Penny Watson Rolling with the Locals – Traveller – Fairfax Media
Tiana Templeman Land Ahoy – Flight Centre Travel Ideas
Aleney de Winter - Angkor Away – Holidays with Kids magazine
Julie Miller - Jumbo Tales – Flight Centre Travel Ideas
Sheriden Rhodes - Family Face Time – Traveller – Fairfax Media

Best Travel Blog – Sponsor tba

Have Wheelchair Will Travel - Julie Jones
The Global Goddess - Christine Retschlag
Boy Eats World - Aleney de Winter

Best Tourism Organisation or Travel Product – Sponsored by Nugggit

Kyoto Tourism - Alison Roberts-Brown
The Rees Hotel - Caroline Davidson
Glasgow Tourism - Laura Speirs

Best Travel Broadcaster – Sponsor tba

Ben Groundwater
Pamela Wright
Greg Grainger

Best Australian Story under 1000 words – Sponsored by Tourism Australia

Ben Groundwater - A taste of the original Australia – Traveller/Fairfax Media
Marian McGuinness - A little Night Music in Sydney – The Australian
Mark Daffey - Luck Be a Lady – Escape/News Ltd

Best Australian Story over 1000 words – Sponsored by Tourism Australia

Craig Tansley - It's a long way to the top – Traveller/Fairfax Media
Kerry Van Der Jagt - On the Dreaming Track - Qantaslink Magazine
Andrew Bain - Camel trekking in the Flinders Ranges – Traveller/Fairfax Media

PR Campaign of the Year - Sponsor tba

Relaunch of the Ultimo Hotel - Kim McKay - Klick Communications
Royal Caribbean - Arrival of Ovation of the Seas to Australia - Gail D'Arcy
Experience Aloha – Hawaii Tourism Oceania/Walshe Group - Janaya Birse

Best Food Story – Sponsored by Outrigger Resorts

Julie Miller - Eating in New Orleans- Traveller/Fairfax Media
Catherine Marshall - Great Southern Land – Qantas
Jennifer Ennion - Arctic Jewels - Nourish

Best Responsible Tourism story – Intrepid Travel

Mark Daffey - Thunder on the Mountain - Wild Magazine
Louise Southerden - Lighting Up Kolkata's Slums - Momentum.Travel
Ben Groundwater - Poverty as a tourism attraction: Can travel to a developing country really make a difference? – Traveller/Fairfax Media

Best Adventure Story – Sponsored by G Adventures

Jayne D'Arcy - A Sacred Journey – Jetstar Magazine
Tracey Croke - The Revival of Mavrovo – Adventure.Travel
Andrew Bain - Test your limits – Qantaslink magazine
Catherine Marshall - Africa's great bat invasion – Traveller/Fairfax Media
Andrew Bain - Grampians Peaks Trail - Traveller/Fairfax Media

Best Cruise Story – Sponsored by Cruise Lines International Association

Christine Retschlag - Beyond Bali - Holidays for Couples
Helen Hayes - She Sells the Seychelles - Vacations & Travel
John Borthwick - Passage to Paradise - Weekend Australian
Jocelyn Pride - A Voyage for the Soul - Cruise Passenger
John Borthwick - Lao and Now - The Australian

Best International Story Over 1000 words – Sponsored by AccorHotels

Louise Southerden - Morocco Unplugged – Traveller/Fairfax Media
Catherine Marshall - On Board the Eastern & Oriental Express – Traveller/Fairfax Media
John Borthwick - Maldives Surfing - Trailblazers' Incredible Legacy – Traveller/Fairfax Media

Best International Story Under 1000 words – Sponsored by

Belinda Jackson - Of Pharaohs and Heroes - Luxury Travel Magazine
Ben Groundwater - Mongolia's Milk of Human Kindness - Traveller/Fairfax Media
Kerry Van Der Jagt - Ice and Isolation - Luxury Travel Magazine

Best Travel and Tourism News Story - Sponsored by Zoik

Mark Daffey - Let the Games Begin - Vacations & Travel
Angela Saurine - Hot travel destinations - Weekend Australian
Christine Retschlag - All Things Spice - Travel Bulletin

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