NEW YORK, March 6, 2007 – Today, VisitBritain, the national tourist office for England, Scotland and Wales, has announced the winners for the 11th Annual Travel Journalism Awards In Memory Of Bedford Pace during a press lunch at PER SE in New York City. This year, Michael Shapiro has been awarded the coveted grand prize – an all expense paid seven days/six nights trip for two with roundtrip airfare courtesy of British Airways and hotel accommodations in The Highlands courtesy of VisitScotland.
For the second year in a row, VisitBritain has received a record number of entries – 117 print and broadcast stories from Canadian and U.S. reporters. Once again, the annual travel journalism awards program recognizes one grand prize winner and four category winners -- best broadcast, best magazine, best newspaper, and best online – for their stories showcasing the unique attributes of England, Scotland and Wales.
This year, Michael Shapiro has been selected as the overall grand prize winner for his National Geographic Traveler “Somewhere Beyond Time” article which extols the distinctive features of Wales. The judges agree this story will inspire travelers to uncover the mystical appeal of Wales from its culture to its language to its landscape.
The judges have also chosen the following four category winners and they will each receive a prize of four days/three nights accommodation at a top hotel in The Highlands courtesy of VisitScotland.
- Best broadcast piece has been presented to Lis Travers, executive producer, Canada AM, for the two hour live broadcast from Toronto and London focusing on “Decoding the Da Vinci Code.” The live remote has included segments featuring all things Da Vinci (Temple Church and Lincolnshire), as well as reports about afternoon tea, British beer, Yeoman Wardens (also known as Beefeaters), The Queen celebrity look a like, and other interesting tourism facts.
- Best magazine article has been awarded to Michael Shapiro for his piece in National Geographic Traveler “Somewhere Beyond Time.” This story has focused on Wales as one of the lesser known regions in Britain.
- Best newspaper story has been given to Mary Ellen Botter Jackson for the Dallas Morning News “City of Villages” article. The editorial has encouraged readers to discover interesting tidbits about London as a city of villages.
- Best online editorial has been presented to Joan Scobey for Worldwide Spa Review Magazine “Jane Austen’s Bath Returns In A New Incarnation” story. The piece has focused on the newly opened Thermae Bath Spa and the city’s rich tradition for allowing pilgrims to immerse themselves in the healing natural spring waters of the Roman Baths.
The annual travel journalism awards honor the memory of Bedford Pace, VisitBritain’s former director of public relations for 17 years in the Americas. A native from Beaumont Texas, Pace has been considered an honorary “Brit” who truly has embraced Britain’s culture and has had a passion for the finer British products. The awards recognize reporters for their stories positioning England, Scotland and Wales as a contemporary, ‘must see’ destination.
The annual travel journalism awards are open to North American (Canadian and U.S.) journalists whose articles and broadcast pieces feature Britain as a modern destination. For information about entering the annual awards or learning about this year’s winners, please call (800) 462-2748, e-mail travelinfo@visitbritain.org or visit the website www.visitbritain.com/us.
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Note to editors:
- British Airways is one of the world's largest international passenger airlines with a fleet of 243 aircraft carrying more than 36 million passengers a year to some 180 destinations (including 23 in North America) in 94 countries. The airline has long been regarded as an industry leader, which takes great pride in delivering the highest levels of innovative customer service. It is currently investing almost $200 million in a new Club World (business class) product which will redefine travel for the 21st Century.
British Airways also takes its environmental responsibilities extremely seriously as its recent RFP for new long haul aircraft will consider new aircraft and engines that are more fuel efficient and environmentally friendly. British Airways' new Terminal 5 at London Heathrow will open in March 2008 and will be able to handle 30 million passengers a year; it will be the first time in the airline's post war history that all British Airways' Heathrow departures and arrivals will eventually be housed in one terminal.
- VisitBritain markets Britain to the rest of the world and England to the British, building the value of tourism by creating world class destination brands and marketing campaigns. It also builds partnerships with – and provides insights to – other organizations which have a stake in British and English tourism.