AITO TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR 2007

AITO stands for excellence in travel – and that’s what AITO seeks for its Travel Writer of the Year awards.  Says AITO Chairman, Derek Moore:  “The judges mark the articles submitted against three key criteria – we look for articles that are interesting, informative and inspirational.”

AITO today announces the results of its 11th Travel Writer of the Year awards.

Highly-commended runners-up are:

In fourth place, Lizzie Matthews, writing for Wanderlust magazine, is awestruck by Bhutan’s unique take on tourism

In third place, Anthony Sattin, writing for The Sunday Times with ‘In Morocco’s mountains’, mule treks into the back of beyond with his children

In second place, Anthony Peregrine’s ‘The Connoisseur’s guide to Benidorm’, written for The Daily Telegraph, talks of tattoos and tapas, and learning to love ourselves

The winner of the AITO Travel Writer of the Year 2007 is Peter Hughes, writing for The Daily Telegraph. Hughes’ piece, ‘Steps to a new life’, reveals how walkers in the Himalayan foothills could be saving ancient villages. Hughes also won the award in 2003.

“Each year we are increasingly impressed and excited by the high standard of travel writing this country produces”, comments Derek Moore. “Not only can the reader feel informed, but often mentally and even emotionally transported. Peter Hughes’ piece on the Himalayas exudes sympathy without falling into sycophancy and importantly, draws our attention to the potential drawbacks of tourism.”

Moore adds: “Lizzie Matthews’ and Anthony Sattin’s pieces are both fascinating and information-full.  Anthony Peregrine’s piece deserves a particular mention as he bravely faced a topic that could have been judgement-laden and cliché-loaded; yet, brilliantly, he avoided both.”

Ends                                                                                                 15 January 2008

Note to Editors:  AITO welcomes one entry per person for its Travel Writer of the Year Awards, and encourages travel editors to enter pieces that have been published on their pages during the course of the calendar year.  For the 2008 award, entries (preferably hard copy format) should be sent to Travel PR, 133A St Margaret’s Road, Twickenham, TW1 1RG, by Friday, 12th December, 2008.

Press:  For further information, visit www.aito.co.uk, contact Ian Bradley or Sue Ockwell at Travel PR on 020 8891 4440 or email i.bradley@travelpr.co.uk.