NORTH AMERICAN TRAVEL JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION
ANNOUNCES 2009 AWARD WINNERS
PASADENA, CA--The North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) is announcing the winners of its 2009 awards competition. NATJA’s mission is to support the professional development of its members, provide exceptional benefits and valuable resources, support high quality professional journalism, promote travel and leisure activities to the public and honor the excellence of journalism throughout the world. Its awards competition, now in its 18th year, honors the “best of the best” of both travel writing, photography and travel promotion submitted by travel journalists, travel magazines, public relations agencies and destination marketing organizations (DMOs/CVBs) from the United States, Canada and Mexico. “This was a banner year for excellence,” stated Helen Hernandez, CEO of the organization. “Given the creativity, writing and vision of the submissions, the judges had a difficult time selecting the winners from the more than 500 entries.”
One 1st Place winner is chosen in each of 51 categories, along with runners up that receive Awards of Merit recognition. Then, five overall grand prize winners are selected in recognition of “outstanding excellence.”
Although winners are being announced now, the winners will be presented with their awards at the opening night dinner of the North American Travel Journalists Association’s annual conference on May 11th, 2010, at the Atlantis Hotel in Reno, Nevada.
Congratulations to our 2009 Grand Prize, 1st Place and Award of Merit Winners!
Grand Prize Winners
Photography - Alex Farnum, The Full Maui, Fairmont Magazine, Spafax
Travel Journalism (tie) – David Lansing, National Geographic Traveler & Tom Uhlenbrock, St. Louis Post - Dispatch
Publication – Virtuoso Life
Convention & Visitors Bureaus/Destination Marketing Organizations – Positively Cleveland
First Place Winners
Destination Travel, Domestic Newspaper, More than 250,000 - Tom Uhlenbrock, St Louis Dispatch
Destination Travel, Domestic Newspaper, Less than 250,000 - Christine Tibbetts, Tifton GA Gazette
Destination Travel, Domestic Magazine – Mel White, National Geographic Traveler
Destination Travel, International Newspaper, More than 250,000 - Tracy Barnett, Houston Chronicle
Destination Travel, International Newspaper, Less than 250,000 - Lindor Reynolds, Winnipeg Free Press
Destination Travel, International Magazine - Cathy Newman, National Geographic Magazine
Byline Travel Column, More than 250,000 - Daisann McLane, National Geographic Traveler
Byline Travel Column, Less than 250,000 - Michelle Theall, Women's Adventure Magazine
Travel Series, More than 250,000 - Geraldine Moor, Hemispheres
Travel Series, Less than 250,000 - Janet Podolak, The News Herald
Local Lifestyle – Luke Barr, Travel + Leisure Magazine
Leisure Activity – Taras Grescoe, National Geographic Traveler
Sports and Recreation - Dale Sanders, Florida Sportsman
Resorts - PF Kluge, National Geographic Traveler
Cruises - Kimberly Brown-Seely, Virtuoso Life
Personality and Profiles - Ray Isle, Food & Wine Magazine
Historical or Hobby Travel - Geraldine Moor, MyMidWest
Senior Travel and Travelers - Linda Fasteson, Living Well, The Sun Chronicle (Senior Issue)
Intergenerational and Family Travel - Don Belt, National Geographic Traveler
Culinary Travel - Peter Jon Lindberg, Travel + Leisure Magazine
Cultural, Educational, Self-Improvement Travel - Scott Spencer, Travel + Leisure Magazine
Volunteer or Special Purpose Travel - Michelle Theall, Women's Adventure Magazine
Eco Travel or Environmental Tourism - Tom Uhlenbrock, St. Louis Dispatch
Budget Travel - Lisa Gregoire, Canadian Geographic Traveler
Travel Article for Internet - Tim Leffel, Perceptive Travel
Travel Broadcast (Audio-Podcast) - Tonya Fitzpatrick, www.Traveln-on.com - The Travel'N On Radio Show
Travel Broadcast (Video) - Darley Newman, PBS
Travel Journalism Website - National Geographic Traveler
Travel Blog - Janelle Nanos, National Geographic Traveler
Photography, Overall Excellence - Lisa Linder, Food and Wine Magazine
Cover Photo, Illustration - Andre Doyon, enRoute, Spafax
Landscape, Seascape - Robin & Arlene Karpan, Canadian Geographic Traveler
Portrait, People - Molly Feltner, National Geographic Traveler Intelligent Travel Blog
Facility, Architectural - Andrey Mikityuk, AAA Living
Travel Guide - Patricia Preston, Xlibris Corporation
Travel Trade Article (tie) - Chris McBeath, InnFocus Magazine
Travel Trade Article (tie) – Kenneth Shapiro, TravelAge West
Consumer Tips & Advice - Kate Pocock, CAA Magazine
Visitors’ Guide, More than $400,000 - Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau
Visitors’ Guide, Less than $400,000 - Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau
Destination Video, Greater than $400,000 - Positively Cleveland
Destination Video, Less than $400,000 - Winnipeg Convention Centre, Ron Pradinuk
Destination Website, Greater than $400,000 - Chicago Office of Tourism
Destination Website, Less than $400,000 - Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Social Media or Marketing Campaign, More than $400,000 (tie)- Positively Cleveland
Social Media or Marketing Campaign, More than $400,000 (tie)-Tahiti Tourisme, The Phelps Group
Social Media or Marketing Campaign, Less than $400,000 Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau
Newspaper Travel Section, Less than 250,000 - The Record
Travel Magazine - National Geographic Traveler
In-Flight Magazine - Go Magazine
Award of Merit Winners
Destination Travel, Domestic Newspaper, More than 250,000
Nancy Wigston, Toronto Star
Tom Uhlenbrock, St Louis Dispatch
Christine Tibbetts, Tifton Gazette
Destination Travel, Domestic Newspaper, Less than 250,000
Kay Grant, Creators News Service
Destination Travel, Domestic Magazine
Kay Grant, Cowboys & Indians
Michael DeFreitas, Ensemble Vacations
Destination Travel, International Newspaper, More than 250,000
Susan Hallett, The Epoch Times
Nancy Wigston, Canadian Jewish News
Destination Travel, International Newspaper, Less than 250,000
Ron Pradinuk, Winnipeg Free Press
Jill Wilson, Winnipeg Free Press
Destination Travel, International Magazine
Elaine Srnka, Virtuoso Life
Justin Paul, Virtuoso Life
David Noyes, Lifestyle & Travel
Byline Travel Column, More than 250,000
Keith Bellows, National Geographic Traveler
Peter Jon Lindberg, Travel + Leisure Magazine
Carol Perehudoff, Toronto Star
Heather Greenwood Davis, Toronto Star
Byline Travel Column, Less than 250,000
John Lee, BC Business Magazine
Travel Series, More than 250,000
Ilana Weitzman, Alec Scott, Charlene Rooke, enRoute, Spafax
Travel Series, Less than 250,000
Robert Sibley, Ottawa Citizen
Linda Fasteson, Living Well, The Sun Chronicle
Douglas Hunter, Patricia Pearson, Dawn Calleja, Canadian Geographic Travel
Jill Schensul, The Record
Local Lifestyle
Fyllis Hockman, Creators News Service
Paul Rubio, Outtraveler: South Florida, Feb 2009
Leisure Activity
Randy Gener, American Theater Magazine
Food and Wine Magazine
Sports and Recreation
Geoff Kirbyson, Winnipeg Free Press
Michael DeFreitas, Diver Magazine
Dina Mishev, Big Sky Journal
Resorts
Amy Rosen, National Post, Canada
Cruises
Tom Uhlenbrock, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Elaine Glusac, Virtuoso Life
Personality and Profiles
Randy Gener, American Theater Magazine
Peter Rose, American Society of Journalists and Author Monthly
Nancy Wigston, National Post
Historical or Hobby Travel
Kay Grant, Carnival Cruise Gateways
Peter Bronski, 5280 Magazine
Linda Fasteson, Living Well, The Sun Chronicle
Intergenerational and Family Travel
Chris McBeath, InnFocus Magazine
Kate Pocock, Silverkris Magazine
Heather Greenwood Davis, Family Outlook Magazine/Sears
Culinary Travel
Katherine Zoepf, Food and Wine Magazine
Taras Grescoe, National Geographic Traveler
Cultural, Educational, Self-Improvement Travel
Margie Goldsmith, www.travelwithachallenge.com
Eco Travel or Environmental Tourism
Dave Houser, Men’s Folio
Jay Walljasper, National Geographic Traveler
Budget Travel
Kristen Bellstrom, SmartMoney Magazine
John Lee, Globe and Mail
Travel Article for Internet
Louisa Preston, Go NOMAD Magazine
Travel Broadcast (Audio-Podcast, etc.)
New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, Travel Talk Radio
Travel Broadcast (Video)
Bryan Scofield, KTNV-TV ABC Las Vegas
Travel Journalism Website
www.SmarterTravel.com
Michael Reiss/Diane Sukiennik, www.foodandwineaccess.com
Travel Blog
Sarah Pascarella, www.SmarterTravel.com
Emma Krasov, Art and Entertain Me Blog
Photography, Overall Excellence
Gail Mooney, Historia National Geographic
Dave Yoder, National Geographic Traveler
Susan Seubert, National Geographic Traveler
Justin Guariglia, National Geographic Traveler
Frederic Lagrange, Travel + Leisure Magazine
John Cullen, Pure Canada, Spafax
Cover Photo, Illustration
Michael DeFreitas, Nights Bonaire
Michael DeFreitas, Islands Magazine
Dan Westergren, National Geographic Traveler
Dook, Virtuoso Life
Dan Westergren, National Geographic Traveler
Landscape, Seascape
Michael DeFreitas, Diver Magazine
Michael DeFreitas, Caribbean Travel/Life Magazine
Ron Pradinuk, Winnipeg Free Press
Portrait, People
Robert Jerome, The Rail Monthly
Facility, Architectural
Robert Jerome, The Rail Monthly
Travel Guide
Paul Rubio, Alyson Books NY
Travel Trade Article
Carol Canter, Smart Meetings Magazine
Dori Saltzman, Travel Trade
Consumer Tips & Advice
Sarah Pascarella, SmarterTravel.com
Jennifer Miner, TheVacationGals.com
Visitors’ Guide, More than $400,000
Newport RI Convention & Visitors Bureau
Destination Website, Less than $400,000
San Mateo County
Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau
Social Media or Marketing Campaign, Less than $400,000
Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau
Travel Magazine
Canadian Geographic Travel
In-Flight Magazine
American Way Magazine
Grand and 1st Place Awards will be distributed at the Annual Conference in Reno, NV May 13th. Certificates will be mailed the week of March 8th.
