Travel Writer Award Winners Announced in Los Angeles at U.S. Travel’s IPW

Los Angeles, California - Five travel journalists have captured top honors at the U.S. Travel Association and Brand USA IPW Travel Writer Awards competition. The winners were announced during U.S. Travel's IPW, the largest generator of international inbound travel to the United States.

The winners are as follows:

Best U.S. Travel Destination

Due to the high number of outstanding entries in this category, three winners are selected annually by the judges.

Pedro Montaño of Mexico and editor of POST Mag, won for "Alaska: La frontera desconocida." Judges remarked that the engaging story and amazing photography immediately drew them in. They could imagine themselves booking the exact trip based on the itinerary and tips included seamlessly in the story.

Brazilian journalist Eduardo Burckhardt won for his article, "A Verdadeira Little Italy," published in UOL (Universo Online). The judges remarked that the article was best in class visual storytelling and deeply reported, with a great combination of history and pop culture. They felt like they were walking down Arthur Avenue as they read the story.

Shayla Martin, a freelance writer from the United States, won for her article "2 Black Heroes, 2 Cities in New York: A Journey Into the Past, published in The New York Times. Judges commented that the story was compelling and informative, spotlighting sites that made Rochester and Auburn such an important part of American history. They noted that travelers could easily use the reporting to map out and explore these important historical destinations.

The finalists in the Best U.S. Travel Destination Article category were Dirk Baumgartl (Germany, Spartacus Traveller), Marco Berchi (Italy, La Stampa), Helen Hayes (Australia, Vacations & Travel), Rashmi Narayan (United Kingdom, Adventure.com) and Wing Sze Tang (Canada, Toronto Star).

Best Trade Publication

Harmke Kraak of The Netherlands took top honors for her article, "Atlanta? Yes, Atlanta" published in We Love Travel magazine. The judges remarked it was a useful spotlight on a major U.S. gateway city used by millions of international air travelers, a story that would compel a stay and not just a point of entry.

The finalists in the Best Trade Publication category were Holger Jacobs (Germany, fvw|TravelTalk) and Mike MacEacheran (United Kingdom, Travel Weekly).

Best IPW Host City (San Antonio, Texas)

Claire Dodd of the United Kingdom won for her article, "The Dead Are Alive," published in JRNY magazine. Judges noted the beautiful reporting and accompanying images showcased an incredibly interesting and cultural angle of San Antonio - and a topic that has captured the imaginations of many of people (Day of the Dead).

The finalists in this category were Aleney de Winter (Australia, BoyEatsWorld.com) and Andrea Miramontes (Brazil, Lado B Viagem).

Nearly 250 entries were received from journalists representing five continents. During their evaluation of the entries, judges looked for articles that featured original ideas and exceptional storytelling skills, as well as writing that would inspire readers to travel to the United States.

U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing the $1.3 trillion travel industry, an essential contributor to our nation's economy and success. U.S. Travel produces programs and insights and advocates for policies to increase travel to and within the United States. Visit ustravel.org for more information.