The Latin American Travel Association has recognised four Travel Weekly articles in its annual media awards, including the top three spots in its trade writing category.
Features and supplements editor Katie McGonagle won the award for Trade Publication Feature of the Year, for an article on Nicaragua. She joined a Lata fam trip in 2019 to see how the Central American country’s tourism industry was recovering in the wake of political unrest.
Deputy features and supplements editor Laura French was also recognised twice, as runner-up in both the trade publication category and for Best Latin American Round-up, for features on the coastal town of Paraty in Brazil and the region’s most interesting colonial-era cities.
Freelance writer Sarah Gilbert was also a runner-up in the trade publication category for her feature on Puerto Rico, published in Travel Weekly.
Lata chairman Colin Stewart, who presented the award, said: “A huge congratulations to Travel Weekly, winners of Trade Publication of the Year at the Lata Media Awards.
“It was fantastic to see three Travel Weekly features shortlisted in the trade category, as well as another article by Laura French, also shortlisted in the round-up category. We would like to thank Travel Weekly for continuing to showcase Latin America to their readers.”
He added: “The standard of the entries was exceptionally high as always, which is testament to the quality of travel journalism and photography on display from our winners that I am sure has inspired travellers from across the UK to travel to Latin America when restrictions permit.
“Lata continues to lobby the government to ensure that travel can restart in Latin America as soon as it is safe, as well as continuing to support the Latin America travel trade. Given the current challenges, we really value this opportunity to showcase Latin America in such a positive way.”
The awards attracted more than 175 submissions and were judged by a panel of industry figures including Colin Stewart, UK and Ireland director at Air Europa, Dan Linstead, editorial director at Immediate Media, Richard Hammond, founder and chief executive of Green Traveller, and Mark O’Donoghue, chief operating officer of Travel Counsellors.