Washington, D.C. (May 31, 2011) — Three international travel journalists recently captured top honors in the 2011 Discover America Travel Writer Awards competition. The awards were announced on May 23, during a media reception at the 2011 International Pow Wow (IPW) convention in San Francisco. 

Mary Moore Mason, editorial director of Essentially America magazine, won in the “Best U.S. Travel Destination Article” category. Her story, “From Oz to Oklahoma,” highlighted Moore Mason's journey through America's heartland, from the OZ Museum (dedicated to The Wizard of Oz film and other Oz-related items) in tiny Wamego, Kansas, to the colorful cowboy heritage of Oklahoma City. According to the contest judges, Moore Mason's firsthand account provided well-written, engaging and charming insights into a region often overlooked by the travel media. “From Oz to Oklahoma” appeared in the winter 2011 edition of Essentially America, a U.K. consumer travel publication.

In the category titled “Best International Pow Wow Host City Article,” freelance writer/blogger Megan Singleton took first place. Her story featured the newly opened Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. (Orlando served as the 2010 IPW host city). Singleton's article “Welcome to Hogwarts” was published in July 2010 in New Zealand's Herald on Sunday newspaper. Filled with vivid descriptions of frothy butterbeer, a steaming Hogwarts Express locomotive, and a rollicking thrill ride through Hogwarts castle, Singleton gave her readers a magical sense of place. Singleton is a two-time winner of the Discover America Travel Writer Awards, having received the honor in 2009 for a story on Las Vegas titled “In the Money.”

Canadian freelance writer Ilona Kauremszky authored the award-winning entry in the “Best Trade Article” category. Her story focused on the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into producing America's largest “visit USA” travel trade show: International Pow Wow. Taking the perspective of the host destination and the event's management company, Kauremszky explored the planning, logistics and endless hours that go into producing IPW, as well as the positive economic impact the trade show has on its host city. The resulting article, “More than Amusement: Orlando Made Attendees Smile,” appeared in One+ magazine, the official publication of Meeting Professionals International.

Sponsored by the U.S. Travel Association and CityPASS, the 2011 Discover America Travel Writer Awards received more than 150 entries from travel journalists and editors who attended IPW 2011. Each of the winning writers received $1,000 and an award certificate.

During their evaluation of the entries, the judges looked for articles that featured original ideas and exceptional storytelling skills, as well as prose that would inspire readers to travel to the United States.

The U.S. Travel Association is a national, nonprofit organization representing all components of the travel industry that generates $1.8 trillion in economic output and supports 14.1 million jobs. U.S. Travel's mission is to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States. For more information, visit www.ustravel.org. 

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