The Australian Society of Travel Writers Awards Committee is thrilled to open the ASTW Awards for Excellence 2021, designed to recognise the Society's deep talent pool of writers, digital publishers, photographers and communications specialists.

With submissions open from 2 August – 2 September, 2021, this year's 19 Awards categories include Photographer of the Year, Travel Communicator of the Year, sponsored by TravMedia, and the much-coveted Travel Writer of the Year.

“The Awards categories reflect the unique circumstances that Australian travel writers have faced since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Jocelyn Pride, ASTW Awards Committee Member.

“With ASTW members unable to travel internationally and with local travel restricted, we felt it was important that the Awards categories resonate with the unusual challenges impacting our industry.”

The 2021 Awards includes four new categories: Best Nature / Wildlife Story, Best Accommodation Story, Best Immersive Travel Story and Best Aussie Road Trip Story.

“Categories such the Best Immersive Travel Story give members the opportunity to show off their creative, in-depth articles that truly evoke a sense of place, space, history and culture through a hands-on experience,” says Jocelyn.

Shutterbugs are not forgotten, with the Best Instagram Travel Photo, Best Travel Photo and ASTW Photographer of the Year categories set to showcase the outstanding work of member photographers.

The Best Travel Book category is also back for 2021 and open to Associate and Full Writer members and Digital Publishers as well as PR members, Friends of the ASTW and Life Members.

“It's important that we recognise our vital Public Relations members who continue to weather the storm of the pandemic, coming up with new and creative ways to promote their clients' destinations to the Australian market,” says Jocelyn.

“The Travel Communicator of the Year award is a chance for our talented PR members to shine.”

The 2021 Awards will be judged by a large contingent of highly regarded international and Australian judges, with each category allocated three judges. The winners will be announced at the 2021 ASTW Gala Dinner, to be held at the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour Hotel on 6 November, 2021.

“The 2021 ASTW Awards for Excellence acknowledge the hard work, resilience and sheer determination displayed by our innovative members during a year of unprecedented challenges and we look forward to kicking up our heels and celebrating together at the Gala event,” says Jocelyn.

The ASTW Awards for Excellence 2021 are sponsored by TravMedia, Tourism Australia, Outback Queensland Tourism Association and Azamara Cruises, with further sponsorship opportunities available HERE.

Find out how to enter HERE.

Read full terms and conditions HERE.

For more information about ASTW or to become a member, visit www.astw.org.au or contact the Secretariat on secretariat@astw.org.au.

About the ASTW

The ASTW is a 300-strong group of travel writers, editors, radio and television broadcasters, digital publishers, guidebook authors and photographers (as well as travel industry public relations and marketing professionals) whose work appears regularly in major newspapers, magazines, websites, and on the airwaves across Australia and the world. All ASTW members must satisfy strict criteria to join and are obligated to substantiate their membership annually (pre-Covid) by providing details of their published output or industry participation.