The Latin American Travel Association (LATA) has announced the winners of its 2014 Media Awards, held at the National Geographic Store in Knightsbridge, London on 12th May 2014. The winners were those who, in the opinion of the LATA judges, had written the most inspiring travel articles on one of the Latin American countries represented by the organisation.

Sunday Times travel journalist Chris Haslam took top prize in the consumer newspaper category with his Brazil feature entitled 'Brazilliant', published in the Sunday Times on 6 December 2013; a round up of the country's many attractions linking in with the forthcoming World Cup being held in Brazil. Wendy Gommersall's Mail on Sunday feature 'Mexican Wave' was highly commended and Vincent Crump's Peruvian foodie piece 'In Deepest Delicious Peru' for the Sunday Times received a special mention.

Emma Gregg took the award in the consumer magazine category for her Peru feature 'Welcome to the Jungle' published in National Geographic Traveller; highly commended certificates were awarded to Nick Boulos for his piece on the Galapogos for Wanderlust; Laura Fowler's 'Where to Stay on Brazil's Coolest Coast' piece on Bahia for Conde Nast Traveller and Peter Browne's 'Welcome to the Party' feature on Uruguay also published in Conde Nast Traveller.

The award for the best travel trade press feature went to Joanna Booth for her 'Why The Long Face?' piece on Easter Island, published in Travel Weekly's guide for agents selling luxury products 'Aspire'. Lauren Holmes writing about Rio 'Beach and Beyond' for TTG Luxury was highly commended and Jenny Southan was given a special mention for her piece on Rio, published in Business Traveller that successfully crossed between the B2B and consumer readership.

LATA Chairman Chris Pickard said: “The standard of entries this year was higher than ever, which made the judging process very difficult. The LATA membership really appreciates the continued enthusiasm and interest from the media for all things Latin America and there is certainly no shortage of editorial coverage. Some of our members are very niche with small marketing budgets so the coverage is especially valuable and helpful to draw attention to the many and diverse attractions of Latin America.

“All winners are to be applauded but of all the entries Chris Haslam's feature on Brazil for the Sunday Times was the front runner. A strong informative piece with good use of the World Cup hook to promote an alternative Brazil. Emma Gregg's piece on Peru for National Geographic Traveller made you want to visit the jungle and gave a good feel for the experience.”

The LATA Travel Writers of the Year Awards were judged by members of the LATA committee. Winners were presented with a variety of prizes including restaurant vouchers for Martin Morales' Peruvian kitchen, Andina, and from Las Iguanas, wines from Garzon of Uruguay and copies of the first 1924 edition of the South American Handbook.

Earlier this year, LATA honoured the actress, super model and environmentalist, Lily Cole, with the LATA Media Award for 2014. Ms Cole had visited the Amazon in Brazil where she directed her own short film “Wild Rubber” She is also an ambassador for Sky Rainforest Rescue and the WWF (World Wildlife Fund), who between them are committed to saving a billion trees in the Amazon through green economics.

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Full list of winners:
Consumer Media – Newspaper - Winner
Chris Haslam ¬– Brazil 2014 (Brazil / The Sunday Times)

Consumer Media – Newspaper - Highly Commended
Wendy Gomersall – Mexican Wave (Mayan Riviera, Mexico / Mail on Sunday)

Consumer Media – Magazine - Winner
Emma Gregg – Welcome to the Jungle (Peru / National Geographic Traveller)

Consumer Media – Highly Commended
Laura Fowler – Where to Stay on Brazil's Coolest Coast (Bahia, Brazil / Conde Nast Traveller)
Nick Boulos – Living with Evolution (Galapagos / Wanderlust)
Peter Browne – Welcome to the After Party (Uruguay / Conde Nast Traveller)

Trade Press – Winner
Joanna Booth – Why the Long Face? (Easter Island, Chile / Aspire, Travel Weekly)

Trade Press – Highly Commended
Lauren Holmes – Beach and Beyond (Rio, Brazil / TTG Luxury)

Special Mentions
Jenny Southan – Road to Rio (Rio, Brazil / Business Traveller)
Vincent Crump – In Deepest Delicious Peru (Peru / The Sunday Times)

About LATA:
The Latin American Travel Association (LATA) is a travel trade organisation that was founded to promote travel to the many diverse and exotic destinations of Latin America. LATA brings together over 200 companies, including tourist boards, tour operators, hotels, wholesalers, media, and airlines. Members offer many ways to discover the gems of the region, with accommodation options ranging from velvet-lined luxury to threadbare hammocks (www.lata.org) 
LATA also promotes charitable work in the region through its sister organisation the LATA Foundation (www.latafoundation.org)

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For further media information on LATA, or to contact its members for information or to request press visits please contact Steele Paulich / Jane Richards pr@lata.org or call 020 7326 9880.

About LATA
The Latin American Travel Association (LATA) is a travel trade organisation that was founded to promote travel to the many diverse and exotic destinations of Latin America. LATA brings together over 250 companies, including tourist boards, tour operators, hotels, wholesalers, media, and airlines. Members offer many ways to discover the gems of the region, with accommodation options ranging from velvet-lined luxury to threadbare hammocks. LATA also promotes charitable work in the region through its sister organisation the LATA Foundation (www.latafoundation.org).  
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Enter the Travel Writer of the Year Awards in 2015
Entries for the LATA Travel Writer of the Year Awards are accepted throughout the year. For more information on how to enter, please visit www.lata.org/press.php