News release

18 August 2015

Only two weeks to go until voting closes for Family Traveller Awards 2015

- Reader and public vote closes 31 August -

- Esteemed judging panel announced - 

On the 31 August, the reader and public vote will close for the inaugural Family Traveller Awards 2015 in association with Family and Friends Railcard. And Family Traveller is calling on all eligible voters to have their say.

The Awards, launched by Family Traveller magazine and familytraveller.co.uk, the UK's first and only media business dedicated to family holidays, will recognise the best brands and companies in family travel as voted by readers and the public. This is the first time the family holiday industry has been recognised in such a way.

Votes on favourite brands can be cast from the shortlist across 18 categories found on the dedicated awards website at www.familytravellerawards.com. What's more, each voter will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win an all-inclusive, luxury family holiday to a Club Med Sun Long Haul resort, choosing from a selection of destinations, for two adults and two children below the age of 18*.

Once the public and reader votes have been cast, it will be down to an expert panel to add their votes to the mix, with each judge having one vote on top of the public vote, which will count for one vote, per category. The panel will include:

• Jane Anderson – Editor Family Traveller Magazine
• Mariella Frostrup – Journalist and television presenter
• Simon Reeve – Author and presenter
• Jane Knight – Travel Editor of The Times
• Sue Ward-Davies – Travel and Lifestyle Director Elle Magazine

The winners of the Awards will be announced at a glittering ceremony on the 6 October 2015 at The View From the Shard, offering attendees an exclusive opportunity to celebrate the best in family travel whilst taking in some of the best views of London from the highest viewpoint in the capital.

Andrew Dent, Publisher of Family Traveller magazine, said: “With only two weeks left in the reader and public vote, competition is definitely hotting up. So far we have seen in excess of 25,000 votes cast, but there is plenty of time for our readers and the public to have their say on the brands that do family travel best. We are calling on all shortlisted companies to spread the word and encourage votes from their fans in order to put them in strong stead before our esteemed expert panel adds their own votes to the mix.

“I am also delighted to announce that our inaugural Award ceremony will be held at the The View From the Shard. We can't wait to celebrate the best of the family travel industry from London's greatest viewpoint on the 6th October.”

Votes can be cast at www.familytravellerawards.com and promoted via social media using the dedicated awards hashtag #FTAwards2015.

*Full competition terms and conditions can be found at http://www.familytravellerawards.com/win-a-club-med-trip/

ENDS

For more information about the awards, or to request an interview, contact:

Belinda Hallworth. belinda.hallworth@flagshipconsulting.co.uk.  020 7680 7114

Sophy Norris. sophy.norris@flagshipconsulting.co.uk.  01392 860620

Archie Pottinger. archie.pottinger@flagshipconsulting.co.uk. 020 7680 7113