The British Guild of Travel Writers launched its popular annual Yearbook and raised £1,250 for its chosen charity, Malaria No More UK, at a glamorous

event held March 4 at London's ME Hotel on the Strand.

The 280-page, full-colour Yearbook, edited by Adrian Phillips, was unveiled to more than 250 travel media professionals, industry representatives and PRs

who not only purchased the popular Yearbook but also bought charity raffle tickets for a wide range of tempting prizes provided by travel industry

contacts.

Guild chair Mary Moore Mason said: "The Yearbook is considered the bible of the travel industry. Not only does it give details of our own 270 members,

among them top travel writers, editors, photographers and broadcasters, but it also contains contact details for some 3,000 other media and travel industry

representatives including national newspapers and magazines, tourism offices, hotels, attractions and airlines."

This year's launch event was sponsored by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was represented by the Managing Director of made, a London-based

tourism marketing, travel and specia events agency with clients from the arts, entertainment and sports industries. Managing Director Jonathan Mountford

gave away tickets to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, now showing at London's Theatre Royal.

This year's launch charity, Malaria No More UK, raises awareness of - and funds to combat - the mosquito-transmitted disease. In Africa alone it causes 627,000 deaths each year, the event's guests were told by its fundraising manager Helen Mabberley.

Sales of the Yearbook were brisk but some are still available through the Guild's Secretariat. The price is £95 for the first copy, £45 for each additional copy, including 12 months online access to the Guild's website and data base. Cheques, BACs, and credit cards are all accepted and there's an additional fee of £5.76 for postage and handling if required. For further details visit:

http://www.bgtw.org/0/bgtw-yearbook.html

Further information about the Guild, its members and the Yearbook can be obtained by contacting the Secretariat: 020 8144 8713, secretariat@bgtw.org or by visiting www.bgtw.org.