Denver (May 21, 2018) — Five travel journalists captured top honors in the U.S. Travel Association and Brand USA's 2018 IPW Travel Writer Awards competition, sponsored by CityPASS. The winners were announced today during a media reception at the IPW trade show in Denver. The U.S. Travel Association, which coordinates the awards, received 200 contest entries from journalists representing five continents. The winners are as follows:

Best IPW Host City (Washington, D.C.) Article — Terje Myklebost, editor-in-chief of Great Media, a Scandinavian company that publishes high-quality consumer magazines, received top marks in this category. The “Best Host City” article category judges media placements highlighting the previous year's IPW host destination. After attending IPW 2017 in Washington, D.C., Myklebost spent time exploring Georgetown, D.C.'s city within a city. His article “Kult i Georgetown” (So cool in Georgetown!) was published in GREAT Hotels & Food, a monthly consumer travel magazine in Norway. Myklebost's ode to Georgetown noted that visitors will find themselves “on historic ground and can enjoy the old facades, the lovely cafés and restaurants, the cobblestone streets” and more.

Michael Fisher, a freelance writer from Canada, earned an honorable mention in this category. His feature article, “Washington, D.C.'s eclectic music scene is remarkably cool,” was published by the Toronto Star newspaper.

Best U.S. Travel Destination Article — Due to the high number of outstanding entries received, the judges opted to select three winners in this group.

The first, “Die Stimme der Buckaroos” (The voice of Buckaroos), was written and illustrated by Margit Brinke and K. Peter Kraenzle, a German freelance writing and photography team that has covered the U.S. extensively.

Their article and colorful photos transport readers to the heart of the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, which takes place every winter in the remote town of Elko, Nevada. For almost a week each year, cowboy/girl poets and musicians—as well as thousands of visitors from all over North America—celebrate the real West and the lives of cowboys, cowgirls and ranchers. The judges were impressed with Brinke and Kraenzle's use of descriptive language and song lyrics to distinguish between Hollywood's dramatized view of the West and the true Western lifestyle that visitors to the U.S. can see, touch and experience. 

The second winner for “Best U.S. Travel Destination Article” is Jonas Henningsson, a Swedish freelance writer. “A Bronx Tale,” Henningsson's 10-page tribute to the borough that is home to the New York Yankees baseball team, appeared in American Trails, a quarterly Swedish magazine that focuses exclusively on travel and culture in the United States. The author uses quotes from neighborhood chefs, artists and market vendors to reveal the true personality of a district that—although a world away from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan's bright lights—can be reached by adventurous travelers willing to ride a few extra subway stops.

American journalist Kit Bernardi was the third winner in the “Best U.S. Travel Destination Article” category. “Atomic City: Secret No Longer” was published by USA TODAY Go Escape magazine. Bernardi's story details a family trip to Los Alamos, New Mexico, the once top-secret city where America's atomic bomb was developed under the codename “The Manhattan Project.” Bernardi's descriptive prose, laced with just enough history to enlighten younger readers, offers a comprehensive overview of the many sites now open to visitors. And for those who are as interested in New Mexico's stunning scenery as they are in history, Bernardi includes a top-notch list of non-nuclear sites to visit.

Honorable mentions went to Fionn Davenport (Ireland) for “Witness the 'pink moment' and take a spiritual journey in the Ojai Valley,” published in the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph; and Jim Winnerman (U.S.) for “Dude Ranches of the Wild West,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper.

Best Trade Publication Article — British writer Ella Buchan took top honors in the trade category for “High Drama,” which appeared in Aspire magazine, a U.K. publication geared to travel agents focused on the luxury travel community. Buchan takes readers on a breathtakingly luxurious tour of Chicago, the birthplace of the modern skyscraper. Her story highlights Chicago's myriad architectural styles, its bespoke tour experiences and swanky spas, and the city's best dining and cocktail spots. While the judges enjoyed the wealth of information, they were also charmed by Buchan's stylish prose (e.g., The Willis Tower “soars like a gleaming king on a board of intricate chess pieces” and “The Grant Park Orchestra fills the stage, bows and vocal chords poised”).

Henning Kretschmer, editor-in-chief of Vivir de Viaje, a trade publication distributed to travel professionals and frequent travelers in North and Latin America, received an honorable mention for his article “Visita Detroit, la ciudad que está de moda” (Visit Detroit: The fashionable city).

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

The IPW Travel Writer Awards competition is held annually. Each of the winning writers receives $1,000 U.S. and an award certificate. This year's competition was sponsored by CityPASS, the company that offers discounted admission packages to the top attractions in 13 North American destinations.

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The U.S. Travel Association is a national, nonprofit organization representing all components of the travel industry, which generates $2.4 trillion in economic output and supports 15.6 million American 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.

For more than 20 years, CityPASS tickets have been a premier product for travelers who want to visit a destination's top attractions while enjoying significant savings of up to 50 percent. CityPASS tickets, which have a 97 percent customer recommendation rating, contain prepaid admission to the most popular attractions in 13 North American destinations: New York City, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California, Tampa Bay and Toronto. For more information, visit CityPASS.com.

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