Our Roll Call of Judges

Amy Dowling

Head of Markets Communications

TUI UK&I

With over nine years of experience in TUI’s UK communications team, Amy has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s reputation, leading brand-building campaigns, and generating proactive media coverage. She also spearheaded the development of communications measurement initiatives. As Head of UK Communications at the global leisure and travel company, Amy oversees internal and external communications and is part of the international communications leadership team. She is a key leader in crisis management and brand reputation, having successfully guided the business through the challenges of COVID, a critical period for the travel industry. Earlier in her career, Amy honed her PR skills at Vauxhall’s press office, supporting the launch of key vehicles including the Ampera, the brand's first electric car, and the Vauxhall Adam. Before joining TUI, Amy travelled extensively in Australia and Asia, and held brand-focused roles at Goodyear Dunlop and Park Resorts.

Amy Skelding

Managing Partner

FINN Partners' UK & Germany Travel Practices

Amy is the Managing Partner of FINN Partners' UK & Germany Travel Practices. Her journey in travel began as a child presenter on BBC Radio 4's Breakaway, igniting a lifelong passion for exploration and storytelling. With nearly 20 years of travel PR & marketing experience, Amy was recently included in the 2025 PRWeek Power Book and her expertise spans broadcast, traditional, and digital media, with a focus on sustainable tourism. She ensures that the stories of every destination and brand the FINN team touch are told with passion, creativity, and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world of travel.

Andrew McConnell

Deputy Director for Communications & Engagement

UK Civil Aviation Authority

Andrew is Deputy Director for Communications & Engagement at the UK Civil Aviation Authority. In his role he also oversees the marketing of the ATOL Financial Protection Scheme. He has worked with the Transport Sector for more than 30 years and has worked for several UK and international airlines. In 2021, he was given the Freedom of the City of London.

April Hutchinson

Editor & Publisher

TTG Luxury and TTG Media

April Hutchinson is editor and publisher of TTG Luxury, a quarterly magazine and website for the UK’s luxury travel advisor and premium travel professional community. She was the launch editor for the magazine and has grown the portfolio over the last 18 years, including a weekly newsletter, awards programme, travel agent training events and a thought-leadership annual conference. TTG Luxury is part of TTG Media, a multi-award-winning media brand that is home to TTG, the world’s first travel industry newspaper, dating back to 1953. London-based, April has travelled to over 70 countries in her near 30-year career as a travel journalist and editor, and is an expert in luxury travel trends. She found her way into this career thanks to a degree in Multi-Media Journalism and prior to TTG Luxury, has been on the launch team for several titles, such as ABTA Magazine, Mobile Choice and Travel Agency, as well as gathering a great deal of freelance experience over the years.

Barry Neild

Global Editor

CNN Travel

Barry Neild is the Global Editor for CNN Travel, supervising all travel-related content across CNN’s digital products. Based in London, he helms a team of staff reporters and international freelancers, working closely with CNN Travel’s teams in New York, Atlanta, Bangkok and Hong Kong. Neild joined CNN in 2006, working for its digital news operations before switching to its Travel team in 2015. Prior to working at CNN he worked as a correspondent for the AFP news agency, reporting headline news stories from destinations including Afghanistan, Indonesia, China and Iraq.

Charlotte Humphrey

PR & Events Manager for Princess Cruises UK and Europe

Princess Cruises

Charlotte Humphrey is the PR & Events Manager for Princess Cruises UK and Europe. She has worked as a communications professional within the cruise industry for ten years.

Daniel Pearce

CEO and owner

TTG Media

Daniel Pearce is CEO and owner of TTG Media, the award-winning, B Corp-certified media business delivering results for the travel industry in the UK and beyond through its website ttgmedia.com, magazines and events. With almost three decades working in the media, Daniel joined TTG as Editor in 2010, before moving to brand director in 2012 and mounting a management buy-out and setting up independent business TTG Media in 2013. In April 2019 the business rebranded under a new vision to promote a ‘Smarter, Better, Fairer’ travel industry – while in December 2023 it attained B Corp status underlining its belief in prioritizing people and the planet alongside profit.

Eliot Stein

Senior Journalist and Editor

BBC Travel

Eliot Stein is a senior journalist and editor at BBC Travel and the author of the new book Custodians of Wonder: Ancient Customs, Profound Traditions, and the Last People Keeping Them Alive. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, National Geographic, Wired, The Guardian, The Washington Post, CNN, The Independent, and elsewhere.

Eulanda Shead Osagiede

TV Presenter, Content Creator, Co-Founder

Hey! Dip Your Toes In

Eulanda Shead Osagiede is an award winning food culture and travel TV presenter, content creator, and co-founder of “Hey! Dip Your Toes In,” a platform exploring global tastes and stories. Eulanda has been recognised by WTM London as one of the top BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) high flyers in the travel industry. She has been featured in National Geographic, Ebony, Forbes, The Washington Post, and has worked with brands like Remy Martín, Passoa, Hyundai, Expedia, Google, Intrepid Travel, and others. A passionate advocate for DEI in travel, Eulanda serves as the COO of Black Travel Summit and Director of Operations for Black Travel Alliance. She has spoken at major events for brands like NBC Universal, IMM London, TEDx, Facebook, and Sky Media. On Amazon Prime, she appears as a guest presenter in the award-winning series The Three Drinkers, showcasing her love for food and drink.

Fiona Anderson

Director

GEC PR

Fiona Anderson is a Company Director at specialist travel and lifestyle agency GEC PR. Fiona has enjoyed a 25-year PR career, and her travel client experience includes premium tourism brands that include Aitken Spence Hotels, Conrad, Kimpton and Hilton Hotels. Her agency works with tourist boards, hotels, and travel products that span the globe, and Fiona has also represented destinations as diverse as Central America, India, the Maldives, the Philippines, Jamaica, and Kyoto in Japan. Fiona is a Fellow of the UK’s Tourism Society, and is passionate about the transformative power of travel.

Florian Valmy-Devillers

Business Development Director

Caribbean Tourism Organisation Chapter UK & Europe

Florian Valmy-Devillers is the Director of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation Chapter UK & Europe, a membership organisation strong of 85+public and private sector members. Having worked with Caribbean tourism organisations since 2016, his current role with the CTO Chapter allows him to market the Caribbean region across the United Kingdom and Europe. The CTO Chapter delivers over 40 activities annually to keep the Caribbean top-of-mind, targeting media, travel trade, tourism stakeholders and consumers in the UK & key European source markets through events, digital marketing and advertorial campaigns. Florian has organised high-level projects at the ministerial level such as projects to the European Commission in Brussels and networking forums with diplomatic missions including both government and non-government organisations for tourism ministers, executives, and media. Expert in Tourism Development, Florian speaks three languages fluently and has travelled the globe extensively working on international tourism projects in five continents. Florian received the highest distinction for his master’s degree in International Affairs majoring in Tourism, and his ultimate career goal is to contribute to the blueprint which will lead to a more sustainable, inclusive and equitable future for all through tourism.

Fran Lambert

Head of Media & Communications (UK & Ireland)

Switzerland Tourism

Fran Lambert has worked in the media and communications team at Switzerland Tourism for three years, and has been its head of media since March 2024, further enhancing Switzerland’s presence and engagement in the UK and Ireland. Prior to this position, she accumulated over ten years of experience in tourism and public relations both in the UK and abroad, contributing to prominent institutions such as the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, the UK’s national news agency Press Association (now PA Media), and the French Embassy in London. A fluent French speaker, Fran spent six years at Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency, where she managed the Normandy Tourism account. Throughout her career, Fran has honed her skills in media relations, destination marketing and strategic communications, making her a seasoned professional in the tourism and PR sectors.

Graeme Buck

Director of Communications

ABTA – The Travel Association

Graeme leads communications for ABTA, the UK’s leading travel association, which in 2025 marks its 75th anniversary. Directing ABTA’s comms strategy for around 1,200 members – who between them have 4,300 travel brands – Graeme is a regular speaker at travel industry events and in national, trade and regional media. He joined ABTA in 2020 having previously headed communications at Waitrose, and has 30 years’ communications experience.

Jamie-Lee Abtar

Head of Marketing

Not in the Guidebooks

Jamie-Lee Abtar is Head of Marketing at Not in the Guidebooks, where she drives brand, marketing and partnership strategy for immersive, sustainable travel experiences and supports industry change through the company's B Corp committee. A dynamic marketing strategist with 15+ years in the travel industry, she has held roles at Intrepid and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation. As an ITT Future You ambassador, she regularly speaks at universities and colleges encouraging students to pursue careers in the travel industry. Her insights appear in publications like Forbes and Harper's Bazaar. Her upcoming book, Strategic Branding in Tourism: Build and Elevate Your Travel Brand Identity, is set for release in December 2025.

Jane Knight

Freelance Travel Journalist and Editor

Having worked as travel editor of The Times for a decade, Jane Knight is now a freelance writer, editor and content strategist. Her recent articles have appeared everywhere from The Telegraph and the FT to The Mail and Country & Town House. She edits the Good Hotel Guide and is responsible for travel news at the British Travel Journal. Jane also provides content including inhouse magazine features, advertorials, websites, blog posts, press releases and brochures for clients including Relais & Châteaux, the Alabama Tourism Department, and Crystal Cruises. She conducts in-house PR and media training for agencies and travel companies.

Jenni Holman

PR & Brand Communications Director

Mason Rose

Spearheading Mason Rose’s PR and Communications team, Jenni is a senior communications specialist with meaningful contacts throughout the industry. Having worked across a diverse spread of wellness and travel clients, including hotels, tourist boards, and airlines - she has a comprehensive understanding of what makes a great story.

Jim Odoire

Managing Director

Black Diamond

Jim is the Managing Director and a founding partner of Black Diamond. For the past 29 years he has led the company’s transformation from an extreme sports content production company to one of the UK's most creative full service travel and tourism marketing and communications agencies.  Black Diamond is part of the Miles Partnership, the US' foremost strategic marketing consultancy specialising in travel and tourism, and the International Tourism Group, Europe's first fully integrated multinational tourism marketing and PR agency with seven offices across six countries.

Jules Ugo

CEO

LOTUS

Jules is CEO of award-winning strategic communications consultancy, LOTUS, and is one of the most respected and well-known PR practitioners in the industry with twenty-five years in the field. Known for leading a results-driven agency that specialises in brand building, placemaking and earned media delivery for the world’s flagship travel, hospitality and lifestyle brands and destinations Jules has a strategic mindset, global outlook and track record for delivering high-profile international campaigns often focusing on emerging and developing markets. Included in PR Week’s 2025 Power Book for the eighth year running, Jules is highlighted as a leading figure in the travel comms space. She has served on the PRCA Council, been vice-chairman of the PRCA Travel and Tourism Group and is a regular judge for the PRCA Dare and PR Week Awards.

Julie Giraud

Director

MSL UK

Multilingual Julie has almost 20 years of experience of public relations in the UK. Prior to joining MSL, Julie ran her own small travel PR consultancy and worked for PR travel specialist Four Agency. Over the last two decades, she worked on global and national travel PR campaigns including influencers outreach programmes. At MSL, Julie heads up the UK team and manages STA global PR campaigns, a role that consists in planning and managing all global communications campaigns for STA, from designing fully integrated 360 communications programmes and strategies, to PR amplification plans and taking part in international trade shows.

Laura Millar

Travel Writer and Editor

Laura Millar is a writer and editor with over 25 years’ experience. She started to specialise in travel in 2010, and became Metro newspaper’s travel editor in 2018, a role she held for five years, winning its travel section three national travel awards during her tenure. She currently freelances for a range of titles including The Telegraph, The Times, The Daily Mail, Escapism, Business Traveller, The Scotsman, The NZ Herald, TTG and TTG Luxury amongst others.

Lisa Minot

Head of Travel

The Sun

Lisa Minot is Head of Travel at The Sun. She has worked for the national newspaper for 32 years and has been Travel Editor and Head of Travel for the past 24 years. A regular on TV and radio commenting on Travel, she heads up the team at The Sun in charge of the print and digital operations.

Louise Ferrall

Senior Marketing Communications Manager

VisitEngland

Louise has worked in the travel industry for over 15 years, representing an array of global destinations, tour operators; luxury hotels, spas and aviation clients. Her experience covers all aspects of PR and integrated marketing, from strategic campaign planning and media relations to event management, influencer marketing and brand partnerships. Passionate about championing our amazing home-grown tourism experiences, Louise joined VisitEngland in 2016 and now oversees domestic consumer PR, influencer and social media activity, driving integration across owned, earned and paid campaigns. Louise is the proud recipient of the TravMedia In-House PR Team of the Year 2022 and 2024 and Digital PR Campaign of the Year 2023.

Lucy McKean

Head of PR

one green bean

Lucy oversees the PR client portfolio as One Green Bean Head of PR with a passion for driving storytelling and cultural relevance. She is a consumer communications specialist with nearly 20 years’ experience delivering earned first creative campaigns for brands such as Colgate, P&G, BarclayCard and Sainsbury’s. Lucy has a tried and tested ability within the travel and tourism industry, from her role as Client Relationship Lead for Europe for Hotels.com, to working with TUI, Hurtigruten Expeditions and Virgin Voyages as well as destinations such as Tourism Australia, Singapore Tourism Board and Qatar Tourism.

Lysbeth Fox

CEO

Fox Communications

Lysbeth Fox is the CEO of luxury travel and lifestyle communications agency Fox Communications, whose portfolio of clients includes some of the most prestigious in the world. A highly professional and experienced executive within the luxury sector, Lysbeth has overseen strategic direction and implemented innovative media campaigns for some of the most prestigious brands world-wide. Providing high quality and strategic media campaigns Lysbeth is highly skilled at bringing her clients visions to life. Passionate about the work she does, her industry specialisms include strategy, integrated channel management, media relations, luxury brand partnerships and ultra-high net worth introductions. Previously at the helm of two major PR firms, Lysbeth cultivated and managed a team of experienced PR professionals, including serving as Global Communications Director at Jet Republic, a private aviation company, where she was responsible for the press and publicity across 21 countries, managing a network of 13 international agencies. Starting from a consumer PR grounding, Lysbeth has worked across travel, health, food and FMCG within the luxury sector. Her background covers launching and repositioning new and existing companies and brands implementing strategic campaigns that resulted in high impact awareness for brands across the world. During her time at Weber Shandwick, Lysbeth was responsible for launching one of the firm’s largest healthcare brands, after Weber Lysbeth was MD at Talk Luxury which meant a temporary relocation to Los Angeles. With 30 years in the industry, Lysbeth is passionate about public relations - she is insightful, creative and an ardent proponent of the power of good communications.

Marine Teste

Head of Public Relations

Atout France

With over 10 years’ experience in luxury hospitality and international travel, Marine is Head of PR at Atout France, works with a team of 4 and is responsible for all internal and external PR work of the French Tourism Board in the UK & Ireland.

Mark Palmer

Travel Editor

Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday

Mark Palmer is the Travel Editor of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, following the merger of the two titles. He has worked at DMG Media for some 15 years as both an editor and writer. Mark falls easily in the category of Fleet Street veteran, having started out on Londoner’s Diary at the Evening Standard in the 1980s, after which he edited a free magazine in Southwest London before joining the Sunday Telegraph, where he ended up as News Editor. He then moved to the Daily Express as Executive Editor before joining the Mail. He has written two books: one about football, the other about shoes.

Nat Frogley

Co-Founder

Frog & Wolf PR

Cofounder of TTG PR & Representation Company of the Year, Frog & Wolf PR, Nat has built a deep knowledge of the travel industry and an extensive contacts book since embarking on his travel PR career in 2001. Over 20+ years, he has led campaigns for major tour operators, national flag carriers, iconic luxury spas and resorts, and hotel brands large and small. Career highs include ziplining in St Lucia and a white-knuckle helicopter tour of Réunion; its lowest point was on a group press trip to Jordan: floating in the Dead Sea 430m below sea level.

Paul Charles

CEO and Founder

The PC Agency

Paul Charles is one of the global travel industry’s foremost commentators and analysts, and a PR, crisis communications and media training expert who advises some of the most innovative and biggest travel brands in the world. He is founder and CEO of The PC Agency, the world’s luxury travel consultancy, and is much sought-after by governments, travel and tourism brands for his industry insight and media knowledge. The PC Agency now operates worldwide with teams in London, Dubai, Munich, Sydney, New York and Riyadh. Paul and The PC Agency, which advises C-Group leaders, Governments, luxury hotels, airlines, tourism boards, tour operators and cruiselines about their consumer, corporate, crisis and digital reputations, have been named the Most Influential in Travel by PR Week for an unprecedented eight years running in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Paul has been named PR Professional of The Year, three times in his career; by PR Week in 2004 and by TravMedia Awards, two years running, in 2022 and 2023. He has also won the “Most Effective Communications During Covid Crisis” Award at the Corp Comms Awards 2020. Paul was at the forefront of the coronavirus crisis, appearing as a leading commentator and adviser about the travel and tourism sector, offering vital data and insight into global travel decision-making and government policies, including the infamous UK traffic lights policy. Before founding The PC Agency, Paul was Director of Communications for Virgin Atlantic and key adviser to Sir Richard Branson. Before joining Virgin Atlantic, Paul was Director of Communications at the high-speed train company Eurostar and was responsible for launching the UK's first high-speed trainline. Prior to Eurostar, Paul spent a decade reporting, producing and presenting at BBC News, working on programmes including BBC Television's World Business Report, The Money Programme, BBC1 Breakfast and BBC Radio's Today, MoneyBox, Inside Money and The Financial World Tonight. Paul lives in London and travels worldwide. One of his latest projects is spearheading the PR campaign for Gloria Guevara, former WTTC President, who is now a candidate to be the new Secretary-General of UN Tourism.

Phoebe Irving

Head of Marcomms and Special Projects

GEN PLUS Group

Phoebe is the Head of Marcomms and Special Projects at GEN PLUS Group, bringing over a decade of strategic expertise in Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, and Brand Strategy for renowned global tourism destinations, luxury resorts, hotels, and hospitality brands. With extensive experience collaborating directly with Ministers, CEOs, and senior executives, Phoebe has successfully led impactful PR campaigns and influential thought leadership initiatives that have elevated brand profiles on an international scale. Her distinguished portfolio features prominent collaborations with tourism boards and destinations across Jamaica, Seychelles, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Mexico, Greece, and other global markets. Notably, Phoebe's strategic insight and leadership contributed to supporting a key initiative for the UN Tourism, with her team appointed as the official communications agency for the programme. Phoebe is known for her ability to seamlessly blend creativity with strategic acumen, delivering results that enhance brand reputation, foster industry partnerships, and drive sustained market growth.

Richard Hammond

Founder and Publishing Director

Green Traveller Media

Richard is the Founder and Publishing Director of Green Traveller Media where he manages a network of freelance writers, photographers and videographers. He is an experienced videographer and drone pilot and has worked with tour operators, hoteliers and tourist boards to produce over 100 videos. For over 20 years, Richard has held a variety of roles in the media, including editor-in-chief of TravelMole, eco travel correspondent for the Guardian, and has written articles for a range of publications, including National Geographic, FT, Telegraph, The Times, and The Sunday Times. His book 'The Green Traveller', was published in 2022 by HarperCollins.

Stuart Fyfe

PR Manager UK & Northern Europe

Tourism Australia

Stuart heads up Tourism Australia’s PR team in their London office where he has worked for six years. Originally from Sydney where he managed the PR for numerous hotels, he relocated to London ten years ago and has since managed the PR for tourism boards, airlines, hotel brands and operators across the Americas, Europe and Asia.

Susan d’Arcy

Luxury Travel and Wellness Editor

The Times and The Sunday Times

Susan d'Arcy is the luxury travel and wellness editor of The Times and Sunday Times and oversees the newspapers' annual hotel and spa guides. She appears regularly on television and also works as a consultant on luxury travel and wellness projects.

Tolene van der Merwe

Director UK & Ireland

Malta Tourism Authority

Tolene van der Merwe is an accomplished leader in the travel and tourism industry, currently serving as the Director for the UK & Ireland at the Malta Tourism Authority since October 2019. In this role, she oversees the marketing and brand strategy, as well as general operations for her unit, ensuring that the enchanting Maltese Islands are effectively promoted to travellers. Based in London, Tolene leads a dedicated team that collaborates closely with the travel trade to inspire and educate potential visitors. With over 27 years of experience in the industry, Tolene has held various senior positions that have shaped her expertise. Prior to joining the Malta Tourism Authority, she was the Hub Head for UK & Ireland at South African Tourism and also served as Director of a hotel representation agency. Her extensive background includes roles such as Product Manager for an outbound tour operator and National Sales Manager for a luxury hotel group. Under Tolene’s leadership, the UK has consistently remained Malta’s largest inbound market. Notably, 2024 has marked a record-breaking year for arrivals, surpassing even the peak year of 2019. This impressive growth reflects the successful marketing strategies implemented by Tolene and her team.

Tracey Poggio-Magnus

UK Head Media and Marketing

Gibraltar Tourist Board and Chair, ANTOR

Having started her career in PR, Tracey has worked in the travel industry for over 25 years across multiple disciplines for both public and private sector entities. In 2000 She was a founding Director of an early digital marketing agency dotcom PR which won Docklands Business of the Year. In 2006, she set up the Gibraltar Conference Bureau which was amalgamated into the structure of the current Gibraltar Tourist Board, of which she is the current UK Head. As Chair of the Association of National Tourist Offices and Representatives- ANTOR, which consists of over 60 UK officially represented destinations, Tracey steers a global Board voicing the work of Tourist Board activity and development in the UK.

Uwern Jong

Experientialist®-in-Chief and Co-Founder

OutThere magazine

Uwern Jong is co-founder and Experientialist®-in-Chief of OutThere, a multi-award-winning luxury and experiential travel media brand rooted in diversity, discovery and discernment. Celebrating 15 years of publishing, OutThere has become a leading voice in inclusive tourism, offering in-depth, first-person narratives that celebrate global cultural expressions and the individuals who make the travel world so unique and diverse. Alongside storytelling, Uwern has been instrumental in initiatives such as OutThere’s global LGBT+ Travel Symposium series and the diversity thought leadership event Icons of Inclusion and has spearheaded OutThere’s landmark not-for-profit Experientialist® Awards that applauds innovation, creativity, stewardship and resilience in luxury and experiential travel. This year’s awards have raised £15,000 for worthy tourism-related causes across the world. His efforts have been recognised with numerous accolades, including being named one of Walpole’s (the association of British Luxury) 50 most influential people in British luxury in their 2025 ‘Power List' for the second time; being awarded as TTG (Travel Trade Gazette) LGBT+ Trailblazer; and receiving the Campaign magazine's Publishing Award for Editorial Leader of the Year.