27 August 2019, London: The Travel Media Awards, in association with the Malta Tourism Authority, is pleased to announce that Hilary Bradt, founder of Bradt Travel Guides, will be presented with the prestigious Special Contribution Award at the Travel Media Awards 2019.

Bradt began her professional career as an occupational therapist, with her job taking her to cities across the world — including Edinburgh, London, Boston and San Francisco — and sparking in her a passion for travel. The more she travelled, the more she realised that this was where her future lay and, in 1974, while living in South America, she founded the award-winning Bradt Travel Guides when no other publisher was willing to commission a hiking guide to Peru and Bolivia.

Since then, Bradt’s love for travel, especially to more obscure destinations, has meant her books have focused on opening up new destinations to tourists. About half of all Bradt titles are the only ones covering that country and all have a strong emphasis on encouraging visitors to get involved with schools or local charities, so travellers can give something back.

Not content with being an award-winning publisher, Bradt has also worked as a tour leader in South America, mainland Africa and Madagascar and has written or co-written 13 books.

In 2008, Hilary was awarded an MBE for Services to the Tourist Industry and to Charity. In 2018, she was awarded the equivalent of an OBE by the president of Madagascar for her services to the country.

On hearing the news about this latest award Hilary said, “To receive an award from the leading travel organisation is a great honour. I’m particularly pleased that it’s for making a special contribution to the world of travel, since that implies teamwork — and teamwork and a shared ethos are what has kept Hilary Travel Guides going for 45 years. I owe our success to my wonderful staff, and particularly Adrian Phillips who now runs the company, but also to those adventurous travellers who are looking for something a bit different and who take travel seriously, so seek out a Bradt guide.”

Giles Harper, co-founder of the Travel Media Awards and Travega managing director commented, “We are delighted to recognise Hilary’s exceptional 45-year career in travel guide publishing and her foresight in launching Bradt Travel Guides in 1974; she’s a hugely worthy recipient of our Special Contribution Award, and we look forward to welcoming her to the Awards on 21 October”

The Travel Media Awards look forward to welcoming Hilary Bradt to the stage to receive her award on 21 October at the Landmark London hotel.

Tickets now available: http://travelmediaawards.com/tickets

Key dates for the 2019 Travel Media Awards:
2 September: Finalists are announced
21 October: Awards ceremony at Landmark London

For more information and tickets, please visit travelmediaawards.com or contact:
T: 020 3818 5600
E: [email protected]

Notes for Editors
The 2018 awards received more than 700 entries, and culminated in a glittering awards ceremony attended by some 300 travel media and industry professionals. The event also saw travel editor of The Sun Lisa Minot receive the Special Contribution Award.

The Travel Media Awards was launched in 2015, celebrating the very best of the travel media sector. Open to all travel writers, broadcasters and photographers, the Awards are a true barometer of the travel media sector. The Travel Media Awards are owned and operated under a joint venture agreement between Travega and APL Media Limited. travelmediaawards.com

APL Media Limited works across the travel and lifestyle sectors in a number of media, from print through to events. APL Media produces the award-winning National Geographic Traveller (UK), National Geographic Traveller Food, Postcards, and a series of lifestyle newspaper supplements, apps and websites. aplmedia.co.uk

Travega offers a wide range of travel marketing and sales solutions for both the leisure and business travel sectors. These include delivering sponsorship revenues for some of the leading events in the UK travel industry, alongside third-party management of events for other leading travel brands. travega.co.uk