London (23 April 2025) —  APL Media is proud to continue its support of the Travel Media Awards Step Up scheme — an initiative promoting diversity in travel media — and is pleased to announce the five participants from underrepresented backgrounds selected for the 2025 programme. 

As one of the 10 partner organisations — alongside easyJet holidays, FINN Partners, Ink Global, Intrepid Travel, Kuoni, Metro, The Sun, TTG Media and Virgin Atlantic — APL Media will host a four-week placement, offering interns hands-on experience with the sector’s leading editors, journalists and public relations experts. 

Following the work experience, interns will also have six months of mentorship from a travel media professional, as well as a ticket to the Travel Media Awards at the Pan Pacific London hotel on 13 October, providing them with networking opportunities with the sector’s most experienced individuals from established publications.

Introducing the 2025 cohort of Step Up: 

• Kinza Chaudry: APL Media and FINN Partners 
• Sophie Colson: TTG Media and Intrepid Travel 
• Daniella Dhorasoo: Ink Global and Kuoni 
• Lillie-Rose Lenga-Kroma: Metro and easyJet holidays 
• Jenna Stevens: The Sun and Virgin Atlantic 

Maria Pieri, co-founder of the TMA Step Up scheme, and editorial director and COO at APL Media said: “I’m incredibly excited about the calibre of candidates we’re welcoming into the 2025 Travel Media Awards Step Up cohort. The talent, passion and fresh thinking they bring is inspiring. Step Up is an important initiative that not only opens doors for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds but also enriches our industry with new perspectives. I’m proud to see how the scheme continues to grow, offering invaluable experience, mentorship and connections at the heart of the travel media sector.” 

Amy Skelding, managing partner at FINN Partners, adds: “The fact that so many partners wanted to get onboard and more than 400 people applied shows that TMA Step Up is gaining serious momentum. The candidates this year were really impressive, making the selection process a real challenge. I hope we can offer more internships with more partners onboard next year, so we can collectively benefit from emerging talent in our sector that is both inclusive and reflective of the travel industry we all love.” 

To visit the TMA Step Up website for more information on the new cohort of interns, click here  

Notes for editors:  

Travel Media Awards Step Up is an internship programme run by the Travel Media Awards — working with partners APL Media, FINN Partners, Intrepid Travel, TTG Media, easyJet holidays, Ink Global, Kuoni, Metro, The Sun and Virgin Atlantic — which aims to drive diversity and inclusion in travel media for young people.  

Travel Media Awards was created by, and is owned by and operated under, a joint venture agreement between Travega and APL Media Limited. Launched in 2015, the Travel Media Awards is widely recognised as the premier awards event in travel media, and the only UK national awards exclusively rewarding editorial excellence and achievement across all forms of travel media.  

For more information and sources, visit travelmediaawards.com  

For all enquiries regarding the Travel Media Awards Step Up scheme, please contact:  

• Sabera Sattar, head of events: [email protected]  
• Kira Richards, assistant project editor: [email protected] 

About APL Media 
 
APL Media is a multi-award-winning content marketing agency and publisher, producing high-quality print, digital and live media across the travel and lifestyle sectors. Founded in 1997, it publishes National Geographic Traveller (UK), supported by a portfolio of brand extensions including bespoke guides, supplements, events and digital platforms. APL Media delivers impactful, audience-focused storytelling through custom content, branded campaigns, editorial consultancy and industry-leading events such as the Travel Media Awards and the professional development initiative Step Up. Its trade publishing portfolio includes Postcards and the ASTA Worldwide Destination Guide, while it also creates and supplies digital and print content for a number of national newspapers. 
aplmedia.co.uk