Allen, Wheeler, Bottomley to judge Stanford Travel Writing Awards

Explorer Benedict Allen, author Sara Wheeler and Mr B's bookshop owner Nic Bottomley are among the judges for the 2018 Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards. The awards also have a new sponsor, the tailor-made holiday specialist Hayes & Jarvis.

Allen, now recovering from his headline-making sojourn in Papua New Guinea, will also be joined by Waterstones travel buyer Bea Carvalho, Stanfords' head of buying David Mantero and marketing manager Jude Brosnan, travel writer Mary Novakovich, Wanderlust editor Phoebe Smith, Traveller magazine editor Amy Sohanpaul, The Economist's assistant editor Samantha Weinberg, Vanity Fair's travel editor Victoria Mather, Daily Mail writer Sarah Oliver, and the Telegraph's travel writer Michael Kerr. Also weighing in will be authors Helena Drysdale, food critic Matthew Fort and historian Jason Goodwin, as well as Paul Blezard, the literary director of Firebird Poetry Prizes.

Their shortlists for the Awards' 10 categories (Travel Book of the Year; Outstanding Contribution; Children's; Illustrated & Photography; Food and Travel; Fiction; Outstanding General Travel Themed Book; Adventure Travel; New travel Writer of the Year; and Blog of the Year) will be announced on 10th January at The Authors Club in London, opening select categories to a public vote. 

The winners will be announced at what is promised to be a "star-studded" dinner on 1st February 2017 during the Stanfords Travel Writers Festival at Destinations: The Holiday and Travel Show at Olympia. The winner of the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year (in partnership with The Authors’ Club) receives £5,000.

Tony Maher, managing director of Stanfords, said of the Awards' new sponsor: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome Hayes & Jarvis as a sponsor for the awards – I think that the match is perfect – a natural and logical partner for Stanfords. Hayes & Jarvis’ approach to bespoke holidays captures the spirit of the Stanfords’ customer perfectly."

Lesley Rollo, managing director of Hayes & Jarvis, said: "At Hayes & Jarvis we believe that one of the best ways to capture the memories and highlights of a trip is through writing. We are thrilled to be able to support and help promote the world’s leading travel writing awards, as well as acknowledge and celebrate excellence in travel writing. We hope the awards encourage more travellers to share their travel experiences through writing and inspire the travel writers of tomorrow."