Viking to sponsor the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards featuring new category

Exploration company Viking will be sponsoring the 2024 Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards, run by map and travel book retailer Stanfords. 

A new category called the Viking Award for Fiction with a Sense of Place has also been introduced this year. Viking guests will have the opportunity to nominate their favourite books that have been published in the past 12 months.

Other categories for 2024 include The Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year, the Children’s Travel Book of the Year, the Bradt New Travel Writer of the Year and the Edward Stanford Outstanding Contribution to Travel Writing Award, which was first presented to the author Bill Bryson in 2015.

Named after the founder of Stanfords, The Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards were created in 2015 to celebrate excellence in travel writing. Nominations for the awards will be open from 1st September to early November, and the shortlists will be announced in early December with the winners being revealed in March 2024. 

Wendy Atkin-Smith, managing director of Viking UK, said: "The Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards are known for celebrating the very best travel writers from across the world – many of whom are modern day explorers. Our culturally curious guests share our passion for reading and learning about the literary heritage of the destinations we visit so we are very proud to partner with Stanfords and to be the presenting sponsor of the awards this year."

Vivien Godfrey, chairman and c.e.o. of the Edward Stanford Group, added: "We are delighted that Viking and their culturally curious guests will be a part of our 2024 Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards. We have felt for some time that involving readers in our awards is important. By partnering with Viking, we can hear from Viking guests who love travel and travel writing as they nominate their favourite works of fiction written with a true sense of place."