The winners of the ITB Book Awards 2009 have now been announced. This is the eighth time that this award has been given by ITB Berlin to the best traditional travel guides, travel books and illustrated travel books, and to developments in new technologies and software applications. The winners comprised a total of 28 series and titles in nine categories, mainly the latest publications from 2008. “With this prestigious award Messe Berlin again provides an invaluable impetus, presenting topics, trends and innovations in a wide spectrum of online and offline publications which are of particular relevance to tourism”, in the words of David Ruetz, Senior Manager ITB Berlin. “The names of the winners will again be published in a brochure, which will available in time for the ITB Book Award 2009 presentation ceremonies at the fair."

The Destination Prize is the pre-eminent prize at the ITB Book Awards 2009 and this year it is devoted to a leading, traditional destination, Italy. An outstanding selection of travel literature has been considered in this category, from the best individual publications and series (subdivided into compact, individual and traditional travel guides) under the following headings: Italy overall, regions, city guide to Rome, best regional travel guidebook, art guidebook, language guide, tourism maps, illustrated travel book, literary travel book and illustrated literary travel book. In other categories the ITB Book Award 2009 also focuses on other aspects such as the European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010, pilgrimages, travelling with children, the Travel Innovation Prize and outdoor activities with GPS, special travel guides, special travel books and special illustrated travel books. Traditionally ITB Berlin also awards a special prize.

The nine categories and 29 award-winning titles and series are:
Destination Awards, Destination Italy (13 awards)
Italy, overall: Baedeker Allianz Guide to Italy
City Guide to Rome, traditional format: Merian Guide to Rome by Eva-Maria Kallinger
City Guide to Rome, compact format: Polyglott on tour Rome
City Guide to Rome, special prize: Polyglott city box Rome
Best Regional Travel Guidebook: Michael Muller’s handy travel guides “Veneto”, “Piemont/Val d’Aosta” and “Tuscany”            
Best Series of Travel Guidebooks, compact format: Merian live!
Best Series of Travel Guidebooks, traditional format: DuMont Pocket Travel Guidebook
Best Series of Travel Guidebooks, individual travel: Michael Muller
Art Guidebook Prize: DuMont art guidebooks “Lake Garda” and “Tuscany”
Best Language Guide: Lonely Planet Italian Language Guide 
Literary Travel Book: Piper Verlag, “Gebrauchsanweisung fur Neapel” (User’s Guide to Naples) by Maria Carmen Morese
Literary Illustrated Travel Book: Frederking & Thaler Verlag, “Eine Reise durch Verdis Italien” (A Journey Through Verdi’s Italy) by Elke Heidenreich with photos by Tom Krausz
Prize for Tourism Maps:  Marco Polo maps 1:200.000 and Marco Polo regional maps 1:300.000
European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010 Partner Region of ITB Berlin 2009
Prize: Marco Polo, City Guide “Ruhrstadte fur Ruhrstadter 2009” (Cities of the Ruhr for their Citizens)
Prize: Travel Expertise, “Ruhrgebiet Kulturhauptstadt 2010” (Ruhr Region Cultural Capital 2010) by Tanja Kohler and Norbert Wank
The Current Pilgrimage Trend
Guide: Bruckmann Verlag, “Der Jakobsweg” (The Camino de Santiago) Hartmut Ponitz
Literary Travel Book: Piper Verlag, “Spanish Steps” by Tim Moore
Travelling with Children
Hiking: blv Verlag, “Familienberge” (Mountains for Families) by Mirjam Hempel
Series of Travel Guidebooks: pmv Verlag, “Freizeit mit Kindern“ (Leisure Time with Children)
Innovation Prize for the Topical Subject of “GPS”
Outdoor Navigation Device: Garmin, “Oregon 400t”
User Software: 3D maps & Magic Maps tour planner “Tour Explorer” 
Advice for Users: Bruckmann Verlag, “GPS fur Biker“ (GPS for Bikers) by Thomas Froitzheim    
Illustrated Travel Book   
White Star Verlag, “Mit den Augen Buddhas – Das Indien Siddharthas” (With Buddha’s Eyes – Siddhartha’s India) by Marilia Albanese with photos by Gianni Baldizzone
Bucher Verlag, “Transsibirische Eisenbahn. Von der Taiga zum Pazifik” (Transsiberian Railway. From the Taiga to the Pacific) by Anne and Olaf Meinhardt
Special Travel Guidebook
Insel Verlag, “Literarischer Fuhrer Deutschland” (Literary Guide to Germany) by Fred Oberhauser and Axel Kahrs
Special Travel Book
Hannibal Verlag nd Asphalt Tango, Garth Cartwright’s Odyssey through the Balkans, in book and music CD form
Herder Verlag, “Senk ju vor trawelling” by Mark Sporrle and Lutz Schumacher
Special ITB Berlin Prize
Langenscheidt Fachverlag, “Das Tourismus-Lexikon” by Gunter Schroder.