Kingley Event Management Solutions announce the launch of its new and prestigious national Travel Press Awards programme created to recognise excellence and achievement in the fields of travel writing, photography and broadcasting to be presented in November this year.

There are 16 Awards which will recognise trade and consumer writers, both on and offline, travel broadcasters and photographers. Awards will also be made for the year’s Best Travel Books, Best Travel Broadcast Programme, the Travel Journalists’ Award for the Best UK Travel Website and the Travel Editors’ Award for the Best Green Initiative.

Completing the line up will be the presentation of Lifetime Achievement Awards recognising individuals who have made an outstanding contribution in the field of travel writing, broadcasting or photography.

A high profile judging panel of some of the leading names in travel has been created to ensure only the very best entries win the coveted awards and include:

Peter Shanks, Cunard; Simon Vincent, Hilton; Mike Greenacre, Co-operative Travel Group; Steve Allen, Wexas; Dermot Blastland, TUI UK & Ireland; Steve Byrne, Travel Counsellors; Nick Grandvoinet, IHG; Liz Savage, Monarch Scheduled; Emma Harris, Eurostar; Debbie Marshall, CV Travel; Lisa Constantinou, Inghams;

Ian Derbyshire, Thomas Cook UK & Ireland; Richard Carrick, Hoseasons; Alun Cathcart, Avis Europe; Barbara Cassani, Jurys Inns and ABTA Chairman John McEwan.

The judges of the Travel Editors’ Award include: Graham Boynton, Telegraph Media Group; Simon Calder, The Independent; Karen Dempsey, Travel Weekly; Mark Lewis, Caterer & Hotelkeeper and Frank Barrett, The Mail On Sunday.

The Travel Press Awards Advisory panel is comprised of leading travel and PR figures including Michele Andjel, PR Manager P&O Cruises, Debbie Flynn, Chief Executive Brighter Group, Debbie Hindle, Managing Director BGB, Graham Lancaster Chairman Euro RSCG Biss Lancaster, Nick Perry, Chairman Ultra Travel Group and Emma Waddell Head of PR TUI Travel UK.

The inaugural Travel Press Awards 2009 will take place in London at the Courthouse Doubletree Hotel, on Thursday 26 November 2009.

Initial response to the launch of the awards has been hugely positive with Travel Press Awards Advisory Panel Member Debbie Flynn, Brighter Group Chief Executive saying “the role of the travel editor and travel writer in educating and influencing readers in their choice of holiday experience has never been more important; we congratulate Kingley on the creation of these awards in recognising these inspirational people “.

Michele Andjel, of P&O Cruises, also a member of the Travel Press Awards Advisory Panel said “the Travel Press Awards are a very welcome and timely addition to the industry calendar; in the UK, coverage of the travel industry and the scope of destinations and operators within it, is without doubt the best and most varied in the world and demonstrates the influence and depth of knowledge of the journalists in the UK. It is fitting that we reward and recognise the talent and the individuals."

The Awards have received overwhelming support from travel businesses with headline sponsors including Kenya Tourist Board and Travelzoo. The Venue sponsor is Courthouse Doubletree Hotel by Hilton with the Awards receiving further support from lowcostholidays.com and World Travel Market. Friends of the Travel Press Awards include the Tourist Boards of both Ibiza and Liguria.