PASADENA, CALIF. – The North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) announced the winners of the 34th Annual NATJA Travel Media Awards Competition. Awards were made to publications, travel journalists and photographers, and destination marketing organizations. NATJA awards special recognition for the publication, destination, journalist, and photographer who excelled across various categories in the competition. For a third year in a row, Travel + Leisure earned the title of Magazine of the Year. The special recognitions were awarded to Kansas Tourism for Destination of the Year, Nikki Ekstein for Journalist of the Year, and, for the second year in a row, to Brad A. Johnson for Photographer of the Year. A complete list of the winners and honorable mentions is attached below.
“Travel + Leisure had many stand-outs in this year’s entries. From long-form narratives to photography. Each one, more impressive than the next. They were a true standout in the Magazine of the Year category,” stated one of our judges.
NATJA CEO, Helen Hernandez, said that another independent panel judge said it best: “What an incredible group of talent! This year’s competition was a testament to the creativity, dedication, and storytelling power that define the best in travel journalism. Congratulations to each and every honoree — your work inspires us all!”
Judges for the competition included award-winning newspaper and magazine editors as well as educators from across journalism disciplines. One first-place (Gold) winner is chosen in each of the categories, along with second-place (Silver), third-place (Bronze), and Honorable Mentions. To qualify for an award or honor, work had to be published from October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025.
Founded in 1991, NATJA is a travel journalism industry leader that fosters high-quality journalism by supporting the professional development of its members, providing exceptional program benefits and valuable resources, honoring the excellence of journalism throughout the world, and promoting travel and leisure to the public.
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SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS
- Magazine of the Year: Travel + Leisure
- Destination of the Year: Kansas Tourism
- Journalist of the Year: Nikki Ekstein
- Photographer of the Year: Brad A. Johnson
PUBLICATIONS
Travel Magazine – Print or Online
- Gold Award: Virtuoso
- Silver Award: Travel + Leisure
- Bronze Award: Range by Ensemble
- Honorable Mention:
- OLTRE
- Condé Nast Traveler
DESTINATION MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS
Visitors’ Guide (Printed or Digital) or Website
- Gold Award: Explore Gwinnett Visitor Magazine, Hemsworth
- Silver Award: 2025 Kansas Official Travel Guide, Kansas Tourism
- Bronze Award: Visit Port Arthur Website, Port Arthur Convention & Visitors Bureau
Destination Video
- Gold Award: Summer Adventures in the Laurel Highlands, GO Laurel Highlands
- Silver Award: Accessible, Inclusive Travel on the Oregon Coast, Travel Oregon / Oregon Coast Visitors Association
- Bronze Award: A Lifetime of Unfiltered Memories, Visit Haywood, Visit Haywood
Creative Marketing Campaign
- Gold Award: Kansas Tourism, Kansas Tourism
- Silver Award: Cast Away, Love Catalina Island
- Bronze Award: ATL Airport District Convention & Visitors Bureau, ATL Airport District Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Honorable Mention: Out of the Office, Into Adventure, GO Laurel Highlands
MEDIA
Independent Travel Blog
- Gold Award: Brad A. Johnson, Brad A. Johnson, Food & Travel
- Silver Award: Michelle Couch-Friedman, Consumer Rescue
- Bronze Award: Mary Jo Manzanares, Traveling with MJ
- Honorable Mention: Angie Orth, Angie Away | Your Tour Guide for Global Shenanigans, Worldwide Wanderlust and Misadventures
Destination Travel
- Gold Award: Sharael Kolberg, “This Alaska Region Has Some of the State’s Most Beautiful Coastal Towns—Plus Majestic Glaciers and Unforgettable Wildlife”, Travel + Leisure
- Silver Award: Crai Bower, “The Life Aquatic with Crai S. Bower”, Jefferson Parish Visitor’s Guide
- Bronze Award: Cortney Fries, “For a slice of Parisian charm without the crowds, consider Quebec City”, National Geographic
- Honorable Mention:
- Autumn Phillips, “In the secluded Nevada desert, the largest piece of land art in the world offers a pilgrimage”, The Post and Courier
- Jim Benning, “World of Wonder”, Westways
- Heather Trimm, “Glamping in the Silence of Greenland’s Wild at Camp Kangiusaq”, Trimm Travels
Illustrated Story
- Gold Award: Brad A. Johnson, “How to Eat Fried Worms”, OLTRE
- Silver Award: Craig Wolfrom, “Chasing the Ice”, National Parks
- Bronze Award: Rulo Luna, “Camera Roll: Finding the Best of Alaska’s Northern Lights Aboard the Aurora Winter Train”, Matador Network
- Honorable Mention: Jenn Smith Nelson, “The group restoring Colombia’s tropical dry forest – and helping monkeys, too”, Rewilding
Long-Form Narrative/Personal Essay
- Gold Award: Ernie Atencio, “Life & Death in Bears Ears”, National Parks
- Silver Award: Christine Chitnis, “The 2,500-Mile Journey to Visit My Brother in Prison”, Condé Nast Traveler
- Bronze Award: Cinelle Barnes, “Let It Was Over You”, Travel + Leisure
- Honorable Mention:
- Pat Cassels, “Jason Lives in Rutledge, Georgia”, Oxford American
- Margie Goldsmith, “Why I Travel”, Substack
- Gillian Kendall, “Taking the Plunge: How Cold-Water Swims Jump-Start the Heart”, SATURDAY EVENING POST
Luxury & Resort Travel
- Gold Award: Jen Murphy, “The Snow Chasers”, Robb Report
- Silver Award: Mark Ellwood, “Troubled Waters: Inside the Fight for Barbuda’s White-Sand Paradise”, Robb Report
- Bronze Award: Brad A. Johnson, “South America’s Next Great Restaurant”, OLTRE
- Honorable Mention:
- Sarah Rappaport, “Hotels’ Luxury Brand Pop-Ups Are Creating the Ultimate Vacation Flex”, Bloomberg Pursuits
- Nikki Ekstein, “The Grand American Resort Is Making a Comeback—Just in Time”, Bloomberg Pursuits
Sports, Recreation, and Adventure
- Gold Award: Randy Johnson, “The Backcountry Beckons”, WNC Magazine (Western North Carolina)
- Silver Award: Autumn Phillips, “Traveling to the World Nomad Games in Kazakhstan, then on to the Gates of Hell”, The Post and Courier
- Bronze Award: J.R. Patterson, “Gone Fishing” (May 2025), Virtuoso, The Magazine
- Honorable Mention:
- Lale Arikoglu, “Chasing the Iditarod Through the Wilds of Alaska”, Condé Nast Traveler
- Suzie Dundas, “The US treasure hunters who seek out violent storms”, BBC Travel
Cruises
- Gold Award: Guy Trebay, “Long Live the Queen”, Travel + Leisure
- Silver Award: Erin Florio, “Finding Connection in Australia’s Isolated Kimberly Region”, Condé Nast Traveler
- Bronze Award: Kari Bodnarchuk, “What it’s like to ski in Antarctica”, The Boston Globe
- Honorable Mention:
- Mary Jo Manzanares, “Smooth Sailing: Luxury in Asia on Ama Waterways Mekong Cruise”, Traveling with MJ
- Autumn Phillips, “I snorkeled for the first time in the Galapagos. It made me cry.”, The Post and Courier
Historical Travel
- Gold Award: Tayari Jones, “Carolina in My Mind”, Travel + Leisure
- Silver Award: Thomas Page McBee, “Modern Gothic”, Travel + Leisure
- Bronze Award: Liz Campbell, “Lycia, Türkiye – Where the Dead are Always with Us”, roamancing.com
- Honorable Mention:
- Sheeka Sanahori, “Marcus McDonald Shares Charleston History and Makes His Own”, Scalawag
- Kevin West, “Secrets in the Stars”, Travel + Leisure
Culinary Travel
- Gold Award: Cheryl Chee, “Tsutsumi In Good Hands”, AAA Explorer Hawaii
- Silver Award: Jeff Chu, “Land of Plenty”, Travel + Leisure
- Bronze Award: Stacey Leasca, “The New Albania”, Food & Wine
- Honorable Mention:
- David Farley, “For the Love of Pho”, AAA Explorer
- Jennifer Stewart, “Kornegay A Rich Region”, AAA Explorer Alabama
Multigenerational Travel
- Gold Award: Flora Stubbs, “The Wildest Isle”, Travel + Leisure
- Silver Award: Sarah Khan, “Planning a Trip to Turkey for My Mother, Who First Showed Me the World”, Condé Nast Traveler
- Bronze Award: Tracey Teo, “Southern River Cruise Traverses Three States Alongthe Intracoastal Waterway”, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- Honorable Mention:
- Jordi Lippe-McGraw, “How We Spent Our Family Vacation: A Kid-Friendly Guide to Chasing the Northern Lights in Norway”, Conde Nast Traveler
- Alexis Benveniste, “Even Babies Are Welcome at the Spa at These Ultra Luxury Resorts”, Bloomberg Pursuits
Cultural Travel
- Gold Award: Thessaly La Force, “On a Trip Across Northern Italy, Getting to Know the Artisans Keeping Tradition Alive”, Condé Nast Traveler
- Silver Award: David Hochman, “Let the Rhythm Move You” (Sept 2025), Virtuoso, The Magazine
- Bronze Award: Ivan Quintanilla, “Looking for a taste of Cuba? This Kentucky city should be on your radar”, National Geographic
- Honorable Mention:
- Autumn Phillips, “In the secluded Nevada desert, the largest piece of land art in the world offers a pilgrimage”, The Post and Courier
- Mary Gray, “Modern Day Renaissance” (Jan 2025), Virtuoso, The Magazine
Sustainable Travel
- Gold Award: Stanley Stewart, “Wet ‘N’ Wild”, Travel + Leisure
- Silver Award: Suzie Dundas, “Are Wolves Worth the Cost? The American West’s New Wildlife Dilemma”, Matador Network
- Bronze Award: Nicolas Brulliard, “The Erasers”, National Parks
- Honorable Mention:
- Noelle Salmi, “Rushed Construction, a Seawall, and a ‘Road to Nowhere’: How One of Bali’s Most Famous Surf Breaks May Change Forever”, Matador Network
- Samantha Falewée, “Why you might be seeing camels on your next Kenya safari”, Adventure.com
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in Travel
- Gold Award: Katherine DeGroff, “Free Wheeling”, National Parks
- Silver Award: Lebawit Lily Girma, “Can Tourism Foster Peace? These Socially Conscious Operators Say Yes”, Bloomberg Pursuits
- Bronze Award: Sarah Khan, “How Boston’s Revolutionary Spirit Is Writing Its Next Chapter”, Condé Nast Traveler
- Honorable Mention:
- Lebawit Lily Girma, “Australia First Nations See Opportunity in Tourism Where Politics Failed”, Bloomberg Pursuits
- Gary Nunn, “Safe, Social, Shirtless: The Rise of Men-Only Hostels”, Matador Network
Travel Video – Independent
- Gold Award: Karen LeBlanc, “Curious Cuba”, The Design Tourist
- Silver Award: Christine van Blokland, “Curious Poznań, Poland”, PBS
- Bronze Award: Shivya Nath, “Slow travel in Bali”, YouTube – The Shooting Star Stories
Travel Video – Commercial
- Gold Award: Lauren Tegtmeyer, “Women Who Travel x Wilderness”, Condé Nast Traveler
- Silver Award: Jonathan Thompson, “Adventure Cities – Belfast”, Discovery Channel
- Bronze Award: Lilit Marcus, “Jackie Kennedy once visited this Cambodian hotel. They’ve kept her cocktail glass for 50 years”, CNN Travel
Travel Shorts
- Gold Award: Cori Solomon, “Sensorio Illuminating Paso Robles” YouTube
- Silver Award: KyAnn Lewis, “Costa Rica Night Walk”, KIdTripster Instagram
- Bronze Award: Hannah Towey, “Experience the Thrill of Plane Spotting with AvGeeks in NYC”, Condé Nast Traveler
- Honorable Mention: Juliana Broste, “Miami’s Art & Culture Scene”, TravelingJules
Travel Podcast
- Gold Award: Lale Arikoglu, “Women Who Travel”, Condé Nast Traveler
- Silver Award: Lea Lane, “Extreme Travel Adventures, With Author/Journalist Mike Finkel”, Places I Remember with Lea Lane
- Bronze Award: Amelia Old, “Beech Mountain, NC Welcomes Winter Travelers After Hurricane Helene”, Voices of Inspiration
- Honorable Mention: Tamara MC, “A Visit to Lucille Ball’s Hometown”, Big Blend Radio
Cover or Feature Photo, Illustration
- Gold Award: Marco Argüello, “Sailing the Cyclades (cover image)”, Range by Ensemble, Vol. 9
- Silver Award: James Gulliver, “Hancock Hidden California cover illustration”, Westways
- Bronze Award: Collin Hughes, “A Ticket to the Top of the World”, Travel + Leisure
- Honorable Mention: Gabriel Tesserolli, “Trips of a Lifetime” (September 2025 Cover), Virtuoso, The Magazine
Landscape and Nature Photography
- Gold Award: Heather Trimm, “Greenland Rays of Silence”, Trimm Travels
- Silver Award: Arial Evans, “Prairie Dog in grasslands of the Midwest”, America From The Road
- Bronze Award: Marta Tucci, “Into the Blue”, Travel + Leisure
- Honorable Mention: Jono Melamed, “Seeing Utah’s Stars”, Range by Ensemble, Vol. 10
Architecture and Cityscape Photography
- Gold Award: Chris Schalx, “Destination of the Year 2025”, Travel + Leisure
- Silver Award: Maya Visnyei, “Lanzarote’s Force of Nature”, Range by Ensemble, Vol. 10
- Bronze Award: Brad A. Johnson, “San Miguel de Allende at morning golden hour”, Brad A. Johnson, Food & Travel
- Honorable Mention: Dennis Garrels, “Small town Main Street architecture”, Facebook
Portrait Photography
- Gold Award: Amy Harrity, “Selma Steps Out!”, Travel + Leisure
- Silver Award: Brad A. Johnson, “Herve with the chickens”, OLTRE
- Bronze Award: KyAnn Lewis, “Classic Convertible Tour”, KidTripster Instagram
- Honorable Mention:
- Michael George, “Island Paradise”, Range by Ensemble, Vol. 9
- Lara Shea, “Stay Coola”, Range by Ensemble, Vol. 8
Action and Adventure Photography
- Gold Award: Michael George, “Postcards from Antarctica”, Range by Ensemble, Vol. 10
- Silver Award: Yasara Gunawardena, “Making a Splash”, Travel + Leisure
- Bronze Award: Lara Shea, “Stay Coola”, Range by Ensemble, Vol. 8
- Honorable Mention: Jennifer Coleman, “Poetry in Motion – Cody Rodeo”, Coleman Concierge
Cultural Photography
- Gold Award: Mitsuru Wakabayashi, “The Way of Craft”, Range by Ensemble, Vol. 8
- Silver Award: Brad A. Johnson, “Guacamole with maguey worms and grasshoppers”, OLTRE
- Bronze Award: Ike Edeani, “Lagos Rising”, Travel + Leisure
- Honorable Mention:
- Wendy Gunderson, “Market Craftsman”, My Irie Time
- Jordan Campbell, “Painted Walls and Lived Stories in La Habana”, Global Debauchery
Photo Essay
- Gold Award: Jordan Campbell, “The Passing Glances of Train Car #3”, Global Debauchery
- Silver Award: Brad A. Johnson, “Closer Look: Four Seasons Resort Tamarindo”, Brad A. Johnson, Food & Travel
- Bronze Award: Michael George, “Postcards from Antarctica”, Range by Ensemble, Vol. 10
- Honorable Mention:
- Daniel Tingcungco, “50 States, 50 Desserts: America’s Favorite Sweet Treats”, Condé Nast Traveler
- Jono Melamed, “Seeing Utah’s Stars”, Range by Ensemble, Vol. 10
Travel Book
- Gold Award: Sharon Pendana, “Secret Washington DC – An unusual guide”, Jonglez Publishing
- Silver Award: Laurie McAndish King, “Wandering in American Deserts: Discovery, Visions, Redemption”, Wandering in American Deserts: Discovery, Visions, Redemption
- Bronze Award: Margot Guicheteau, “Soul of Detroit – A guide to exceptional experiences”, Jonglez Publishing
- Honorable Mention:
- Kristy Tolley, “100 Things To Do In North Carolina Before You Die”, Published Book
- Heather Kerrigan, “Beer, Brats, and Cheese: A Wisconsin Road Trip”, University of Wisconsin Press
Travel Tips & Advice
- Gold Award: Nikki Ekstein, “DOGE Slashed National Parks Staff. How to Have a Great Trip Anyway”, Bloomberg Pursuits
- Silver Award: Leslie Oh, “Can ‘Grief Travel’ Help Transform An Aching Heart?”, Vogue
- Bronze Award: Jordi Lippe-McGraw, “Luxury on A Budget”, Wall Street Journal
- Honorable Mention:
- Jonathan Thompson, “Your Ultimate Travel Guide to the 2026 FIFA World Cup” National Geographic
- Linnea Bailey, “This Easy Travel Hack is our Family’s Favorite Way to Save Money on Vacation”, USA Today / Family Vacationist
Business of Travel
- Gold Award: Nikki Ekstein, “A Tech Billionaire Has a Radical Plan to Transform Ecotourism”, Bloomberg Pursuits
- Silver Award: Jayme Moye, “The New Plan for National Parks: Increase Prices for International Visitors”, Outside
Travel Newsletter
- Gold Award: Nikki Ekstein, “With National Parks in Danger, Travel Companies Are Filling the Gaps”, Bloomberg Pursuits
- Silver Award: Ashlea Halpern, “Ashlea Halpern’s Family Column”, Condé Nast Traveler
- Bronze Award: Autumn Phillips, “Post and Courier Travel newsletter”, Weekly email
- Honorable Mention: Andrew Harper, Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report”, Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report
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