- Sri Lanka event at the Sri Lanka High Commission – 25th September
- Gala Award Dinner Sponsors – We’d love your engagement on social media
- BGTW / ANTOR debate
- Some congratulations to our members!
- ITA Shortlist
- Oxford Event – 27th October
- London Wetland Centre outing
Hi everyone,
I’m away for work in Texas this week, so I’m veh veh busy shopping for yet more cowboy boots.
Let me say a huge thanks to Charlotte and to my fellow directors for taking care of the Friday Fix in my absence.
Hope you’ve all had a great week, and that you have a lovely weekend ahead.
All the best,
Sarah
Sri Lanka event at the Sri Lanka High Commission – 25th September
Members who weren’t able to RSVP in time for the Sri Lanka High Commission event on Thursday, but would still like to join the event virtually, are welcome to log onto Zoom from 6.15pm. The link will be sent round next week.
Gala Award Dinner Sponsors – We’d love your engagement on social media
Over the coming weeks, you’ll start seeing announcements of the sponsors for the Gala Awards Dinner on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. The whole evening is possible thanks to these partnerships; not only do the sponsors cover the cash prizes for the 18 MEA Award Winners, but without their financial support, the evening wouldn’t be possible. Sans sponsors, Gala tickets would cost £340pp to break even, so the £65 and £95 members’ tickets are thanks to these significant sponsorship subsidies.
We’d really value members showing their appreciation wherever possible with a like, share, or comment on these social media posts – it all helps in ensuring we can continue to run the event in future years. We’ve already sold half of the Gala Awards tickets, so please do keep spreading the word with your contacts.
If you haven’t secured yours yet, please order through this link using the password 202565 to access the discounted members’ tickets.
BGTW / ANTOR debate
The annual BGTW/ANTOR debate has been postponed from 14 October. A new date will be announced soon.
Some congratulations to our members!
Shebs Alom has been selected as a Finalist for the 2025 Travel Unity Inclusion Champion Award. The selection committee was impressed by the commitment shown to ‘making travel more inclusive and welcoming for everyone.’ Congratulations, Shebs!
In the LATA Awards Shafik Meghji was awarded Highly Commended in the Best Latin American Travel Feature – Magazine category and Jessica Vincent won the Best Sustainability Focused Feature category. Congratulations, Shafik and Jessica!
And congratulations to all the following members who are TravelMedia Awards finalists: Sophie Morgan, Victoria Philpott, Tristan Rutherford, Antonia Windsor, Claire Boobbyer, Heidi Fuller-Love, Kassondra Cloos, Simon Parker, Ben Lerwill, Katja Gaskell, Nigel Tisdall, Mike Unwin, Karolina Wiercigroch, Domhnall O’Donoghue, Robin McKelvie, Emma Gregg, Ian Packham, Niki Blasina, Ash Bhardwaj and Ellie Cobb. And, in the publication categories, to Jessica Way and team at British Travel Journal; Rod Mackenzie and team at Food and Travel; Meera Dattani, Kassondra Cloos and team at Adventure.com; and Adrian Phillips and team at Bradt. Good luck to all!
ITA Shortlist
A handful of complaints have been received about the shortlisted status of the Palestinian Museum. The Board has noted these objections and added the matter to the agenda for next week’s board meeting. No further correspondence will be entered into until after that meeting.
Oxford Event – 27th October
BGTW’s visit to Oxford is confirmed for Monday, 27 October, with a mid-afternoon start (specific time confirmed soon). It’s looking likely that new-ish luxury hotel The Store will host us for a spot of tea – the hot beverage, not traditional afternoon nor ‘dinner’ as Northerners say – to accompany our immersion into the city’s unexpected treasures, all specially curated for our members by the Oxford Guild of Tour Guides. A slightly discounted room rate is under discussion, but watch your wallet – it’s still luxury prices. Further details coming soon. Please RSVP to Alicia Sheber at alicia.sheber@bgtw.org
London Wetland Centre outing
Member Richard Villar has recorded a podcast about BGTW’s excursion to the London Wetlands Centre last week – paired with the photos from Russell Maddicks, who kindly arranged the visit, you can almost imagine yourself there. Hopefully we’ll visit again in the Spring when there’s not a Tube strike!
